Biden recognizes Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

Too many Americans know the pain of losing a mother, sister, wife, daughter or friend to ovarian cancer – the deadliest form of cancer of the reproductive system. women. This year alone, about 20,000 women will be diagnosed with this terrible disease. During National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, we honor the memories of all the women we have lost. We pledge our support to all brave women living with ovarian cancer and all those who have survived it. And we thank their loved ones, who stand faithfully by their side, and the medical researchers, health care providers and caregivers who fight hard to save lives every day.

In our decades-long battle to find cures for cancer, scientists have made incredible progress and discovered better ways to prevent, detect and treat it. But for ovarian cancer, in particular, there is no reliable method of asymptomatic testing and detection, which can delay diagnosis until the cancer is already fatal. Even after a diagnosis has been made, the amount of medical information, appointment time, procedures and financial costs are too much. And often, families, caregivers and patients are left to advocate for effective care.

First Lady Jill Biden and I know from our own experience that cancer takes a toll on the whole family. That’s why I made the fight against cancer a priority for our administration. I ran the Biden Cancer Moonshot with the goal of reducing the cancer death rate by at least 50% over 25 years and improving the experience of patients and loved ones. I created the Center for Advanced Research Projects for Health, to secure $4 billion in bipartisan funding to support scientists, innovators and public health professionals who are making efforts to to prevent, detect and treat cancer and other life-threatening and life-changing diseases. And we’ve introduced new reimbursement codes so that, for the first time, families with cancer can access patient referral services through Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance. Cancer management services are personalized assistance to patients, caregivers and families to help guide them through the many decisions and challenges that come with a cancer diagnosis, shown to reduce cancer disparities, improve health outcomes and making a significant difference in people’s lives.

My administration is also working hard to make cancer treatments affordable. I am proud to strengthen Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, or ACA, by expanding health care coverage to millions of Americans – saving families $800 million a year in health insurance premiums. And with the Affordable Care Act, we’re reducing out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors and others with Medicare by $2,000 a year — including for ovarian cancer drugs, which can be expensive more than $10,000 a year.

Additionally, because early detection is critical to beating ovarian cancer, my administration is working to ensure that every American can get a life-saving cancer screening. In my first year in office, we expanded coverage under the ACA, which requires insurers to pay for recommended cancer screenings and primary care visits. I encourage all women to talk to their doctors about risk factors and stay alert for symptoms. Experts recommend that patients with a personal or family history of breast or ovarian cancer – or whose family members are associated with a risk gene – discuss risk factors with their doctor to determine whether genetic counseling and testing is appropriate.

During National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, let’s resolve to do all we can together to provide patients, survivors and their families with the treatment, care and support they need and deserve. Let’s rededicate ourselves to the urgent task of increasing ovarian cancer awareness so that we can save more lives sooner. And let us never lose hope or waver in our determination to end cancer as we know it – for all the lives lost and all we can save.

Now, I, Joseph R. Biden Jr., president of the United States of America, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 2024 as National Cancer Awareness Month of Ovary. . I urge people in the United States to talk to their doctors and health care providers to learn more about ovarian cancer. I encourage citizens, government agencies, private businesses, non-profit organizations, the media and other interested groups to increase awareness of what Americans can do to detect and treat ovarian cancer.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand and twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America in the two hundred and forty-nine.