BREAST CANCER: Wilson Announces Funding
Gov. Pete Wilson "has earmarked $39.1 million in his 1998-99 budget proposal for breast cancer detection and research," reports the Modesto Bee. Under the governor's plan, $31.4 million will go to the Breast Cancer Early Detection Program, $6 million to the Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program and $1.7 million to the Breast Cancer Surveillance Section of the Department of Health Services. The increased funding "is expected to provide breast cancer services to 286,000 California women." The Bee reports that Wilson also "proposed $25 million for research into the cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure" of gender specific cancers such as breast and prostate. Currently, a two-cent tobacco tax enacted in 1993 pays for breast cancer programs in California. "Women over the age of 40 who meet certain health criteria and whose incomes are below 200% of the federal poverty level are eligible for free services" (Smith, 2/1).
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