Ronald Reagan

“ This year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Act that created the National Cancer Institute. For half a century the NCI staff has worked with talent, dedication, and creativity and made much progress in cancer control programs. Our national investment in the NCI is paying impressive dividends. Cancer patients are living longer today and leading fuller lives than ever before; since the early 1940s, the 5-year relative survival rate for cancer has risen from 30 percent to 50 percent. ”

“ Applying knowledge now at hand could cut the annual cancer death rate by 50 percent by the year 2000. To reach this goal, the NCI urges us to stop smoking, cut fat consumption to 30 percent or less of total calories, and double daily consumption of fiber from whole-grain breads, cereals, fruits, and vegetables. All adults should also ask their doctors about special early cancer detection tests. Two such tests are mammography for breast cancer and Pap smears for cervical cancer. ”