National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, 2004

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

(Presidential Sig.)B