OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2012 - Parkway Pantai

14snapshotsexemplary leadsSome of Singapore’s leading medical and healthcare professionals,together with local celebrities Edmund Chen and Xiang Yun,shared their personal colonoscopy experiences at Parkway CancerCentre’s Walk The Talk event held at Mount Elizabeth NovenaHospital on 21 July 2012. The celebrity couple was among the firstto undergo colon screening at the hospital.“With first-hand experience, we are better equipped to allay fearsand misconceptions about colonoscopy among family, friends andfans,” said the husband and wife.Dr Teoh Tiong Ann, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon in MountElizabeth Hospital, who performed colonoscopy for EdmundChen and Xiang Yun stressed, “Colonoscopy is recommendedfor average risk individuals about 50 years of age, and high-riskindividuals who have a family history of colorectal cancer. It isa relatively safe and painless procedure when performed by anexperienced colonoscopist under appropriate sedation.”On the other hand, there is also a general uptrend in the survivalrate of colorectal cancer in spite of the increase in incidence rate.“No one should die from colorectal cancer, especially now.Since July last year, patients are able to use their CPF Medisaveto subsidise the colonoscopy,” emphasised Dr Ang Peng Tiam,Medical Director and Senior Consultant Medical Oncologist,PCC. “Regular screenings allow for early detection and removalof benign colonic polyps – abnormal growth of tissue, before thesepolyps have the chance to turn into malignant cancerous cells.Thus, colon cancer can be prevented and cured if detected early.”The participants of the discussion then took a pledge through ahand printing ceremony during which they committed hand-inhandto playing a more proactive role in educating about earlydetection and cure for colon cancer.colorectal cancer - statisticsColorectal cancer is the most common cancer in Singaporewith more than 1,500 cases reported a year and its incidencerate is highest among the Chinese.According to studies, Singapore has the highest colorectalcancer incidence rates in Southeast Asia: 35.1 per cent inmen and 29.9 per cent in women, more than twice that of thenext country; these rates have been increasing at an averageannual rate of approximately 2.6 per cent and 2.35 per centfor men and women respectively.