This is an archive page.  The links are no longer being updated.

REMARKS BY:	DONNA E. SHALALA, SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
PLACE:		Federal Coordinating Committee's Breast Cancer Workshop, Washington, D.C.
DATE:		September 28, 1998

Finally, we saw a relentless pursuit of greatness. Even after they made home-run history, Sosa and McGwire never quit baseball or took walks. They kept suiting up, staring pitchers down, and swinging for the fences. Because that's what heroes do.

We need to heed all three lessons today, on the heels of the March on Washington against Cancer. On the eve of Breast Cancer prevention month. And, as we come together in this unprecedented meeting to escalate our battle against breast cancer. We need to reach out to new partners. We need to harness the public spirit we saw on the mall this weekend. And, even though we've made history, the heroes against breast cancer need to keep swinging for the fences.

Many of these heroes are in this room - public health leaders, outreach workers, researchers, scientists and physicians who have led our breast cancer prevention and detection strategy. And, you join the other heroes in the fight against breast cancer: activists, research institutions and universities around the world; Congressional leaders and, of course, patients and their families -- including the President and First Lady;

As you know, the First Family has a deep understanding of breast cancer, having seen the President's own mother fight a courageous battle against it. And, no Administration has been more committed to lifting this deadly shadow that hangs over the life of every women - of every family.

I'm proud that together - with many of you - this Administration created the National Action Plan on Breast Cancer, a public private partnership with a single goal: The complete eradication of breast cancer.

To pursue this goal since 1993, we've almost doubled discretionary spending for breast cancer research, prevention and treatment. And, we've made progress we can measure. The overall Breast Cancer mortality rate for American women has dropped over 6 percent in recent years. The number of American women getting recommended mammograms has increased by 30 percent. And, the death rate from Breast Cancer has continued to decrease -- probably due to early detection and improved treatment.

In fact, gone are the days, when breast cancer was considered a death sentence. Today we have a whole new generation of women who call themselves Breast Cancer survivors. Tomorrow, we hope to celebrate many more, because we are supporting revolutionary new research that promises to escalate our battle against breast cancer.

We've discovered genes linked to hereditary breast cancer - discoveries that can help us detect the disease early when we can still treat it and beat it. We already knew that Tamoxifin could prevent the re-occurrence of breast cancer. But recently our Breast Cancer Prevention Trial showed us that women at high risk of breast cancer can also use Tamoxifin to reduce their chances of ever getting the disease. As you may have heard on Friday, the FDA approved the use of Herceptin for certain women with advanced breast cancer.

We are also supporting a variety of research projects to improve the quality of mammography screenings. One applies the computer technologies used to improve spy satellites. Around the world, we're also seeing research in cutting-edge alternatives to mammography, including a high-tech bra with heat sensors and an electronic memory chip.

During the course of this conference, you will probably hear about some of this research in detail, and how new discoveries are changing the way we look at breast cancer detection, treatment and prevention. But, I know that you will also discuss the basics. Because right now the best way to detect breast cancer is still regular mammograms and annual exams. And, we can't emphasize that enough.

Early detection remains our most powerful weapon in the war against breast cancer. 93 percent of breast cancer cases are successfully treated when detected early. that's difference between a breast cancer survivor, and a statistic.

This Administration understands that well. That's why I'm proud that as of this year, mammograms for all Medicare eligible women over 40 are free. I'm proud that last year, we replaced years of confusion with a clear and consistent scientific recommendation for woman in their 40s - that regular mammograms can save your life.

I'm proud that the President announced even tougher regulations for mammograms under the Mammography Quality Standards Act. Medical facilities, health providers and detection equipment will all be held to the highest possible standards -- so that all women have confidence in the care and the results they receive.

All of us should take heart in these accomplishments. We should take heart in the fact that we're-bit by bit-chipping away at this terrible disease. But just as Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire won't start taking walks, we won't walk away from the fight against Breast Cancer.

That's why we're here today. Because we still have much work to do - and many challenges to meet.

Our first challenge is to spread the word, especially to older women, poor women and women of color. Believe it or not, too many women still haven't heard our message about detection and prevention. A third of women ages 50-64, and an even higher percentage of women over 65 still report they haven't had a mammogram during the past two years.

Our second challenge is to make sure all women benefit from our progress against breast cancer, regardless of their race or ethnicity. While the breast cancer death rate declined over 6 percent for white women between 1991 and 1995, it only declined by 1.6 percent among black women. That's why our Initiative to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities has set a specific goal to increase the number of minority women who get annual mammograms.

But along with fighting racial discrimination, our third challenge is fighting genetic discrimination. Too many women are afraid of getting screened because they are afraid to find out they're genetically pre- disposed to breast cancer and losing their health insurance. This Administration has made clear: we need to protect the privacy of our genetic information to make sure our health information is used to heal us -- and not reveal us.

Our fourth challenge is to make sure that all women, including women at high risk of breast cancer, can access the care they need and deserve. That's why we are fighting for the Patient's Bill of Rights -- to make sure that every health plan guarantees a patient's right to see a specialists, if they need to.

And, finally we need to keep plugging away at breast cancer research, looking at the underlying causes and possible treatments. Because unfortunately, we still don't have a cure. But fortunately, we do have all of you. We have your partnership. Your spirit of service and your perseverance.

And, we have this conference. It's a first of it's kind. But, it's also the first of many. So, make the best use of your time. Be creative. Be innovative. And, don't be afraid to think big. Because the most important weapon we have to fight breast cancer is commitment.

We're living, of course, in a golden age of communication. When you can call your mother in Des Moines from a cell phone in the Saudi desert. In an age of communication that's bringing everyone closer together, why can't we link up all troops fighting breast cancer into one powerful force? Why can't we link up all the different federal, state and local resources into one powerful force?

Today we can and we will. We will keep fighting breast cancer. We will keep fighting it together. We will keep enlisting all forces and all families to join the fight. Not just today. Not just during this conference. Not just during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but every single day of the year.

Thank you.