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Show 10 Hilltop Times Aug. 4, 1994 CHAMPUS will ...... rf . X-ra- 9; 9, . mammograms, Pap tests cost-shar- e CHAMPUS will now share the cost of screening mammograms and Pap tests. CHAMPUS spokesman Dave Potts said coverage for both tests is effective retroactive to Nov. 5, 1990. CHAMPUS covered the tests for diagnostic purposes earlier but placed more restrictions on them as screening tests. y mammography is a procedure to evaluate and detect breast disease. A Pap test is a laboratory examination of samples from the female genital tract to look for signs of cancer and other diseases. The insurance program covers mammography as a routine screening procedure for women who have no signs or symptoms of breast disease as follows: once for women aged 35-3every 24 months for women aged 40-4but CHAMPUS will cover one procedure per year for women this age who are considered at high risk; or once per year for women aged 50 or older. CHAMPUS will also share the cost of mammography for diagnostic reasons. Diagnostic mammography is indicated for breast mass found on physical examination; spontaneous nipple discharge; unusual redness of the breast; nipple erosion, tumor or nodule under the armpit; previous history of diagnosed breast cancer; previous abnormal mammography; or - fibrocystic disease. The program covers one screening Pap test per year for three consecutive years for women aged 18 or older, or for women under 18 who are or have been sexually active. If the findings for the three consecutive yearly Pap tests are normal, CHAMPUS will one screening Pap test every two then cost-shar- e more If years. frequent screening tests are documented as medically necessary for women at high risk of developing cervical cancer, CHAMPUS may help pay for them. In related news, a new study by the American Cancer Society reports smoking increases a woman's risk of dying from breast cancer by 25 percent. The study, published in the May 15 American Journal of Epidemiology, also found the risk of death rises in proportion to the number of cigarettes smoked per day and the total number of years smoked. This culminates with a 75 percent increased risk in women who smoke two packs per day or more. Researchers found no increased risk for former smokers. "Our results suggest that there is something different about current smokers with breast cancer in regard to their risk of dying from the disease," said Dr. Eugenia Calle, director of analytic epidemiology with the society and the paper's lead author. The researchers selected women in the study from the 676,530 female participants of Cancer Prevention Study II, begun in 1982. After six years of follow-up- , 880 of the women who had been cancer-fre- e in 1982 died from breast cancer. After controlling for other factors, such as diet and family history of breast cancer, the researchers found an increased risk of fatal breast cancer for smokers. Calle offered three hypotheses to explain the increased risk. First, smokers' poorer survival may be influenced by conditions more common to smokers such as respiratory and cardiovascular impairment. Second, smoking may impair the immune system. Finally, smokers may be less likely to get regular checkups and mammograms, thus delaying the diagnosis of cancer. Cancer is easier to treat the earlier it is discovered. Calle said the study found that women who smoke should be considered a high risk group for whom mammography and early detection may be particularly valuable. (Courtesy of American Forces Information Service) BER COUNTY FAIR A U G U S T 0 1 3 , 1 .r Lumber Jack Show Demolition Derby Chili Cook-of- f Teen Dance Commercial Exhibits mFr 1 YOU SEE IT ALL FOR ONE PRICE! Hoop Fair Flowers Special Contests 2 Days of "All Weber Rodeo" Two Local Entertainment Stages Carnival Kids Rodeo Competitive Exhibits Area Cheerleading Competition Livestock Judging & Shows Fun-N'Fairla- 4'H Horse Shows Horse Shows Horse, Mule & Pony Pulls 9 9 4 1 AUGUST 10th LITTLE TEXAS MAJOR ENTERTAINMENT For More Information or Call (801)399-879- 8 180(M4-AREN- A AUGUST 11th AUGUST 12th DEBORAH ALLEN NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND Ml. J r i "V. v T Jr K v. v ' nd I ti 11 ' 111 AUGUST 13th MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY I r PvOtA? yx U.S. SAVINGS BONDS Tlte investment . -- r ci that lets you count your chickens before they hatch. |