Celebrity bagging endorses prostate cancer awareness

Shoppers flocking to Price CostCo and Dolphin Wholesale tomorrow will see familiar faces bagging their groceries after several government dignitaries confirmed participating in a Celebrity Bagging event intended to promote prostate cancer awareness.

Del Lieto, one of the event’s organizers, disclosed yesterday that seven individuals have already confirmed participating in the bagging, which would take place at the two locations from 9am to 1pm.

Among those who will be stationed at cashier counters at Price CostCo are Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary Juan L. Babauta, Women’s Affairs Office director Emi Palican, Rep. Ray A. Tebuteb, and Rep. David Apatang.

Making the same contribution at Dolphin is Rep. Benjamin Seman.

Northern Marianas College president Antonio V. Deleon Guerrero and Rep. Claudio Norita have also confirmed taking part in the event, with Guerrero bagging at CostCo and Norita at Dolphin next Saturday.

Lieto said 30 letters requesting participation were distributed to various agencies on Saipan.

The event is just one of many intended to promote awareness and prevention of the cancer. On Sept. 8, Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela signed a joint proclamation with the Commonwealth Cancer Association declaring Sept. 12-25 as 2004 Prostate Cancer Awareness Weeks.

Tudela said that presentations on prostate cancer prevention and awareness would be conducted at various locations throughout the ensuing two weeks. Among the locations are Pacific Trading Co., Pacific Islands Club, Marianas Cable Vision, Saipan Shipping, Saipan Stevedore, Division of Customs, Commonwealth Ports Authority, and Verizon. Three presentations will be conducted at the PIC, while two will be held at MCV.

Presentations will be conducted by two doctors and three nurses from the Commonwealth Health Center.

From 1997 to 2003, the CNMI DPH registered an estimated 25 men who were diagnosed with prostate cancer, with seven succumbing to the cancer in 1997.

In the United States, 230,110 men will learn that they have prostate cancer, and that approximately 29,900 men will lose their lives to the disease in 2004.

“One in six men in the nation are at risk of developing prostate cancer during their lifetime,” Tudela said.

This is the third year in which the Saipan Mayor’s Office has worked with other agencies in promoting awareness of the cancer. In 2002, Tudela signed with the American Cancer Association a proclamation for a one-day event. The event grew last year as Tudela declared a weeklong awareness campaign with the CCA and DPH.

The theme for this year’s campaign is “Real Men Do It! Prostate Cancer Screening Saves Lives.”

Individuals interested in the Celebrity Bagging activity may contact Joyce Songsong at 236-8728/28 to sign up. Those interested in having an awareness presentation may contact Chris Kapileo at 683-0050.