Question: I think it’s fair to say that in Hawaii we eat more than our share of Spam, corned beef and Vienna sausage. With all the news lately about processed meat and colon cancer, does Hawaii have a higher occurrence of this cancer than the rest of the United States?

Answer: Kokua Line contacted the University of Hawaii Cancer Center and heard back from Dr. Loic Le Marchand, an epidemiology professor who was one of the 22 experts recently convened by the International Agency for Research on Cancer to review the scientific evidence regarding cancer risks related to the consumption of red and processed meat.

Here’s his informative response:

“Hawaii has similar colon cancer rates as the rest of the nation and these rates are high by international standards. Some of our ethnic groups, such as Japanese and Koreans, have particularly high rates. Since colon cancer has many causes, it is not clear whether these high rates are due to a high intake of processed and red meat, but it may be a factor.

“As alluded to in the question, processed meat was recently ranked as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which is part of the World Health Organization. Red meat was ranked as a probable carcinogen. However, the increase in cancer risk due to processed and red meat consumption is small, and certainly not comparable to that of other carcinogens, such as smoking and lung cancer.

“Nevertheless, Spam, corned beef and Vienna sausage are better to be thought of as delicacies and eaten rarely as part of a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables and grains. The American Cancer Research Institute recommends limiting red meat (beef, pork and lamb) intake to 18 ounces a week and avoiding processed meat, such as ham, bacon, salami, hot dogs and sausages. Poultry and fish can be easily substituted for red and processed meat. Avoiding excess weight, limiting alcohol intake and exercising are additional ways to reduce one’s colon cancer risk. Finally, screening starting at age 50 (or at a younger age for those with a family history of this cancer) is essential in detecting colon tumors early.”

He added: “The University of Hawaii Cancer Center continues to do research on key cancers that affect us in Hawaii. As a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer research center, the UH Cancer Center brings groundbreaking studies and new cancer-fighting treatments to our community. The center is dedicated to eliminating cancer through research, education and improved patient care.”

Q: I heard about those city loans for house down payments. What’s the most you can get?

A: $40,000, interest-free. The federally funded program is administered by the city Department of Community Services, according to a news release from the Honolulu mayor’s office.

The loans are available to qualified low-income and moderate-income households on a first-come, first-served basis.

Besides income restrictions, there are several eligibility requirements, including being able to qualify for a mortgage and contributing 5 percent of the cost of the home toward the down payment. The goal is for qualified applicants to get a boost by combining their own resources with the interest-free loan to come up with the down payment.

There is no fee to apply for the program.

For more information, call the DCS loan branch at 768-7076.

Mahalo

Many thanks to our four sons and our many friends who put in the time and effort to bring a few screams and smiles to the hundreds that visited our haunted house and vortex tunnel on Heeia Street in Kaneohe. We hope it brought as much joy to the Halloween-goers as it did for us. And to the many people who contributed to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a very special mahalo. — Bill and Girlie Miller

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Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.