Cancer Control Month, 2020

Proclamation 10001 of March 31, 2020

Cancer Control Month, 2020

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

During Cancer Control Month, we commend the unwavering
courage of those across our country who are battling
cancer and remember all who have been taken from us by
this horrible disease. We also rejoice with the nearly
17 million cancer survivors in the United States who
show us that victory over cancer is possible. We extend
our sincere appreciation to the devoted healthcare
professionals, scientists, and researchers who have
committed their lives to discovering a cure for cancer.

While tremendous progress has been made in the fight
against cancer, there is still much work to be done.
Cancer remains the second-leading cause of death in the
United States. Thanks to early detection, preventive
measures, and medical innovation, survival rates for
the most common cancer types--lung, colorectal, breast,
and prostate--have vastly improved, providing much-
needed hope to millions of patients and their families
nationwide. Despite the decreasing death rate from
cancer of nearly 30 percent over the last few decades,
the disease claims the lives of roughly 1,600 Americans
daily, resulting in nearly 600,000 deaths annually.

Research shows that a large proportion of cancers can
be prevented, paving the way for millions of Americans
to take charge of their lives by avoiding unhealthy
behaviors and habits as well as commonly known
carcinogens that can cause cancer. For example, the
majority of melanoma cancer cases diagnosed annually
could have been prevented by protecting skin from
ultraviolet radiation through the use of sunscreen with
sun protection factor 15 or higher and other preventive
measures that shield skin from the sun's harmful rays.
Moreover, tobacco products such as cigarettes and
cigars are responsible for almost 9 out of every 10
cases of lung cancer. Preventive screenings, consulting
your physician when detecting abnormalities, and
awareness of family history can be the difference
between life and death. That is why it is critical for
Americans to see their doctors or healthcare providers
regularly and stick to a healthy diet and routine
physical activity.

My Administration is also working aggressively to
protect our Nation's youth and ensure their lives are
not shattered because of a cancer diagnosis. We
initiated a new effort that invests $500 million over
the next decade to improve pediatric cancer research.
This funding will assist our Nation's most talented
health professionals in learning more about the
devastating cancer diagnoses our children face and
finding the best cures. The National Institutes of
Health has announced the Childhood Cancer Data
Initiative, which supports childhood cancer research
and aims to make it easier for researchers to learn
from each of the approximately 16,000 children and
adolescents diagnosed with cancer in the United States
each year.

As we observe Cancer Control Month, we honor all those
we have lost to cancer by renewing our commitment to
raising awareness, emphasizing prevention and early
detection, supporting innovative treatments, and
prioritizing our health. By remaining steadfast in our
dedication to taking preventative measures and finding
a cure, we will one day defeat this disease.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim April 2020 as Cancer
Control Month. I call upon the people of the United
States to speak with their doctors and healthcare
providers to learn more about preventative measures
that can save lives. I encourage citizens, government
agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations,
and other interested groups to join in appropriate
activities that will increase awareness of what
Americans can do to prevent and control cancer. I also
invite the Governors of the States and Territories and
officials of other areas subject to the jurisdiction of
the United States to join me in recognizing Cancer
Control Month.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord two
thousand twenty, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and forty-fourth.