Date: 8 may 2018

Aims to raise greater awareness of cervical, ovarian and uterine cancers Pap smear screening offered at no cost to eligible women

Singapore, 08 May 2018: – Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) is organising its 5th annual Women’s Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Campaign (WGCAM) from today until 31 July 2018. The campaign aims to raise awareness of three cancers namely uterine, ovarian and cervical cancer which are among the top ten cancers affecting Singaporean women.

The theme of this year’s campaign is: “I’m Fine. Ladies if a woman says she’s fine, is she really?” For most women the phrase “I’m Fine” is commonly used. The campaign this year aims to get ladies to think beyond this phrase, and to highlight that even though sometimes they may not fine, they can openly express it especially when it comes to matters of their own health.

The diagnosis of cancer can be devastating to both patient and family, and this is particularly so in gynaecological cancers which can affect fertility in women as well. Uterine, ovarian and cervical cancers still remain among the top 10 cancers affecting female Singapore residents today and cervical cancer remains the most preventable. Primary prevention of cervical cancer is now possible with vaccines available today preventing up to 90% of cervical cancers caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is the cause of the majority of cervical cancers, and prevention of HPV infection through vaccination is optimal if completed before the onset of sexual activity. Hence we encourage females between the ages of 9 and 26 years to go for HPV vaccination. Besides the vaccination, Pap Smear screening is just as important, and those aged 25 to 69 who have had sex are encouraged to have regular Pap smear screenings once every three years. We hope more women will take charge of their health and from the campaign, learn more about these cancers and how to prevent them,” said Associate Professor Timothy Lim, Chairman, SCS Women’s Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Campaign 2018, Head and Senior Consultant, Department of Gynaecological Oncology, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

Based on a recent Statistics Singapore Newsletter report, cervical cancer incidence has dropped significantly since 1976. However, there has been a slight incidence increase (albeit not statistically significant) from 6.3 per 100,000 person-years in 2011 to 7.7 per 100,000 person-years in 2015. It was also reported that only 1 in 2 women (50.7%) women aged between 25 and 69 had been screened in the past three years ^{1 2} in adherence to the recommended screening interval.

In line with the SCS Mission to minimise cancer, SCS will be funding the screening fees at our partner clinics for valid CHAS cardholders who are eligible for cervical cancer screening under the Enhanced Screen for Life Programme. (Please refer to Annex A for a list of participating clinics).

In addition, ladies can come forward to have their screening done at the SCS Clinic @ Bishan throughout the year. This screening is available to all female Singaporeans and Permanent Residents aged between 25 and 69 years who are sexually active, and have not had a Pap smear in the last three years. 

Participants can call 1800-727-3333 to find out more about the campaign. 

As part of educational efforts to raise the awareness of Gynaecological Cancers, SCS will be organising a Women’s Gynaecological Cancer talk and a Zumba Work Out session to educate ladies on Women’s Gynaecological Cancers and at the same time, encourage them to exercise and lead an active lifestyle.

The work out sessions will be held on 30 June from 10am to 1pm at Toa Payoh Hub. Admission is free. 

Registration: telephone 6421-5860, email: communityhealth@singaporecancersociety.org.sg or visit http://bit.ly/SCSWGCAMWORKOUT18 

– Ends –

For more information, please contact:

Kenneth Foo Singapore Cancer SocietyDID: 6421 5834 Email: kenneth_foo@singaporecancersociety.org.sg	Thomson Soh Singapore Cancer Society DID: 6436-5239 Email: thomson_soh@singaporecancersociety.org.sg
Angeline Chen KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital DID: 6394 2321 Email: media@kkh.com.sg	Carol AngSingapore General Hospital DID: 6321 4999 Email: carol.ang@sgh.com.sg
Amanda Ang National University Cancer Institute, SingaporeDID: 6772 4594 Email: Amanda_ht_ang@nuhs.edu.sg	Wee Leng Lim Health Promotion Board DID: 6435 3549 Email: LIM_Wee_Leng@hpb.gov.sg

About Women’s Gynaecological Cancers

Gynaecological cancers refer to cancers of a woman’s reproductive organs. Each gynaecological cancer is unique, with its own different signs, symptoms and risk factors. It is essential for women to be aware and pay attention to their bodies so that they can recognise the signs and symptoms and seek appropriate treatment early.

