Why We Can No Longer Ignore Colorectal Cancer Screening in Singapore

Why We Can No Longer Ignore Colorectal Cancer Screening in Singapore By Dr. Benjamin Tan Wei Jie – Consultant Gastroenterologist, Singapore In a country like Singapore, known for its advanced healthcare system and health-conscious population, it may come as a surprise that one of the most preventable but deadly diseases still hides in plain sight—colorectal cancer. Despite the availability of screening programs, public education, and trained specialists, many Singaporeans remain unaware, hesitant, or afraid to undergo colorectal cancer screening. As a gastroenterologist, this reality deeply concerns me—not just professionally, but personally. I’ve seen too many patients walk into my clinic with symptoms that could have been prevented or detected early. Colorectal Cancer in Singapore: The Statistics Are Alarming Let’s start with the numbers: [li indent=0 align=left]Colorectal cancer is the most common cancer in Singaporean men and the second most common in women.[li indent=0 align=left]Every year, over 1,500 new cases are diagnosed.[li indent=0 align=left]According to the Singapore Cancer Registry, colorectal cancer accounts for about 1 in 6 cancer deaths.[li indent=0 align=left]The majority of cases are diagnosed at Stage III or IV, where treatment becomes more aggressive, expensive, and uncertain.What’s heartbreaking is that colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers—if caught early through routine screening.Real Lives at Risk: A Wake-Up Call Let me share a real case (names changed for confidentiality). Mr. Lee, a 58-year-old civil engineer, had been experiencing mild constipation and occasional blood in stool. He brushed it off as hemorrhoids. He was healthy, didn’t smoke, and thought colonoscopy was something only "old or sick people" needed. When he finally came in for a check-up—nearly a year after the symptoms began—his colonoscopy revealed a Stage III colon tumor. Surgery and chemotherapy followed. While he’s now in recovery, his case is a painful reminder of what could have been avoided with a simple 30-minute screening procedure. Why Aren’t People Getting Screened? There are several reasons why people delay or avoid colorectal screening in Singapore: 1. Lack of Awareness Many people still don't know that colorectal cancer can be asymptomatic in its early stages. Unlike other diseases that show clear warning signs, polyps and early tumors in the colon often grow silently. 2. Fear and Embarrassment Cultural taboos surrounding bowel movements or colon examinations make people reluctant to speak up. There is also the fear of the procedure itself, despite colonoscopies today being safe, quick, and mostly painless under sedation. 3. Perceived Cost or Inconvenience [li indent=0 align=left] [li indent=0 align=left] [li indent=0 align=left] [li indent=0 align=left] [li indent=0 align=left] [li indent=0 align=left] [li indent=0 align=left] [li indent=0 align=left] [li indent=0 align=left] [li indent=0 align=left] [li indent=0 align=left]