Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 15, 1993 TAG: 9312150219
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
At the opening session of a conference on breast cancer at the National Institutes of Health, Shalala called on experts to draw up a plan that will give direction to President Clinton, to Congress and to federal decision-makers for a renewed war against breast cancer.
"The plan must address why the incidence of breast cancer is steadily rising, and what action we must take to detect breast cancer earlier, when we have a better chance of saving lives," she said.
Breast cancer strikes about one woman in eight and kills about 46,000 women a year.
"Everyone in this room understands that this disease rips at the very soul of women," said Shalala. "And at the souls of our husbands, our children, our parents, our sisters and brothers and our friends."
Committees of the conference will draw up recommendations for a final report to be delivered to her department in six weeks, Shalala said. She was to meet with leaders of the committees today.
Shalala asked that the plan consider the following elements:
A genetic counseling program, because a tendency toward breast cancer can be inherited. Researchers are searching for a breast cancer gene.
A strong education program aimed at prevention and early detection.
Basic research into environmental influences on breast cancer. Hormones and pesticides are among factors suggested as causes of breast cancer.
Ways to speed research discoveries into clinical treatment.
How to develop tests that more accurately detect the disease, particularly in younger women.
by CNB