Roxanne Yoho of Lana's Spirit (left) and Cheryl Schaefer of Women's Cancer Support Group at a health fair at Clearview Mall in October 2015.

A lot has changed for the better for women in this region battling breast cancer over the last 15 years.

Patients are now given more treatment options than ever before. For example, more patients are able to have the less invasive lumpectomy procedure as opposed to a mastectomy surgery. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are also used more sparingly than in the past.

Another way that the cancer battle has changed — and improved — is the emotional support and non-medical assistance that is available to patients, though groups such as the support group based in Butler.

The group meets from 7 to 9 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month on the first floor of Butler Health System’s Crossroads Campus on Oneida Valley Road in Summit Township.

The support group and Riding for the Cure, a group that holds a bike ride every year to raise money, both help to offer cancer patients services.

Anyone interested in donating to support local cancer patients can make a check out to “Butler Health System Foundation” and mail it to 166 Jamisonville Road, Butler, PA 16001.

On the memo line of the check write “Breast Cancer Support Group” to support breast cancer patients or write “Riding for the Cure” in memo to support other cancer patients too.

A full report will appear in the Butler Eagle.