A joint resolution to designate the month of May, 1987 as "National Cancer Institute Month".
PL 100-24 (S.J.Res.74), enacted 04/10/1987

PUBLIC LAW 100-24—APR. 10, 1987 
101 STAT. 269 
Public Law 100-24 
100th Congress 
Joint Resolution 
To designate the month of May, 1987 as "National Cancer Institute Month". 
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[S.J. Res. 74] 
Whereas in 1937 the "National Cancer Institute" was created by 
law, 
Whereas the intent of Congress in enacting legislation in 1937 was 
to initiate a new, high priority, highly visible, national program 
for the conquest of cancer. 
Whereas Congress continues to stress the importance of the Na-
tional Cancer Institute through the creation of the 1971 National 
Cancer Act and its 1974, 1978, 1982, and 1986 reauthorizations, 42 use 201 note. 
Whereas the National Cancer Institute represents a unique struc-
ture for a coherent and systematic attack on the vastly complex 
problems of cancer through the National Cancer Institute, 
Whereas the National Cancer Institute created a network of cancer 
centers that has increased from three before 1971 to fifty-nine in 
1986, thus providing the Nation with an invaluable national 
resource for cancer research, treatment, control, prevention, and 
training, 
Whereas recombinant DNA techniques and monoclonal antibody 
technologies have contributed so much to discovering the blue-
print of cancer and now hold enormous promise for rapidly 
diagnosing and characterizing tumors and for treating patients, 
Whereas cancer research scientists supported by the National 
Cancer Program funded by the National Cancer Institute deter-
mined the function of a normal human oncogene, and are 
elucidating the role of oncogene products in cancer, discovered the 
structure of the T-cell receptor, demonstrated the role of viruses 
in the causation of cancer, discovered that the virus HTLV-III is 
the cause of AIDS, showing that fundamental research in cancer 
biology forms the underpinnings for all other cancer research 
programs, 
Whereas it has been shown that systemic therapies, largely devel-
oped through clinical trials, can cure cancer with more than 50 
per centum of patients potentially curable and numerous cancers 
now have five-year survival rates over 75 per centum such as 
thyroid, endometrium, melanoma, breast, bladder, Hodgkin's dis-
ease, and prostate and with children's five-year cancer survival 
rates reaching an all-time high of 60 per centum. 
Whereas progress continues in understanding and planning strate-
gies to interfere with cancer metastasis and overcome drug 
resistance, 
Whereas collaboration between surgery, radiation therapy, chemo-
therapy, and therapy with biological response modifiers has 
greatly improved the outcome for cancer patients, allowing for 
less radical surgery by utilizing adjuvant radiation and new suc-
cess in hard-to-treat tumors through improved chemotherapy, 
Whereas the National Cancer Institute has mounted a major pro-
gram of research on cancer prevention which serves £is the basis 
101 STAT. 270 
PUBLIC LAW 100-24—APR. 10, 1987 
42 u s e 201 note. 
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for a prevention awareness program stressing what individuals 
can do to lower personal cancer risk by modif5dng lifestyle factors 
such as diet, and 
Whereas the National Cancer Act has fostered the transfer of 
information from basic research to the patient's bedside, while 
strengthening a network that links basic science laboratories, 
cancer centers, cooperative groups of clinical researchers, commu-
nity oncologists, practicing physicians, and nurse oncologists, and 
facilitate the application of the results of research: Now, there-
fore, be it 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That the month of May, 
1987 is designated as "National Cancer Institute Month", and the 
President of the United States is authorized and requested to issue a 
proclamation calling upon the people of the United States and all 
appropriate Government agencies to observe the month with appro-
priate programs and activities. 
Approved April 10, 1987. 
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LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S.J. Res. 74: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 133 (1987): 
Mar. 20, considered and passed Senate. 
Mar. 31, considered and passed House. 
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