Cancer cases on the rise in Singapore

[Darthrevan]

CANCER is on the rise in Singapore - especially those linked with bad habits associated with modern lifestyle, including smoking and eating too much.

According to figures from two years ago, which are the latest available, 12,123 people were diagnosed with cancer, up from 10,576 in 2008. This marks an increase of nearly 15 per cent.

One reason for these numbers, said National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) director Soo Khee Chee, is an ageing population. The NCCS is Singapore's leading cancer treatment and research centre.

"In developed countries like ours, people are living longer. Previously, people would die before they got cancer."

But what is more worrying is how "lifestyle cancers", such as prostate, breast and colorectal cancers, are contributing to the rise.

Prostate cancer cases went up by 52 per cent from 2003 to 2012, when cases of breast cancer also rose, by 25 per cent.

These cancers are among the top three most commonly found in men and women respectively. They are also known as "developed-world cancers" because they are associated with the lifestyle in these countries.

A factor that increases the chance of getting cancer is smoking, said Professor Soo. "Overall, the rate of smoking is moving downwards, but there is a trend of more younger people here taking it up."

Health Promotion Board figures from 2010 showed that 16 per cent of young people aged 18 to 29 smoked regularly, up from 12 per cent in 2004.

Other factors contributing to the rise of cancer here are poor diet and lack of exercise, because we are "overfed and eating the wrong food", said Prof Soo.

Having fewer children and having them later also increase a woman's chances of getting cancer, he added.

Cancer remains the No. 1 killer in Singapore, with 30 per cent of deaths in 2011 caused by the disease. This is five times more than deaths caused by accidents, violence and poisoning together.

But the outlook is not all bleak.

The chances of getting cancer can be lowered dramatically by modifying one's lifestyle. Stopping young people from smoking, for instance, "will almost decrease cancer deaths by a third if we succeed", said Prof Soo.

Some of the most common cancers are also those that have the highest survival rates.

Breast cancer - the most common cancer in women - has a five-year overall survival rate of 89 per cent. This means that 89 of every 100 people diagnosed with breast cancer were still alive after five years.

The corresponding figure for lymphoma sufferers is 70 per cent, while that for colon cancer is 60 per cent.

"Cancer is not a death sentence," said Prof Soo. "It would be a pity if cancer patients go into despair or give up because they think that way."

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/cancer-cases-the-rise-singapore-20140203

[Yewheng]

Happened to read on a article from someone shared on Facebook.

http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Mom-Catches-Son-Eye-Cancer-Photo-37464577

 

Something that we should not take chances. If there is white spot on someone eyes, better to advise to go for medical checkup for just in case. Who knows it may save the person lives if the cancer is detected early.

[Dieselord]

Talk to a medical staff b4, chances of having cancer is as high as 30% in developed countries...

 

Due to lifestyle and stress...

 

Our body does hv cancer cell... Whether it will mutate, who knows...

 

Even a healthy lifestyle person can get...

Life is really unpredictable....

[Pinobii]

  On 6/8/2015 at 8:51 PM, Yewheng said:

Happened to read on a article from someone shared on Facebook.

http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Mom-Catches-Son-Eye-Cancer-Photo-37464577

 

Something that we should not take chances. If there is white spot on someone eyes, better to advise to go for medical checkup for just in case. Who knows it may save the person lives if the cancer is detected early.

Thanks for sharing!

[WilliamY]

It is a wake up call for all of us.

 

1. Food manufacturers - should be socially responsible and not just for profit. GMO, high nitrites, fake food (plastic rice, chemical eggs, soya sauce from human hair).

2. Pharmaceutical companies - it may be a bit too late, imagine some cancer drug each tablet cost US$1000 and not SG$1000 and needs a tablet or two for 12 weeks. Surely not everybody can afford. The regulators need to do something about it.

