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 Proc. 7276 Title 3--The President Proclamation 7276 of February 29, 2000 National Colerectal Cancer Awareness Month, 2000 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Coloroctal cancer is the second loading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Estimates show that physicians will diagnose approxi- mately 130,000 new cases of coloroctal cancer this year, and, of those per- sons diagnosed, more than 56,000 will die from the disease. Coloroctal can- cer takes such a deadly tell because it usually has no identifiable symp- toms and often goes undetected until it is too late to treat. Our most effective weapon in defeating coloroctal cancer is early detection and treatment. Through a regular screening program that includes focal blood testing, periodic partial or full colon examinations, or both, health professionals can detect and remove pro-cancorous polyps before they turn into cancer. Such cancer screening should become a routine part of preven- tive health care for anyone over the ago of 50, because the risk of devel- oping colerectal cancer increases with age. Individuals with a personal or family history of inflammatory bowel disease, coloroctal cancer or polyps, or ovarian, ondomotrial, or breast cancer are also at a higher risk for devel- oping colerectal cancer. We can draw hope from the progress that is being made in coloroctal can- cer research. The National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health recently launched a large research study to test two of the most promising drugs to treat colerectal cancer, and new technologies are giving us more powerful tools to increase the ease and accuracy of coloroctal screening. By continuing to support such research, raising awareness of risk factors for the disease, promoting the widespread adoption of regular screening, and encouraging everyone to exercise regularly, we can save thousands of lives each year and dramatically reduce the risk of colerectal cancer. NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitu- tion and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2000 as Na- tional Colerectal Cancer Awareness Month. I encourage health care pro- viders, advocacy groups, policymakers, and concerned citizens across the country to help raise public awareness of the risks and methods of preven- tion of coloroctal cancer and to use the power of our knowledge to defeat this silent disease. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand, and of the Inde- pendence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty- fourth. WILLIAM J. CLINTON 38

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