Is it worth having a colonoscopy as part of a thorough health screening check in Singapore?

Doctor's Answers 2

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Dr Jason Lim

Colorectal Surgeon

If you are above the age of 45, or have a positive family history, it is important to consider a colonoscopy as part of your routine health screening.

This is because colorectal cancer is the number 1 cancer in Singapore and more often than not begins as a polyp. Polyps are small and have no symptoms. The only way to remove polyps is through a colonoscopy.

The detection and removal of polyps would certainly help one determine his risk factor for developing colon cancer (serves as a guide as to how frequent the colon should be checked), as well as prevent the person from actually developing the cancer when the polyp is removed.

It is worth nothing also that majority of colorectal cancers diagnosed after the development of symptoms is often in the advanced stages of disease. Therefore, one should take that into consideration when deciding whether to screen for polyps and cancers prior to the development of symptoms.

If you are still undecided, a faecal occult blood test is an alternative to test for unseen blood in your stools. While it is not foolproof, it serves as a good impetus for one to undergo a colonoscopy as soon as possible if the test if positive.

To understand more about getting a colonoscopy in Singapore, read The Complete Guide To Colonoscopies In Singapore (2018).

From the age of 50, every Singaporean is recommended to undergo colorectal cancer screening as colorectal cancer is the most common cancer after the age of 50.

You can either undergo:

  1. Stool testing (FIT kit test), or a
  2. Colonoscopy.

This is based on your preference.

Colonoscopy

If you opt for a colonoscopy, you are recommended to undergo the test once every 10 years, even if the first colonoscopy is normal. Colonoscopy cost can be partially paid for by your Medisave account. You will need to speak to your endoscopist to find out the full details.

Similar Questions

How useful is a colonoscopy, and are colonoscopies really necessary?

Hi Cai Shum, A colonoscopy is one of the investigative tools we have to examine the colon, rectum and in some cases the terminal ileum. The alternatives are a computed tomography scan of the colon (also known as a CT Colonography) and a barium enema. The key benefit of performing a colonoscopy is the ability to directly visualize the colonic lumen through a high definition lens and biopsy the lesion if necessary. This cannot be done with the other imaging options.

Photo of Dr Jason Lim

Answered By

Dr Jason Lim

Colorectal Surgeon

Which will give the best results between a standard colonoscopy, a virtual colonoscopy and a capsule endoscopy?

To find out more about getting a colonscopy in Singapore, you can read my Complete Guide To Colonoscopies In Singapore (2018). A standard colonoscopy’s sensitivity is in the range of 95 – 98% accurate, while a CT Colonography’s sensitivity can range from 90 – 95%. However, it is imperative to note that the sensitivity and accuracy of either investigation is highly dependent on the quality of the bowel preparation before the procedure. The poorer the bowel preparation, the lower the accuracy.

Photo of Dr Jason Lim

Answered By

Dr Jason Lim

Colorectal Surgeon

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