Gastrointestinal Wellness Fair a Success
On March 6, 2025, VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS) held a Gastrointestinal wellness fair at the Daniel K. Akaka VA Clinic in Kapolei.
The event was to highlight the importance of regular screenings to prevent colon cancer and other GI problems from becoming serious. The event was also a chance for Veterans to meet VAPIHCS employees from different departments and learn about a variety of programs and services.
“Colon cancer screening save lives, that’s the bottom line,” said Specialty Care Hepatitis C Coordinator Deanna Iwamoto. “When you have stage one colon cancer, you don’t have any symptoms at all. That’s what’s so scary. If you don’t get screened, you won’t know until it’s much more serious.”
Some people qualify for what’s called “fit testing,” which is screening for colon cancer via a stool sample. However, this kind of screening only gives doctors a snapshot in time. A colonoscopy is considered the best practice in most cases, because doctors can see polyps even if they are not bleeding. However, there’s more to intestinal health than getting screened for colon cancer.
“The Whole Health program is a culture change within VA that is about looking at the whole Veteran,” said Whole Health Program Manager and Psychologist Dr. Tanecia Blue. “When Veterans exercise and focus on eating healthy food, they can decrease a number of risk factors for health complications.”
Studies suggest that getting out in the sun helps you absorb Vitamin D. Getting enough Vitamin D improves overall wellness, including decreasing risk of colon cancer. Additionally, it’s important to get enough foods high in fiber, particularly vegetables. Red meat can also increase your risk of colon cancer, so limiting consumption of red meat is a wise precaution.
Informational outreach events like the GI Wellness fair are important because they give Veterans an opportunity to talk to staff and get to know more about all VAPIHCS programs and services. VAPIHCS MyHealtheVet Coordinator Matthew Handle was at the event to talk to Veterans about the new sign in process for the MyHealtheVet app and the VA website. The requirement for Veterans to use ID.me, Login.gov, or a DS Login began on March 5, 2025.
“We recommend that all Veterans use a smart phone when they sign in,” Handle said. “We also recommend they all use the MyHealtheVet app, because it allows them to use the secure messaging service to correspond directly with their doctor.”
The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) also set up a table to talk to Veterans about using benefits like using the GI Bill or filling out a pre-need for burial. The event also featured a 10-foot-high inflatable replica of a human colon. Additionally, Veterans were able to get flu shots, COVID-19 shots, and even high-dose COVID-19 shots for patients over 65.
“I came in to get my shots today because I want to keep up to date,” said Ret. Air Force Veteran Michael Ambrosia. “But, I stopped and talked to people because of the wellness fair, and they told me about the importance of getting a colonoscopy. I didn’t know you could have no symptoms and still have cancer. This made me realize how important it is to get screened.”
Some Veterans came in for an appointment and were surprised to find the event going on. However, they soon realized that it gave them the opportunity to talk to employees from all departments and learn about programs they didn’t know about before, like VAPIHCS Tai Chi classes and guitar lessons. It also gave them a chance to get advice.
“We were able to connect with one of the pharmacists named Pablo, and he gave us some great advice,” said Spouse Rexann Shanahan. “I appreciate having the ability to talk to different VA staff and get advice on navigating all the different options we have.”
If you are a Veteran who would like to enroll in VA care, call 1-800-214-1306.