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REMARKS BY: 		DONNA E. SHALALA, SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
PLACE:			Cancer Rate Press Conference, Washington, D.C.
DATE:			November 14, 1996

Almost 25 years ago, we declared war on cancer and planted the seeds for our future victory.

Today, because of our hard work and our sustained investments, those seeds of hope are finally bearing the fruits of our labor: results.

Make no mistake: This is a turning point. The momentum is finally going our way and we are starting to win the war on cancer.

With this good news, it seems we can even celebrate Thanksgiving two weeks early this year.

Because today, on behalf of all families - those touched by cancer in the past and who will be touched by it in the future, it is time to give thanks. Why?

Because, for the very first time, we are seeing a sustained decrease in cancer mortality? Not a one-time blip, but a real and promising downward trend.

We are seeing real decreases in death rates for killers like breast cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer in men.

And, we now have an entire generation of Americans who can call themselves cancer survivors today and another generation filled with greater hope for tomorrow.

But each Thanksgiving, we give thanks for more than the good fortune of food and family. We also give thanks to those who have helped make it possible.

And that's what we must do today.

In our nation's battle against cancer, no one person, no one factor is responsible for this remarkable accomplishment. Each stood together and on the shoulders of those who came before. And all deserve credit.

And so we stand here today because of our nation's sustained investment in biomedical research.

Because of our commitment to uncovering new ways - better ways - to prevent, treat, and detect this menace.

Because of the increasing expertise of the medical community and the unwavering vigilance of scientists, activists and groups like the American Cancer Society.

And, we are here because our Administration has made fighting cancer and healing its victims a top priority.

How? Since 1993, we've increased funding at the National Cancer Institute by more than $400 million.

We're implementing an historic new initiative to kick tobacco out of the lives of our children.

We're approving cancer drugs more quickly and making it easier for patients to obtain promising new therapies even before they're approved for marketing.

We're moving forward with our National Action Plan on Breast Cancer - a public private partnership with a new internet site and a simple goal: the eradication of breast cancer.

And, just last month, the President unveiled the new Office of Cancer Survivorship - so that we can better meet the needs of our survivors.

We should be proud of all these accomplishments - and proud of the distance we have traveled since 1971.

But, our journey is far from over.

Today, too many families are still plagued by the menace of cancer and not enough of them know about what they can do to prevent it. Too many women are dying from lung cancer and prostate cancer mortality rates among African American men are still disproportionately high.

We can and must do better.

We must never give up. We must continue to work for the day when our children must turn to the history books to learn about a disease called cancer.

Reaching that day will take even more energy that we used to get here.

It will take better research, better treatments, better detection and, most important, it will take better education.

From tobacco to poor diet to lack of reproductive screenings, we must give the American people the information they need to prevent cancer and make the best choices with their lives.

I can think of no better way to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Cancer Act.

And no better way to win the war that it began.

Thank you.