‘We don’t need to continue tradition that promotes addiction, death’

Oral cancer is the third most common type of cancer in the CNMI today and 73 oral cancer survivors registered with the Commonwealth Cancer Association between 2020 and 2024, according to CCA.

“We honor the 33 who are no longer with us,” said cancer survivor Melvin Manahane in reading a proclamation for Oral Cancer Awareness Month yesterday at the Office of the Governor’s conference room.

CCA found that the leading cause of oral cancer in the CNMI is chewing betel nut.

Manahane said betel nut and tobacco, both of which are class I carcinogens, are often introduced at a young age and consumption continues into adulthood.

Manahane said according to the Non-Communicable Diseases & Risk Factor Hybrid Report, one in three high school students in the CNMI reports chewing betel nut, and one in five adults currently chew betel nut.

He said of those who chew, 88% add cigarettes to their mix.

About 25% of adults in the CNMI currently smoke cigarettes.

Manahane said only 30% of adults in the CNMI reported having a dental visit from 2022 to 2023.

“Whereas, we don’t expect cancer, so oral cancer is often detected in its later stages, reducing the five-year survival rate from 83.7% to 38.5% and increasing the odds of cancer recurring (National Library of Medicine, 2022),” he said.

Dr. Angelica Sabino, who is the chief dentist for the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp., said it is through her experience moving back home in 2016, that he has seen many people who have suffered from oral cancer in the CNMI.

Sabino said prior to her returning home she has not seen any oral cancer lesion at all.

“Many of us, if not all of us have been affected by oral cancer. We know someone who has oral cancer, who is a survivor of oral cancer, who has passed away from oral cancer. Whether it be a family member, a friend or an acquaintance,” she said.

Sabino said oral cancer is a beast that is taking the livelihood of the community.

She said it is a community disease as affects the community economically, socially, and physically.

Sabino said patients who returned from surgical treatment often are ashamed of their appearance, their speech, and other physical changes that is not considered normal to them.

She said physically, patients who are treated often have problems caring for their teeth, have speech impediment, unable to eat properly, and the disfigurement that they have makes life harder.

“We use a tradition, culture as a reason why we continue to chew,” she said.

Sabino said people in the CNMI have other cultural norms that they can promote—respect for elders, their dances, their language.

“We do not need to continue a culture that promotes addiction and death. A culture that continues to cause our community to suffer,” she said.

Sabino said oral cancer is preventable, but the CNMI’s statistic does not show this fact.

“Why? Because we have not addressed this problem aggressively,” she pointed out.

Sabino said as leaders of the community, she believes they are not doing enough to help decrease the prevalence of oral cancer in the islands.

She underscored the need to educate the community on the reality that chewing betel nut with tobacco especially causes cancer.

Sabino said they have to seek means to prevent the youth from starting this habit through early education of its danger.

“We have to encourage our community to have a better healthy lifestyle to develop healthy habits and to involve agencies also to address the mental health aspect of this cancer,” she said.

Sabino said the people are fortunate because all the dental clinics in the CNMI have offered cancer screening as a free service to the community.

Jocelyn Deleon Guerrero, who is the president of the CCA board of directors, said CCA is committed to actively raise awareness and not just oral cancer, but all types of cancer. Deleon Guerrero said in today’s world the word cancer has become prevalent in the society.

“No one is immune from cancer and that it does not discriminate. Cancer doesn’t care what your age, your gender or what ethnicity you are,” she said.

The CCA board of directors president said the sad truth of the matter is that all have someone close to them or know someone who was fighting their battle with cancer, or sadly, has lost their fight to this horrific disease.

Deleon Guerrero said April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month and the CCA in partnership with oral healthcare advocates feel that it is very important to educate their clients and loved ones regarding the risks and precautions they can all take to help find, treat and beat this devastating disease.

“We will continue to work hard to provide hope, education, and awareness in our community,” she said.

Deleon Guerrero also shared about the return of their signature fundraising event, the Marianas March Against Cancer.

“After four years of hiatus and MAC is back!” said Deleon Guerrero, adding that the event will he held on May 3, 2024 at the airport field.

In signing the proclamation, Gov. Arnold I. Palacios said he and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang call upon all citizens of the Commonwealth to unite in battle against oral cancer.

“With unwavering resolve, let us shatter the barriers of fear and denial, exert control over harmful habits such as betel nut and tobacco use, educate our youth, prioritize regular screenings, and seize this month as our opportunity to enact meaningful change in the fight against oral cancer,” Palacios said.

Apatang said he is also a cancer survivor and that his wife passed away from cancer seven years ago.

Apatang said he is still continuing to take care of himself, taking care of his body, and being careful what he consumes.

He urged CCA to continue to promote, educate the community about oral cancer.

Apatang said all those businesses that are selling betel nut are making money but betel nut is not doing anything good to the people.

He said he hates seeing people especially chewing betel nut and spitting it out in the community.