10-03-2025
Ask A Specialist: Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
HONOLULU (KHON2) — March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, when people 45 years and older get screened for colon cancer.'This is the third most common diagnosed cancer in the United States. It's also the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with 150,000 new cases per year. Also, typically, symptoms of colon cancer do not appear until the later stages. Therefore, routine screenings are recommended so we can diagnose earlier and improve outcomes, said Lisa Kim, APRN at The Queen's Medical Center.
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All adults 45 and older should be screened for colorectal cancer, however, certain conditions may require earlier screening:
If you have a close relative with colorectal polyps or cancer
If you have certain genetic & intestinal conditions
If in doubt, ask your doctor
'Previously, the recommended age for colon cancer screening was age 50. However, recent studies found that younger adults are getting colon cancer with more frequency, prompting a change in the screening age from 50 to 45 years old,' said Kim.
There are several ways to get screened for colorectal cancer:
'Colonoscopy, which is the most familiar, where a gastroenterologist looks into the colon for polyps, which could develop into colon cancer. Other tests include a stool-based study as well as a non-invasive CT colonography. However, if any of these tests are positive, then we would highly recommend a colonoscopy,' said Kim.
The Queen's Medical Center Punchbowl campus has an out-patient, comprehensive colon screening program. Just ask your primary care physician for a referral.
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To learn more about the services provided by the Queen's Colon Screening Program, call (808) 691-8270.
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