Page 5 - MidWeek West - March 24, 2021

munity. My community played a massive part in the person I am today. It guid- ed me to become an ambi- tious, passionate and, most of all, empathetic person. We should always strive to do more for others and the community that helped raise us. We’ve crossed the road, but we need to pave path- ways for others to follow.”
Student Council.
For Rader, her justifi-
hearing about the typhoon that hit the Philippines in 2013.
“From this event, it showed people that though we may be stuck in a pandemic, ser- vice is needed now more than ever and that something as simple as sacrificing one hour in your day to help an- other can make a significant impact.”
Though the pandemic has put a stop to most in-person community events, Valois has managed to keep her schedule packed as the co- chair of the National Honor Society’s service project UNICEF Math for Good, during which she raised more than $1,000 by partic- ipating. The August Ahrens Elementary School alum also serves as secretary of
“If there was one lesson I would have to take away from high school, it would be that leadership isn’t about you, it’s about the people around you. This lesson re- ally bridged my understand- ing of the role I played in my community. I believe that anyone and everyone is a leader and has the capa- bilities and potential to be a great one. Our community instills these lessons and val- ues into us, and it is full of all the people we care about that have helped us be the people we are today.”
More recently, Rader — who aims to study peace and conflict resolution at Uni- versity of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa — planned a 30-day Service Challenge, during which various clubs would host different projects via Zoom. She also serves as a member of the Hawaiʻi State Student Council and Leeward District Student Council, Key Club division lieutenant governor and co-treasurer of the Span- ish National Honor Society.
Although their schedules are filled to the brim with schoolwork and acts of ser- vice, the two teens manage to find time to be just that. Valois loves to read, write poetry, play the ʻukulele and hang out with her turtle Tuck; while Rader likes to watch anime and foreign dramas, like Attack on Titan, Ashes of Love and The Last Empress.
cation for why she lends a helping hand to the commu- nity is a selfless one.
“I remember breaking open my piggy bank and scavenging throughout my home, collecting clothes, school supplies and any spare change that I could find.”
Rader’s passion for vol- unteering was sparked after
Marauder Hollie Rader participated in the United States Senate Youth Program.
PHOTO COURTESY HOLLIE RADER
To learn more about the United States Senate Youth Program, visit ussenat- eyouth.org.
MARCH 24, 2021
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(CRC) is much higher than you think.
The American Cancer Society estimates there will be over 100,000 new cases of colon cancer and over 45,000 cases of rectal cancer in 2021 alone.
On the whole, there are over one million CRC survivors in the U.S. This is not an insignificant number.
Roughly50,000peopledieofCRCeverysingleyear.TheprojectedCRCdeaths for 2021 are expected to be higher than 50,000.
Even if you don’t know these people personally, it’s just as likely these are people whose lives are strongly interwoven with your friends and family.
Educating yourself and the people you care about is vital.
CRC symptoms are wide ranging. Changes in bowel habits or bleeding from the rectum are obvious signs. But abdominal pain, sudden weight loss and fatigue can also be symptoms. Particularly troubling, CRC is sometimes accompanied by no symptoms whatsoever.
Ask your doctor today when you should begin screening based on your risk factors and age or let them know if you’ve been experiencing any symtoms associatedwithCRC.
WHAT CAN I DO TO REDUCE THE RISK FOR CRC?
The sorts of lifestyle choices that help reduce the risk of CRC are synonymous with any healthy lifestyle. Diet has a lot to do with this – don’t eat garbage! Eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, and grains is key. Exercising regularly also greatly reduces your risk, as does removing bad habits from your life like smoking and consuming alcohol.
Andofcourse,GETSCREENED!
SCREENING LITERALLY SAVES LIVES
If caught early (called stage I), CRC is very treatable. Unfortunately, less than 40% of people are diagnosed at stage I. Although age is a factor, 10% of people under the age of 45 have been found to have late-stage CRC.
So the one thing everyone should know, especially those with CRC in their family, is that early screening can literally save your life. It’s not hyperbole – it’s statistically based fact.
A full 68% percent of deaths could be prevented with screening. Wondering how early is too early to make an appointment? The American Cancer Society recommends screening starting as early as 45 years old. If you have specific risk factors (such as a personal history of inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn disease, family history of CRC, or a family history of colon polyps) then you should be screened earlier than the age of 45.
First, it should be noted that colonoscopies are minimally invasive. They have the advantage of being both relatively unobtrusive and incredibly accurate. Most CRC begins as a polyp that grows over time – which is exactly what the colonoscopy checks for. A flexible tube with a video camera is inserted into the rectum and the entire colon is carefully evaluated.
Because polyps look different than the cells your body normally produces, we’re abletoidentifythemand(throughtheuseoftinysurgicalinstruments)remove them before they become cancerous. If a tissue sample procured in this fashion looks overtly cancerous, it can be sent off to a lab to be tested for malignancy or benign growth.
IS COLONOSCOPY SAFE?
Colonoscopy is a safe procedure with a complication rate of less than 1⁄2 of one percent. Adverse events may include bleeding, infection, perforation (injury), or anesthesiacomplications.
CAN COLORECTAL CANCER BE CURED?
Colorectal cancer can be treated with chemotherapy, radiation, and/or surgery. Most clinicians refer to a five-year survival statistic when discussing prognosis. If colorectal cancer is diagnosed early when the tumor is localized in the large intestine or rectum only, the five-year survival is 92%. In other words, 92%
of people who are diagnosed with localized cancer (stage I) are still alive
five years after initial diagnosis. Those with distant metastases (stage IV) or tumor that has traveled through the bloodstream or through lymph nodes and spread from the colon or rectum to other organs such as lung or liver have approximately 12% to 14% five-year survival.
If you have questions, start asking your doctor today!
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
March is Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Awareness Month
The chance that you know at least one person afflicted by colorectal cancer WHAT ARE SYMPTOMS OF COLORECTAL CANCER? HOW DOES A COLONOSCOPY PREVENT COLORECTAL CANCER?
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DR. MEL ONA is a gastroenterologist in private practice with offices in Kapolei and Honolulu. He is a member of the Philippine Medical Associate of Hawaii and is the author of several books related to medical education and nutrition/fitness. Website: www.DrMelOna.com.
590 Farrington Highway Unit 170, Kapolei, Hawaii 96707 • Phone: 808-762-2311 • Fax: 808-356-1337 Clinic Hours: Mon - Fri 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. • Sat 7:00a.m. to 2:00 p.m. • Accepting All Medical Insurance