Lifestyle-driven most cancers threat persists regardless of Singapore’s prevention efforts: Oncologists

SINGAPORE – Lifestyle-related threat elements could

enhance the prevalence of most cancers instances right here,

regardless of Singapore’s robust most cancers prevention insurance policies, stated oncologists.

Achieving a considerable drop in most cancers instances would require a multifaceted method that features the implementation of efficient screening programmes, they add.

The World Health Organization unveiled analysis in February, suggesting that

nearly 4 in 10 most cancers instances worldwide had been linked to preventable causes

akin to smoking, consuming and air air pollution.

Published within the journal Nature Medicine, the research referred to as for “context-specific prevention strategies” akin to robust tobacco management measures in addition to vaccination in opposition to HPV and different cancer-causing infections like hepatitis B. 

While these findings are relevant to Singapore, the Republic’s extra urbanised life-style means statistics right here could differ barely from world averages, stated Dr Gloria Chan, a advisor with the haematology-oncology division on the National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS).

“Singapore is a high-income, ageing society, so lifestyle-related risks play a larger role compared with other countries where infection-related cancers are more dominant,” she stated.

Assistant Professor Dawn Chong, a senior advisor with the medical oncology division on the National Cancer Centre Singapore, stated: “We are likely to observe a long-term decline in the incidence of preventable cancers associated with modifiable risk factors.”

“However, achieving a substantial reduction in overall cancer incidence requires a multipronged approach. This includes modifying risk factors and implementing effective cancer screening programmes,” she stated.

In Singapore, 32.8 per cent of the years of wholesome life misplaced to most cancers – a measure known as disability-adjusted life years – in Singapore will be averted if all threat elements had been eradicated, based on the 2023 Global Burden of Disease research printed in 2025. Tobacco use and unhealthy weight loss plan had been among the many prime threat elements famous.

Singapore’s insurance policies have helped stem sure cancers, famous Dr Chan.

“Since the introduction of universal hepatitis B vaccination in the 1980s, we have effectively eliminated acute hepatitis B in the younger generation, which has led to a direct and sustained drop in viral-related liver cancer that we see only now as the vaccinated cohort reaches middle age,” she stated.

Human papillomavirus, or HPV, vaccination protection has additionally improved considerably with the

introduction of free vaccines for feminine Secondary 1 college students

in 2019, she stated, including it will successfully cut back cervical cancers over the following few a long time.

However, such insurance policies have their limits, Dr Chan stated.

She famous that the Republic’s tobacco management measures – together with one of many world’s highest tobacco taxes, which was

just lately hiked by 20 per cent

– have resulted in smoking charges which are among the many lowest within the area, which have in flip helped cut back tobacco-related lung most cancers charges.

However, the emergence of lung cancers in non-smokers is an space of concern, stated Dr Chan.

She famous that some 48 per cent of native lung most cancers sufferers are individuals who have by no means smoked, in contrast with between 10 and 20 per cent of instances in Western nations.

“This is particularly prevalent among Asian women, driven by specific genetic alterations, most commonly the epidermal growth factor receptor gene,” she stated. Mutations within the EGFR gene have been linked to lung most cancers, and are prevalent in Asian populations.

Singapore’s tips suggest lung most cancers screening for these aged between 50 and 80 with at the very least a 20-pack yr smoking historical past who nonetheless smoke or have give up prior to now 15 years, however this misses non-smokers, who make up nearly half the lung most cancers sufferers right here, Dr Chan famous.

“This represents a national challenge for early detection of cancer for this group of patients,” she stated.

A pack-year is the same as smoking about 20 cigarettes per day for a yr. For instance, an individual may have a 20 pack-year historical past by smoking a pack a day for 20 years, or by smoking two packs a day for 10 years.

Screening charges for widespread cancers listed here are additionally comparatively low, stated Dr Chan.

According to the newest National Population Health Survey, solely 35.2 per cent of Singapore ladies aged 50 to 69 go for mammograms to get screened for breast most cancers.

In comparability, this quantity stands at between 70 and 90 per cent in different high-income nations akin to Britain, New Zealand and Sweden, she famous.

Meanwhile, screening charges for cervical and colorectal cancers right here stood at 44.9 per cent every.

“This is below the 70 per cent target commonly cited for effective population-level cancer screening,” Dr Chan.

This, in flip, may permit for extra cancers to be detected at stage 1, when survival charges are greater, she added.

Still, sure most cancers instances stay unpreventable, Prof Chong stated, noting that these are pushed by non-modifiable threat elements akin to genetics, or are primarily related to ageing.

“Even with strong prevention efforts, the total number of cancer cases may still rise because Singapore’s population is ageing rapidly,” she stated.

The key measure of success is whether or not the age-adjusted incidence price declines, she added.

Dr Chan described weight problems and metabolic well being as rising areas of concern in tackling most cancers, noting the 2024 National Population Health Survey reported that weight problems right here had risen to 12.7 per cent.

However, the rising tide of weight problems and metabolic syndrome – a gaggle of situations akin to hypertension and excessive blood sugar – is the present problem that must be tackled to maintain liver most cancers figures down.

“Excess weight is linked to colorectal, breast, endometrial, gastric and pancreatic cancers. Sustained public health effort is needed in this area,” she stated.

To forestall most cancers, Prof Chong encourage partaking in common bodily exercise, adopting a balanced weight loss plan wealthy in fruits, greens and fibre, whereas decreasing consumption of processed and pink meat.

People also needs to observe nationwide screening suggestions for colorectal, cervical and breast cancers, she added, noting that these checks are free for eligible people underneath the Healthier SG initiative.

“Cancer prevention is more than medical care – it requires strong public health programmes, safer environments, and communities working together to create a healthier society,” she stated.