[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 118, 108th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

Proclamation 7810 of September 10, 2004


 
National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, 2004


By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Ovarian cancer affects thousands of Americans each year. During this
time of tremendous medical breakthroughs, we are seeing progress in the
effort to overcome this disease, but our work is not finished. National
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month provides an opportunity for our citizens
to learn more about early detection and treatment for this deadly
cancer.
Although new cases of ovarian cancer in the United States have been
decreasing for more than a decade, the American Cancer Society estimates
that about 25,000 women will be diagnosed this year and over 16,000 will
die from the disease. Family and personal history can affect the
likelihood of developing ovarian cancer. Women should talk with their
doctors and health care providers about preventative screenings and the
benefits and risks of different tests. Understanding risk factors and
the importance of a healthy lifestyle plays a vital role in our efforts
to save lives and reduce the number of women who suffer from ovarian
cancer.
As with many cancers, the chance for successful treatment of ovarian
cancer increases with early detection. The medical community continues
to work on developing an effective screening test that can detect the
disease in its early stages when symptoms may not exist or are very
difficult to diagnose. The National Institutes of Health has invested
more than $120 million this year in ovarian cancer research and expects
to invest more in 2005. Through the National Cancer Institute's Ovarian
Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Study, scientists are following
women at increased risk for the cancer to assess how preemptive surgery
and screening methods affect ovarian cancer occurrence and quality of
life. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Ovarian Cancer
Control Initiative will also focus on factors related to early detection
and treatment.
The United States continues to stay on the leading edge of new
discoveries in medicine, and my Administration remains committed to
providing the resources necessary to learn the causes, understand the
symptoms, and find a cure for ovarian cancer. During this month, we
reaffirm our dedication to these goals and recognize the strength and
courage of the women who have suffered from this disease. We also
recognize the families, friends, and loved ones who support and
encourage these brave women. By working together, we can bring the hope
of a healthier future to women in the fight against ovarian cancer.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 2004 as National
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. I call upon the people of the United
States to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of
September, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and of the

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118 STAT. 4174

Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
ninth.
GEORGE W. BUSH

PROCLAMATION 7811--SEPT. 10, 2004