Colorectal Cancer Facts

Colorectal Practice - Colorectal Cancer Screening

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6 Things You Need to Know About Singapore’s No. 1 Cancer

What is Colorectal Cancer and How Dangerous is it?

Colorectal cancer refers to cancer of the colon and rectum, and is the most common cancer in Singapore.

According to the Singapore Cancer Registry, around 1,500 in Singapore are diagnosed each year, with around 650 dying from it each year.

Colorectal Cancer is Actually Extremely Preventable

Colorectal cancer topping the charts in Singapore is very unfortunate, especially since it is largely and easily preventable.

Almost all colorectal cancers develop from a benign polyp, which usually doesn’t display any symptoms for years but can be easily detected and removed during a colonoscopy (before it potentially becomes cancerous).

Colorectal cancer is also a very slow-progressing disease in its early stages, giving people ample time to get screened and treated early on.

There are Usually No Symptoms in the Early Stages

With over half of those diagnosed still being asymptomatic, this makes regular and timely screenings (colonoscopies) even more important.

Nonetheless, classic signs (particularly in more advanced stages) include:

Persistent change of bowel habits
Blood in stool
Persistent discomfort in the abdomen
Unexplained weight loss and fatigue
Nausea and vomiting

What are the Risk Factors of Colorectal Cancer?

If you are above the age of 50
If you have a family history of colorectal cancer
If you have a personal history of colorectal cancer or polyps
If you smoke, drink and have a diet high in fat, red meat and processed food

For a personalised risk assessment, accurate screening and detailed advice, please contact Colorectal Practice at 6262 1226 — we will be happy to help you.

What are the Stages of Colorectal Cancer?

With over half of those diagnosed still being asymptomatic, this makes regular and timely screenings (colonoscopies) even more important.

Precancerous Stage: A benign polyp is found during a routine screening (and removed)

Stage 0: Cancer has developed, but has not grown into the colon or rectal walls yet
Stage 1 & 2: The cancer has grown into the colon and rectal walls, but has not affected nearby tissue yet
Stage 3: The cancer is grown into surrounding tissue and lymph nodes, past the colon and rectal walls
Stage 4: The cancer has now spread to other parts of the body, such as the lungs or liver

What Are the Available Colorectal Cancer Treatment Options?

With over half of those diagnosed still being asymptomatic, this makes regular and timely screenings (colonoscopies) even more important.

If you are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, rest assured that there are many ways available to treat it. However, efficacy and prognosis surely depend on the stage and extent of the cancer.

Colorectal Practice is committed to providing holistic, targeted and personalised treatment for colorectal cancer; and treatment options include:

Surgery(to remove the cancer via excision or resection)

Chemotherapy(to stop the growth of cancer cells)

Radiotherapy(to destroy cancer cells)

Immunotherapy(to help the immune system destroy the cancer cells)

Our Colorectal Cancer Specialists

Dr Dennis Koh

Medical Director & Senior Consultant Surgeon

B Med Sci (Nottingham), MBBS (Nottingham)
MMed (Surgery), FRCS (Edinburgh), FAMS

Dr Dennis Koh is an experienced colorectal surgeon, skilled in both open and minimally invasive colorectal surgery, including laparoscopic surgery and single port surgery.

Dr Koh strives to provide a customised treatment plan for each patient, which allows for better outcomes. He also honed his skills in proctology abRd in Geneva, bringing a more diverse touch to his practice.

Dr Sharon Koh Zhiling

Senior Consultant Surgeon

MBBS (Singapore), MMed (Surgery),
FRCS (Edinburgh), FAMS

Dr Sharon Koh is an experienced colorectal surgeon and the former Director of Endoscopy at Alexandra Health. She specialises in colorectal surgery, minimally invasive surgery, and advanced endoscopy.

Dr Koh completed her fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in the US after being awarded the Academic Medicine Development Award by the National University Hospital.

Dr Pauleon Tan Enjiu

Senior Consultant Surgeon

MBBS (Singapore), MMed (Surgery),
FRCS (Edinburgh), FACS

Dr Pauleon Tan has over 15 years of experience in public hospitals, specialising in minimally invasive surgery and endoscopy. He has subspecialty interest in treating colon, rectal or anal conditions using both traditional open or laparoscopic techniques.

Dr Tan undertook advanced colorectal surgical training at Japan’s Saitama International Medical Center after being awarded the Ministry of Health – Health Manpower Development Plan (HMDP) Award.

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