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REMARKS BY:	DONNA E. SHALALA, SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
PLACE:		Colorectal Cancer Event, The White House, Washington, D.C.
DATE:		September 10, 1998

Fight Against Colorectal Cancer

Yesterday, in his speech to school children in Orlando, the President made an interesting observation about the new king of swing, Mark McGwire. He said that although McGwire has made home-run history, he's not going to quit baseball or take walks. He's going to keep suiting up, staring pitchers down, and swinging for the fences. Because that's what heroes do.

And that's what we need to do in the battle against cancer

Many of my heroes are in this room - physicians, researchers, foundation leaders who helped build a cancer detection and prevention strategy. And they join other heroes in the fight against cancer: the President and First Lady; scientists at NIH, FDA, CDC, and research institutions and universities around the world; Congress that appropriated funds; and, of course, patients and their families. Together, these heroes have helped win many victories. Overall cancer rates are down. New drugs are coming on the market that prevent some breast cancers. Public awareness about the importance of cancer prevention is on the rise.

But just as Mark McGwire won't start taking walks, we won't walk away from this fight. And that's why we're here today - to strike out colorectal cancer. Although many Americans don't know it, colorectal cancer is one of our nation's biggest killers. It often strikes in the prime of life - and hits men and women almost equally. And most important, although it tends to run in families, no one is immune. This is a seemingly bleak story.

But turn the page because behind it is a story of discovery, change and hope. Today, the death rate from colorectal cancer is dropping. We know that a high-fiber, low-fat diet cuts the risk of this terrible disease. And we've discovered a genetic marker that makes critical early detection easier. Research proves that a special test for colorectal cancer - just once a year - reduces the chance of death in people 50 to 80. The screenings are now covered by Medicare. And the examinations are getting easier as new diagnostic equipment makes screenings quicker and less painful.

But as a nation -- and as individuals -- we need to do more against colorectal cancer. We must keep stepping up to the plate. Because too many people are still suffering and dying from a cancer we can prevent, treat -- and even beat. We need a sustained effort -- and the tireless support -- of government, academic health centers, private research institutions and major corporations. We need Congress to pass the appropriations bills that include a multi-billion dollars in cancer research funding over the next five years. And most importantly, we need to get out the word about colorectal cancer.

That's our goal here today. Because knowledge is our best weapon. Prevention is our best strategy. And the best prevention is to eat smart. Know your family history. And get a regular screening after age 50. That's a message that the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable - with major help from the CDC - is bringing to homes across America.

Roundtables are like great baseball teams. Everyone is necessary, but there will always be a Mark McGwire - or a King Arthur - leading the charge. The head of the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable has that kind of extraordinary leader of vision and courage. So I'm proud to introduce a knight in shining armor for every American fighting colorectal cancer, Dr. Bernard Levin.

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