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‘42,000 stricken with cancer’
Unfortunately or not, oral cancer is no stranger to the CNMI. On the islands, it was the third leading type of cancer in 2016. And one of the leading causes of oral cancer in the CNMI is chewing betel nut with additives such as tobacco and lime.
Nationwide, 42,000 individuals are diagnosed with oral cancer each year. Unfortunately, majority of these are found at later stages making it incurable and causing a high death rate in the U.S.
To combat this disease, Lt. Gov. Victor B. Hocog signed a proclamation yesterday to raise awareness of the issue—he has designated April as CNMI Oral Cancer Awareness Month.
To mark the occasion, the Commonwealth Cancer Association will be partnering with different agencies such as the Seventh Day Adventist Dental Clinic, Commonwealth Healthcare Corp., Division of Public Health Service, CHCC Dental Clinic, Dental Care, New Wave Dental Clinic, Smile Marianas, and ToothWorks to encourage people to get themselves checked.
Dentists are usually capable of spotting precancerous tissues, or cancer that has already formed and is at its earliest stage.
Free oral cancer screenings will be offered to the community throughout the month. This is to ensure the early detection of oral cancer and early prevention of the disease.
Juan Babauta, executive director of the Commonwealth Cancer Association, encourages everyone in community to take advantage of the free oral screening, to educate themselves and people they know who are at risk or are already suffering from oral cancer.
CCA will also be going around in April, sharing oral cancer presentations with the youth of the CNMI. The association plans to go to every school in the Commonwealth.
“This disease is increasing by numbers each year,” said CCA vice president Nora Sablan. The goal of the association is to bring education and awareness to the younger generation. The association calls to the community to take part in the enforcement of oral cancer awareness throughout the month of April.
The proclamation was signed at the Multi-Purpose Hall, Susupe.
