Crapo Health Awareness Booths Expand

Boise - A major source for low-cost, convenient health screenings is expanding across state and county fairs in Idaho this summer. This is the third year Idaho fairgoers can receive free cancer screenings at the Mike Crapo Health Awareness Booth, and this year the facilities will be expanded at fairs in Boise, Blackfoot, Coeur dâ??Alene, and Twin Falls.The Mike Crapo Health Awareness Booths were established in cooperation with national sponsors and local health care providers after Crapo was cured of prostate cancer by undergoing successful surgery in January of 2000. Crapo said early detection can improve the chances for cancer survival. â??We have offered literally thousands of tests for prostate cancer, breast cancer, high blood pressure and cholesterol levels at these fair booths in the last two years, and we are pleased we are able to expand to serve fairs in all corners of Idaho,â?? Crapo said.Crapo and local health providers in the Treasure Valley will hold a news conference this Wednesday, August 13th, at the Western Idaho Fair to unveil this yearâ??s booth and services offered. The news conference will begin at 9:45 a.m. just inside fair gate â??Aâ?? at the Western Idaho Fairgrounds in Garden City. The fair officially opens Friday.Crapo will join with Dr. Timothy Welebir, Urologist at St. Lukeâ??s Regional Medical Center, and Dr. Timothy Sawyer of the Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center Cancer Care Center, to discuss the partnerships, wellness efforts, and technology behind the fair health booth efforts and what is available at both hospitals. John Furniss of the American Cancer Society in Boise will also discuss the â??Sportsmen Against Prostate Centerâ?? effort in Idaho, which is also helping fund the testing efforts at Idaho fairs.Many, but not all, screenings offered at the booths are free. Screenings for breast cancer may be billed through insurance and should be arranged in advance with Saint Alphonsus and St. Lukeâ??s. Prostate screenings are free for those who qualify and applicants should be prepared to bring insurance information. Participants are urged to call Saint Alphonsus at (208) 367-CARE (367-2273) or St. Lukeâ??s at (208) 381-2055 to request information on the fairgrounds screenings, which will be offered from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Western Idaho Fair. # # #