The current local guideline is for Singaporeans to undergo colorectal cancer screening at the age of 50, or earlier if they have a positive family history of the disease.
The American Cancer Society recently reduced the screening start age to 45 years old. While our local authorities have not adopted this yet, it should serve as a reminder for one to consider some form of screening for colorectal cancer when they are approaching 50 years of age.
Speak to your physician on when you should start screening for colorectal cancer if you have a positive family history. The timing depends on the age, degree of relative and number of relatives who have been diagnosed with colorectal cancer or it’s associated cancers (e.g. other gastrointestinal cancers, urological cancers, gynaecological cancers)
