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Lawmakers: Lottery game would help fight cancer

Thursday, Feb. 3, 2005 | 9:04 a.m.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Illinois lawmakers want the state Lottery to help fight breast cancer.

Senate President Emil Jones and other legislators from both parties proposed a new Lottery game Tuesday dubbed "Ticket for the Cure" that they say could raise at least $3 million a year for breast cancer prevention and treatment.

The money would be issued in grants handed out by a new board in conjunction with state health officials.

"It's something that we feel must be done," said Jones, D-Chicago. He said he expects Gov. Rod Blagojevich and the entire Legislature will support the idea this spring.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of death in women ages 40 to 55 and is will likely kill more than 2,000 Illinois women this year. But there is a 96 percent survival rate over five years when the disease is found early, health care experts say.

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