According to statistics from the Singapore Cancer Registry, in 2011-2015, uterine cancer was the 4th most common cancer (6.9% of incident cases) diagnosed among female Singapore residents. The number of new uterine cancer cases has been increasing for the past few years. 2,271 new cases of uterine cases were diagnosed in 2011 – 2015. From 1996-2000 to 2011-2015, the number of women diagnosed with uterine cancer had risen from 8.7 to 15.5 per 100,000 women³ .

Ovarian cancer is the 5th most common cancer (5.4% of incident cases) diagnosed among female Singapore residents. 1,797 new cases of ovarian cancer were diagnosed in 2011-2015. From 1996-2000 to 2011-2015, the number of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer had risen from 11 to 13 per 100,000 women⁴ .

Cervical cancer is the 10th most common cancer (3.1%) among Singaporean women⁴.

Pap smear has been widely proven to be effective in detection of abnormal cervical cells. However, in 2016, only 1 in 2 (50.7%) women aged between 25 and 69 had been screened in the past three years4 . More is needed to be done to improve the screening rates for women to reduce the risk of Cervical Cancer. Based on a retrospective study conducted at Singapore Cancer Society’s Multi-Service Centre involving 15,159 women attending routine Pap smear screening, 71% of women who had moderate to high-grade cervical dysplasia showed no symptoms when they were diagnosed5 . This is why it is important to get screened regularly. 

WGCAM 2018 is supported by the Health Promotion Board, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, National University Hospital, Singapore General Hospital, OncoCare Cancer Centre, Parkway Cancer Centre and Singapore O&G Pte Ltd.

About Singapore Cancer Society (www.singaporecancersociety.org.sg)

Established in 1964, Singapore Cancer Society is a self-funded voluntary welfare organisation which provides patient care services to needy cancer patients through its welfare, hospice home care, cancer treatment subsidy and rehabilitation support programmes. In addition, the Society also provides free cancer screening services and promotes cancer awareness and prevention through its public education and community outreach programmes.

Annex A: List of participating clinics under the enhanced Screen for Life programme.

To make an appointment, please call the respective clinics
请致电向参与诊所预约

RAFFLES MEDICAL GROUP
S/N	Clinic Name	Operating Hours
1	Health Check* @ RAFFLES HOSPITAL 585 North Bridge Road Level 12 Raffles Hospital Singapore 188770 Tel: 6311 1130 Fax: 6311 1163	Mon – Fri Sat	8.30am – 5.30pm 8.30am – 1.00pm
2	80 ROBINSON ROAD 80 Robinson Road #01-00 Singapore 068898 Tel: 6223 1188 Fax: 6223 3166	Mon – Fri	8.30am – 1.00pm 2.00pm – 5.30pm
3	112 KATONG 112 East Coast Road #03-17 I12 Katong Singapore 428802 Tel: 6636 3730 Fax: 6636 372	Mon – Fri Sat, Sun & PH	8.30am – 1.00pm 2.00pm – 5.30pm 6.30pm – 9.30pm 8.30am – 1.00pm
4	ANCHORPOINT Blk 370 Alexandra Road #B1-41 Anchorpoint Singapore 159953 Tel: 6479 3818 Fax: 6479 6563	Mon – Fri  Sat	8.30am – 1.00pm 2.00pm – 5.30pm 6.30pm – 9.30pm  8.30am – 1.00pm
5	ANG MO KIO Blk 722 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8 #01-2825 Singapore 560722 Tel: 6453 2288 Fax: 6455 3182	Mon – Fri  Sat, Sun & PH	8.30am – 9.30pm  8.30am – 1.00pm
6	ANSON CENTRE 51 Anson Road #01-51 Anson Centre Singapore 079904 DIOPIOP: 6225 2188 Fax: 6323 5110	Mon – Fri  Sat, Sun & PH	8.30am – 1.00pm 2.00pm – 5.30pm  Closed
7	ASIA SQUARE 8 Marina View #15-01 Asia Square Tower 1 Singapore 018960 Tel: 6636 0160 Fax: 6636 0159	Mon – Fri	8.30am – 1.00pm 2.00pm – 5.30pm
8	BEDOK NORTH Blk 203 Bedok North Street 1 #01-467 Singapore 460203 Tel: 6844 9291 Fax: 6844 9290	Mon – Fri  Sat & Sun	8.30am – 1.00pm 2.00pm – 5.30pm 6.30pm – 9.30pm  8.30am – 1.00pm

