Breast, colorectal and cervical cancers are among the top 10 cancers affecting Singaporean women today. According to the Singapore Cancer Registry 50th Anniversary Monograph (1968-2017), only 33.9% diagnosed with breast cancer, 41.7% diagnosed with cervical cancer and 15.6% of colon cancer & 21.1% of rectal cancers, are detected at stage 1. In 2017, the mammogram screening rate for new and repeated participants had dropped by 7%. The latest statistics provided by the Health Promotion Board (HPB) also shows that close to 80% of those who screen will drop out after first breast screening.
Based on the National Population Heath Surveys, the most common reasons for not screening are:
- Perception that screening is not needed as there are no symptoms,
- Perception that screening is painful or uncomfortable
- There is no time to go for screening
- Breast screening is expensive