How common is colorectal cancer in Singapore?

Doctor's Answers 1

Actually, colorectal cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in Singapore. It is the third most common cancer in the world, but in Singapore, it is number 1.

There are many postulates why it is number 1 in Singapore, but it is observed that in urban environments compared to rural environments, the colorectal rate is much higher, so I guess because Singapore is a city-state, we do not really have many rural areas here, so I think our colorectal cancer rate is very high.

Statistics have shown that In Singapore about 2,000 cases are diagnosed and yearly there are about 1,000 deaths from colorectal cancer. It is so common that statistically in Singapore, about 1 in 20 people you meet on the street at some point will get colorectal cancer. That is really how common it is, 1 in 20 or 5%, that is pretty high, and it is sobering when you put the number in those terms.

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Dr Jason Lim

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