National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, 2002

___________________________________________________________________

Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 7599 of October 1, 2002

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, 2002

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

During National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we
recognize the progress being made towards a cure for
this disease, which robs so many women of their health
and, in too many cases, their lives. This year, an
estimated 203,000 American women will be diagnosed with
breast cancer, and almost 40,000 will die. Although we
have made great medical strides in understanding breast
cancer, much remains to be done to advance prevention,
early detection, and effective treatment.

Regular screenings remain the most effective way to
identify breast cancer in its earliest and most
treatable stages. For women 40 and over, having
mammograms every 1 to 2 years can reduce the risk of
dying from breast cancer. To ensure mammography is
available to all American women, the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides screening
and treatment services through the National Breast and
Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. Now in its
12th year, this Program has offered free and low-cost
mammograms to almost 1.5 million low-income and
minority women across our country.

In addition, the Federal Breast and Cervical Cancer
Prevention and Treatment Act allows States to expand
Medicaid coverage to low-income, uninsured women who
were screened through the CDC program and found to need
treatment for breast or cervical cancer. To date, the
Department of Health and Human Services has approved
this Medicaid eligibility in 45 States.

To prevent breast cancer, we must increase awareness of
its risk factors and causes. Age and genetic factors
have been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer.
And researchers are now exploring how diet and hormonal
factors are linked to possible causes. This information
will help women and their doctors make informed health
care choices.

My Administration continues to support research efforts
to discover a cure and advance our understanding of
breast cancer. The National Cancer Institute invested
more than $475 million last year on breast cancer
research, and we will devote an estimated $535.8
million this year and approximately $604.3 million next
year. In addition to these important funding increases
taken by my Administration, Americans have raised more
than $23 million over the past 4 years by purchasing
the Breast Cancer Research stamp, which will be
available until December 31, 2003, from the United
States Postal Service. I also commend all of the
private and nonprofit groups, especially everyone who
has worked on the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, for
all their efforts and contributions in the fight
against breast cancer.

Much of this funding is directed towards clinical
trials dedicated to finding new and more effective ways
of preventing, detecting, and treating breast cancer.
America is grateful to the brave and generous women who
help fight this disease by participating in clinical
trials. Researchers rely on these courageous patients,
who help us learn about the safety and effectiveness of
new approaches of treatment and, in doing so, bring us
closer to eliminating this terrible disease.

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 October 2002 as National
Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I call upon government
officials, businesses, communities, healthcare
professionals, educators, volunteers, and all the
people of the United States to publicly reaffirm our
Nation's strong and continuing commitment to
controlling and curing breast cancer.

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

(Presidential Sig.)B