October is dedicated to cancer awareness, fallen firefighters

The entire month of October will be packed with activities to raise awareness about breast cancer and to honor fallen Commonwealth firefighters.

In back-to-back proclamation signings last Thursday at the Office of the Governor conference room, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres said it is vital to remember all those who’ve lost their lives to cancer or while serving as a firefighter.

In statistics shared by Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. CEO Esther Muna last week, she stressed that breast cancer, by far the most common among women in the Commonwealth, does not discriminate, affecting not just islanders but also Filipinos, Micronesians, and all the other ethnic groups on the island.

She said 86 individuals have been diagnosed with breast cancer in the last nine years in the CNMI and 21 of them lost the battle.

Women are not the only ones susceptible to the epidemic. According to Muna, two men lost their lives to breast cancer.

Because everyone can be diagnosed with breast cancer, it is important that the community remains aware and it is encouraged that individuals get tested since early detection can possibly save lives.

On Oct. 7 and 8, the community is urged to take part in the memorial weekend dedicated to fallen firefighters who lost their lives protecting the Commonwealth.

Those firefighters who lost their lives must be honored because, according to Torres, they were the first responders and had died in response to the call for help and should never forgotten.

To honor these heroes, the Commonwealth community is encouraged to lower flags to half staff, toll a bell, pause for a silent moment, or read a message dedicated to them during the memorial weekend.

According to Torres, it is also important to remember those who lost their battle to cancer because the battle was not easy. Torres urged every individual present during the proclamation to be aware of the possibility.

Thursday’s proclamation signing was a hodge-podge of firefighters, healthcare providers, cancer survivors, and associations that offer help to those individuals diagnosed with cancer.

Throughout the month of October, activities will be held in honor of these causes.

Every Saturday, throughout the month of October, firefighters and the staff of the Commonwealth Cancer Association will conduct a celebrity bagging at all Joeten stores.

There will also be a smoke alarm installation on Tinian on Sept. 30 and fire alarm installation in many different agencies throughout October.

In the beginning of October, a red Mass will be held at the St. Jude Parish in honor of the fallen heroes.

Throughout the month, the Department of Emergency Management Services along with American Red Cross-NMI Chapter will reach out to schools in fire safety.

Every Thursday of October, there will be a boot drive that collects donations that will go to assisting the local cancer association.