[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 182 (Tuesday, September 21, 1999)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 51185-51186]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24782]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 182 / Tuesday, September 21, 1999 /
Presidential Documents
[[Page 51185]]
Proclamation 7223 of September 17, 1999
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Week, 1999
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Ovarian cancer is a devastating disease that takes the
lives of thousands of women in our Nation each year.
Since 1985, there has been a dramatic increase in the
incidence of ovarian cancer, with a 30 percent increase
in the number of women diagnosed with the disease and
an 18 percent increase in the number of fatalities.
Ovarian cancer is particularly deadly, killing nearly
15,000 women each year. It is often not diagnosed until
the cancer is in the late stages of development,
limiting the effectiveness of treatment and reducing
the chances of survival. In its late stages, the
chances of survival from ovarian cancer are just 25
percent; when it is detected early, before the cancer
spreads, the survival rate exceeds 90 percent.
Our most effective weapon in the battle against ovarian
cancer is early detection. Subtle but recognizable
symptoms, such as bloating, vague abdominal pain and
discomfort, gastrointestinal problems, back pain, and
fatigue can also be symptoms of other less serious
illnesses, but women who are experiencing such early
warning signs should consult their doctors immediately
for appropriate tests.
Doctors and researchers have identified factors that
put women at higher risk of developing ovarian cancer,
including a family history of breast and ovarian
cancer, a high fat diet, never having had children, or
infertility. It is vital that women learn about risk
factors and visit their doctors regularly.
As we observe Ovarian Cancer Awareness Week, let us
build on our efforts to eradicate this serious disease
and urge all American women and their families to learn
more about ovarian cancer, its symptoms, and available
methods that may reduce the risk of developing it. By
increasing awareness of early warning signs and risk
factors, maintaining a healthy diet, and consulting
regularly with health care professionals, women across
America can lead healthier and longer lives and help
our Nation win the fight against ovarian cancer.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, 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 19 through
September 25, 1999, as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Week. I
encourage the American people to observe this week with
appropriate ceremonies and activities.
[[Page 51186]]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
nineteen hundred and ninety-nine, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two
hundred and twenty-fourth.
(Presidential Sig.)
[FR Doc. 99-24782
Filed 9-20-99; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P