3. Our environment, we know that nuclear waste cause and not just increase risk for cancer, look at Japan nuclear disaster, there are still tons of nuclear leak into the sea and underground water table, infact Tokyo which is far away have spikes of radiation.

4. Business interest - why oil is still being used, because some companies cannot fail, we could have invested in solar and wind power with more research. But the world is literally "ruled" by business conglomerate.

5. Human beings are stupid by large, smoking is one of them, proven by medical research that smoking causes and not just increases risk of cancer but people still smoke. When they eventually suffer from cancer, they used up a country's medical resources while competing with others who don't smoke. Self inflicting disease. I used to smoke while in the army because it was stupid of me, or lazy of me to think of other ways, to "gel" with the hokkien peng. You need to be a member to get their butt moving. On the hindsight it was stupid of me.

6. Countries responsibilities - we can ban chewing gum because it may on occasion cause the MRT doors to malfunction but then why can we ban smoking. I guess it is all about money (revenue) rather than freedom of rights.

 

My view, is we have to do our part, lead by example, if you are going kill yourself (by your lifestyle) don't drag others too along the way, we can influence who businesses work by using our buying power collectively.

 

Stay health and live a long worry free life.

[Ben5266]

  On 6/8/2015 at 8:51 PM, Yewheng said:

Happened to read on a article from someone shared on Facebook.

http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Mom-Catches-Son-Eye-Cancer-Photo-37464577

 

Something that we should not take chances. If there is white spot on someone eyes, better to advise to go for medical checkup for just in case. Who knows it may save the person lives if the cancer is detected early.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retinoblastoma

 

Sorry to say, many peadiatrician still miss this deasease when checking new born or toddler.

Perhaps it is very rare. Doctor might not see this after 10-15 years into the practice.

[Lala81]

  On 6/9/2015 at 12:56 AM, Ben5266 said:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retinoblastoma

 

Sorry to say, many peadiatrician still miss this deasease when checking new born or toddler.

Perhaps it is very rare. Doctor might not see this after 10-15 years into the practice.

I try to look out for it. But I think only if the tumor is advanced then u can see the missing red reflex or loss of light reflex.

If you not a paeds eye specialist, quite possible not to see one in your life time

[Lala81]

If u want to lower your risk of colorectal cancer.

Don't eat processed meat (ham, sausage, luncheon meat, meatballs, bacon).

 

I suspect Chinese ba chor also falls in the same category.

 

I try to consume less of the above nowadays.

[Celicar]

  On 6/9/2015 at 1:07 AM, Lala81 said:

If u want to lower your risk of colorectal cancer.

Don't eat processed meat (ham, sausage, luncheon meat, meatballs, bacon).

 

I suspect Chinese ba chor also falls in the same category.

 

I try to consume less of the above nowadays.

Bacon is processed food meh? I thought it is just sliced pork.

 

Anyway, there is a lot of focus on lifestyle and habits and how it is irresponsible if one does not take care of his/her own health, but there is one big aspect that seems to be just 'accepted', in that nobody says it is irresponsible behaviour, and that is stress.

 

I think stress is a big contributing factor and a major culprit is work. Yet we all seem to accept (not that we like it, but more like resigned to it) stress as part of life. Everything is now.now.now. Some companies I think even the thousand-hand deity also cannot finish the work.

[Sabian]

  On 6/9/2015 at 1:07 AM, Lala81 said:

If u want to lower your risk of colorectal cancer.

Don't eat processed meat (ham, sausage, luncheon meat, meatballs, bacon).

 

I suspect Chinese ba chor also falls in the same category.

 

I try to consume less of the above nowadays.

Agreed.

 

I siam nitrate stuff some time back liao.

[Baal]

Wife's colleague's family member just got hit a few days back. Stage 4. Spread all over. Cant even operate. Immediate chemo. Haven even reach 40.

Thankfully, minimal family commitments/responsibilities.

Edited June 9, 2015 by Baal

[Baal]

Also lack of sleep. Sleep Deprivation.

