GOVERNOR Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang declared April as Oral Cancer Awareness Month through a proclamation they signed on March 31, Friday, at the governor’s office. Witnessing the event were cancer survivors and their families as well as other members of the community.
According to the proclamation, one in five adults or 19% of the population in the CNMI chew betel nut and 88% of that number also add cigarettes to what they chew.
The proclamation also noted that 68% of the CNMI’s adult cancers are tobacco-related and 33% of high school students had reported chewing betel nut.
“Betel nut is a class 1 carcinogen. Betel nut causes cancer and almost all of us in this room know this fact,” the proclamation stated.
“If we know this, why do we continue to chew cancer?”
The proclamation stated that most people think chewing betel nut is “cultural.”
But “true culture is a culture of love and family.”
“Our culture is to live full lives together. How many of our loved ones have we lost far too soon?” the proclamation asked.
The proclamation encourages members of the community to quit chewing betel nut, stop smoking cigarettes, cigars or pipes, using smokeless products such as vapes or chewing tobacco or dip, and to reduce alcohol intake.
Governor Palacios said the proclamation should serve as an eye-opener to everyone, including himself, a former smoker.
“I’ve learned my lesson the hard way,” he added.
Apatang, for his part, said chewing a betel nut is a “hobby” that is a bit difficult to quit, but it is possible.
He also noted the unsanitary practice of spitting betel nut juice “everywhere,” including in a parking lot.
Palacios and Apatang encouraged community members, including lawmakers who chew betel nut, to make a personal change and help prevent and stop oral cancer.
Oral cancer survivors and their families join Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov. Arnold M. Apatang in a proclamation signing ceremony Friday, March 31, at the governor’s office on Capital Hill.
