Singapore Reports 35% Increase In Cancer Diagnoses

Hospitals in Singapore have reported up to a 40% increase in cancer screenings over the past year. Doctors said the importance of early intervention while cautioning against excessive testing. They said the need to avoid missing treatable conditions while also preventing over-diagnosis and over-treatment. National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) is conducting clinical trials for new detection methods due to concerns that some current tests lack large-scale validation for reducing late-stage cancer risk. Professor Ravindran advises residents to follow evidence-based methods and Health Ministry recommended screening programs for specific age groups and genders. Screenings primarily target colorectal, breast, and cervical cancers in Singapore. The National University Cancer Institute Singapore reports a roughly 20% increase in individuals undergoing cancer screenings following the COVID-19 pandemic. Public education is being called for to balance screening benefits with resource management. Over-testing is noted to incur unnecessary healthcare costs. Experts warn that increased testing requires a balance to avoid unnecessary healthcare costs and high false positive rates. The center said that while early testing is, unproven commercial products can lead to inaccurate results. Experts are urging caution regarding new screening technologies sold by private companies.