Few people have the luxury of clocking 7-8hrs of uninterrupted sleep.

[Donut]

  On 6/9/2015 at 1:54 AM, Celicar said:

Bacon is processed food meh? I thought it is just sliced pork.

 

Anyway, there is a lot of focus on lifestyle and habits and how it is irresponsible if one does not take care of his/her own health, but there is one big aspect that seems to be just 'accepted', in that nobody says it is irresponsible behaviour, and that is stress.

 

I think stress is a big contributing factor and a major culprit is work. Yet we all seem to accept (not that we like it, but more like resigned to it) stress as part of life. Everything is now.now.now. Some companies I think even the thousand-hand deity also cannot finish the work.

 

Bacon has v high salt content, which is already bad for us.

  On 6/9/2015 at 1:07 AM, Lala81 said:

If u want to lower your risk of colorectal cancer.

Don't eat processed meat (ham, sausage, luncheon meat, meatballs, bacon).

 

I suspect Chinese ba chor also falls in the same category.

 

I try to consume less of the above nowadays.

 

Meatballs are fine if its freshly or home made (V ez to do). Not considered as processed food, unless its those frozen packed ones.

 

Another major cancer cause is those fried food. Never touch any kind of fried food.

[Jman888]

  On 6/9/2015 at 1:54 AM, Celicar said:

Bacon is processed food meh? I thought it is just sliced pork.

 

Anyway, there is a lot of focus on lifestyle and habits and how it is irresponsible if one does not take care of his/her own health, but there is one big aspect that seems to be just 'accepted', in that nobody says it is irresponsible behaviour, and that is stress.

 

I think stress is a big contributing factor and a major culprit is work. Yet we all seem to accept (not that we like it, but more like resigned to it) stress as part of life. Everything is now.now.now. Some companies I think even the thousand-hand deity also cannot finish the work.

 

 

agree, beside bad food, negative emotional impact also can triggered cancer.

[Ender]

  On 6/9/2015 at 1:54 AM, Celicar said:

Bacon is processed food meh? I thought it is just sliced pork.

 

Anyway, there is a lot of focus on lifestyle and habits and how it is irresponsible if one does not take care of his/her own health, but there is one big aspect that seems to be just 'accepted', in that nobody says it is irresponsible behaviour, and that is stress.

 

I think stress is a big contributing factor and a major culprit is work. Yet we all seem to accept (not that we like it, but more like resigned to it) stress as part of life. Everything is now.now.now. Some companies I think even the thousand-hand deity also cannot finish the work.

Bacon, like sausages, ham uses nitrates to cure the meat.. Google nitrate for the harmful effects.

[Kiadaw]

Food, exercise & genes I guess are 3 main factors.

 

There is nothing much we can do about genes, but we can all improve out fitness & chose the food we consume.

I think best is to have more home cooked meals, as you have max control over what goes inside.

 

Exercise regularly & encourage people around you like elder parents or relatives to take up some activities.

[Jamesc]

  On 6/8/2015 at 10:27 PM, Dieselord said:

Talk to a medical staff b4, chances of having cancer is as high as 30% in developed countries...

 

Due to lifestyle and stress...

 

Our body does hv cancer cell... Whether it will mutate, who knows...

 

Even a healthy lifestyle person can get...

Life is really unpredictable....

 

That's exactly why I don't have a healthy lifestyle.

 

Alcohol, lesbians, fatty foods, lot of meats, no real exercise

 

unless you count the ones with lesbians.

 

[FourZero]

Yes, it's a really unforgiving sickness to hv😢 pains the patient n family super hard😢

 

Lost my beloved mum tru cancer n my father-in-law as well. 😢😢😢

 

Went tru the pain with her n she was strong n hang on for almost 3 yrs😢

 

We Jst hv to live life to our fullest n do wat we think is right for our body to our best ability. 👍

 

Live well n love n be love by ur close ones👍