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‘Female-associated cancers lead ’09 to ’18 diagnoses’
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Posted on May 02 2019
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres sign the CNMI Women’s Health Month proclamation with Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios as Commonwealth Health Care Corp. chief executive officer Esther Muña looks on. (Erwin Encinares)
Between 2009 and 2018, gynecological cancer and breast cancer were the overall top 2 cancer diagnoses in the Commonwealth.
Gynecological cancer, which includes cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar, are exclusively diseases among women, while males who are diagnosed with breast cancer number less than 1 percent.
These numbers were highlighted in the CNMI Women’s Health Month proclamation signing last Tuesday at the Office of the Governor’s conference room on Capital Hill. The general message of the observance is for women to prioritize their own health care.
“Women from all walks of life and at every stage of life have unique health needs that should be addressed in their own right,” the proclamation noted. “Women make a majority of health care decisions for their families, serving as the primary caregiver for their parents, partners, and children, especially when they become ill. When women take care of everyone else, they tend to put their own health and wellbeing in the back burner.”
On the islands, even though most food is best served with rice, non-communicable diseases such as hypertension from too much sodium and diabetes from too much sugar continues to affect the community.
“How can we take care of anybody when you can’t take care of yourself,” asked Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios in a short message at the proclamation signing.
Being one in 14 children, Palacios said he recognizes the importance of a mother’s health, especially when it comes to her children.
“We have this sense of appreciation for the mothers, the sisters, and the aunts for all the services that they do as they care for the family and everybody else…but a lot of times they forget about their own health,” he added. “I am glad we are starting to recognize and encourage women, because before you can take care of anyone else, you need to take care of yourself.”
This year’s theme for Women’s Health Month is “Begins With Me,” which according to the proclamation highlights the “need for everyone in the community, especially women, to prioritize their health.”
