Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.health From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: health Thu, Apr 30 1992 Date: Thu, 30 Apr 92 05:41:14 EDT Message-ID: 04-30 0000 DECISIONLINE: Health USA TODAY Update April 30, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network CANCER DETECTION MAY BE AIDED: A promising new ultrasound technique may detect ovarian cancer in its early stages, say reports from a meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in Las Vegas Wednesday. Studies of 7,576 women found the method reliably detects early ovarian cancer, says Dr. William Hoskins, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York. Each ultrasound costs approximately $250. NCI BEGINS CANCER STUDY: The National Cancer Institute has begun testing a new ultrasound technique for detecting ovarian cancer in its early stages. Nearly 75% of cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, when five-year cure rates are only 20%. If the cancer hasn't spread past the ovary, 80% to 90% of women survive, say experts, who add that women with a family history of the cancer should consider the technique. BREAST CANCER STUDY BEGINS: The National Cancer Institute has begun the first nationwide study to learn whether breast cancer can be avoided in high risk women. The Breast Cancer Prevention Trial will involve 16-thousand women 35 and older and be conducted for five years in 46 states and Canada. The NCI begins taking volunteers Thursday. For information call: 1-800-4-CANCER, 1-800-ACS-2345, weekdays 9 a.m.- 10 p.m. EDT. MORE ABORTION PROTESTS PLANNED: After a one-day respite, abortion opponents promised to resume protests at Buffalo, N.Y., clinics Thursday. Operation Rescue leaders said an initial "indefinite suspension" was not due to a lack of volunteers. Police have arrested 420 since April 20, and five leaders have been charged with violating a federal order to stay away from clinics. SOME MILK LABELS INACCURATE: Milk and infant formula rarely contain the amount of vitamin D listed on the labels, according research at Boston University Medical School. Experts say variances aren't hazardous to most people, but they are seeking stricter testing of vitamin additives to prevent "serious and costly consequences." Fortified milk helps prevent weak bones and fractures in the elderly. BOOK SHOWS `WHERE WE STAND': The USA eats the most red meat, ranks second in hours spent watching TV and has the worst teen pregnancy rate. That's the word from "Where We Stand," co-authored by Michael Wolff (Bantam, $22.50), arriving in book stores Monday. Other findings: The USA ranks 10th in the number of obese men with 10%; and 11th in the percentage of women using contraception with 68%. SMOKING DIFFERENCES FOUND: Blacks smoke fewer cigarettes than whites and are more likely to quit cold turkey, suggests a study of 826 current and former smokers by a University of South Florida cardiology professor. The differences may be linked to the effects of nicotine or to mentholated cigarettes, experts say. Over 80% of black smokers use mentholated cigarettes, compared to nearly 23% of white smokers. HEALTH CARE COSTS STUDIED: In 1990, the amount commercial insurance companies spent on administrative costs to provide health benefits was 40 times more than the same benefits would have cost in Canada, according to Citizen Action, a consumer and environmental advocacy group. The figures represent $120 billion in waste between 1981 and 1990, the groups says. BILL WOULD RAISE IHS FUNDING: A measure to increase funding to the Indian Health Services passed a House committee Wednesday, although lawmakers warn that finding the money may be tough. The bill, authored by Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., would intensify treatment of dozens of diseases and dysfunctions that strike Indians disproportionately. Special emphasis is placed on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. FREE CONTACT LENSES OFFERED: People can receive free contact lenses through their local eye care practitioner under a trial offer from Bausch and Lomb. The firm is offering a trial pair of its disposable or monthly replacement lenses. For information call: 1-800-552-7388. SEWAGE LEAK PROMPTS WARNING: Residents of Bellechester, Minn., with wells should drink bottled water and residents on city water should boil it first, health officials warned Wednesday. Between 2 million and 3 million gallons of partially treated sewage flowed into groundwater sometime between Friday and Tuesday, say officials, who are awaiting results of bacteria tests. TEXAS CHOLERA CASE INVESTIGATED: Texas health officials have begun conducting tests and interviews in order to locate the source of the state's first cholera case. Brownsville resident Silvestra Figueroa, who was released from a hospital Tuesday, thinks she contracted the disease in Mexico. Health Editor: Christopher Goldthwaite. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM