Presidential Documents

20491 

Federal Register 

Vol. 77, No. 66 

Thursday, April 5, 2012 

Title 3— 

The President 

Proclamation 8790 of April 2, 2012 

National Cancer Control Month, 2012 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

This year, an estimated half a million Americans will lose their lives to 

cancer, and three times that many will be diagnosed with this devastating 

illness. Cancer patients are parents and grandparents, children and cherished 

friends; the disease touches almost all of us and casts a shadow over families 

and communities across our Nation. Yet, today, we stand at a critical moment 

in cancer research that promises significant advances for patients and an 

accelerated pace of lifesaving discoveries. During National Cancer Control 

Month, we remember those we have lost, support Americans fighting this 

disease, and recommit to progress toward effective cancer control. 

Prevention and screening are our best defenses against cancer. All Americans 

can reduce their risk by keeping a healthy diet, exercising regularly, limiting 

sun exposure, avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, and living tobaccofree. Because tobacco use causes a wide variety of cancers and chronic 

lung diseases, I encourage individuals struggling to quit to call 1–800-QUITNOW or visit www.SmokeFree.gov for help and information. 

Regular screening and check-ups with a health professional can also play 

a key role in preventing cancer and detecting the disease early, when it 

is often most treatable. Under the Affordable Care Act, over 54 million 

Americans with private health coverage have already received preventive 

services—including mammograms and other cancer screenings—at no additional cost. For more resources on how to reduce the risk of developing 

cancer, visit www.Cancer.gov. 

Federally funded research has brought about landmark advances in cancer 

prevention, diagnosis, and treatment that promise real change for the millions 

of Americans facing this disease. Sophisticated analysis continues to shed 

light on the molecular basis of cancer and unlock new therapies. Innovative 

studies are paving the way for effective treatments to deadly cancers, including melanoma. And new research shows that screening procedures can reduce 

mortality from lung cancer, which could save lives among those at greatest 

risk. As we move forward, my Administration will continue to support 

groundbreaking cancer research that brings hope to countless individuals 

and families across our country. 

Over the past several decades, we have made remarkable progress in understanding and combatting cancer. We owe the knowledge we have gained 

and the lives we have saved to the countless doctors, patients, families, 

and researchers whose dedication and perseverance have led the way to 

today’s most promising technologies and treatments. During National Cancer 

Control Month, we pay tribute to the men, women, and children we have 

lost to cancer, and we look ahead to a future in which more Americans 

have the opportunity to live out the full measure of their days in health 

and happiness. 

The Congress of the United States, by joint resolution approved March 

28, 1938 (52 Stat. 148; 36 U.S.C. 103), as amended, has requested the 

President to issue an annual proclamation declaring April as ‘‘Cancer Control 

Month.’’ 


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20492 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 66 / Thursday, April 5, 2012 / Presidential Documents 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States 

of America, do hereby proclaim April 2012 as National Cancer Control 

Month. I encourage citizens, government agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other interested groups to join in activities that 

will increase awareness of what Americans can do to prevent and control 

cancer. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this second day 

of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth. 

[FR Doc. 2012–8317 

Filed 4–4–12; 8:45 am] 

Billing code 3295–F2–P 


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