AcuMed
Clinic Name		Operating Hours
Bedok Clinic Blk 214 Bedok North Street 1 #01-165 Singapore 460214 Tel: 6443 8077 Fax: 6443 8700		8.30am – 1.00pm 2.00pm – 5.00pm 6.00pm – 9.00pm	8.30am – 1.00pm	9.00am – 12.00N
Boon Lay Clinic 301 Boon Lay Way #01-18/19 Singapore 649846 Tel: 6515 9919 Fax: 6515 9909 (Please proceed to Jurong West Branch for X-ray and audiometry services)		8.00am – 1:00pm 1.30pm – 6.00pm 6.30pm – 9.00pm	8.30am – 1.00pm 2.00pm – 5.00pm 6.00pm – 9.00pm	9.00am – 1.00pm 2.00pm – 5.00pm 6.00pm –
Joo Koon Clinic 1 Joo Koon Circle #01-23 FairPrice Hub Singapore 629117 Tel: 6861 5755 Fax: 6861 5355 (After operating hours, please proceed to Boon Lay Branch for consultation)		8.30am – 5.00pm	8.30am – 1.00pm	Closed
Pioneer Clinic 7 Pioneer Road North #01-40 Singapore 628459 Tel: 6261 0377 Fax: 6261 7611		8.30am – 1.00pm	Closed	Closed

Raffles Place Clinic-Income At Raffles 16 Collyer Quay, Income At Raffles, #02-03 Singapore 049318 Tel: 6532 7766 Fax: 6534 1767 8.30am – 1.00pm 1.30pm – 5.30pm Closed ClosedSengkang Clinic Blk 215C Compassvale Drive #01-02 Singapore 543215 Tel: 6385 0113 Fax: 6702 1969 9.00am – 1.00pm 2.00pm – 4.00pm 6.00pm – 8.30pm 9.30am – 12.30pm 6.00pm – 8.30pm 9.30am – 12.30pm 6.00pm – 8.30pmTTaman Jurong Clinic Blk 64 Yung Kuang Road #01 – 107 / 111 Singapore 610064 Tel: 6265 6422 Fax: 6266 2777 8.30am–9.00pm 8.30am – 5.00pm 9.00am–12.00N Teban Gardens Clinic Blk 38 Teban Gardens Road #01-318/319 Singapore 600038 Tel: 6561 9366 Fax: 6561 6103 8.30am – 5.00pm 6.00pm – 9.00pm 8.30am – 1.00pm 2.00pm – 5.00pm 9.00am – 12.00NTuas Clinic-Tuas Amenity Centre71 Pioneer Road #01-06 Singapore 639591 Tel: 6861 5996 Fax: 6863 3579  Tuas South Clinic-BioMed Hube 128 Tuas South Ave 3 #01-03 Singapore 637370 Tel: 6570 1390 Fax: 6570 1395 Woodlands Clinic Blk 303 Woodlands St 31 #01-185 Singapore 730303 Tel: 6362 7789 Fax: 6368 7077 Assurance Medicare (Associate Clinic) 370 Tanjong Katong Road S(437127) Tel: 6345 7810 Fax: 6348 7592 8.30am – 5.00pm Mon to Thurs: 8.30am – 1.00pm 2.00pm – 5.00pm  Fri: 8.30am – 1.00pm 8.30 – 1.00pm 2.00pm – 5.00pm 6.00pm – 9.00pm 8.30am – 1.00pm Closed 8.30am – 1.00pm 2.00pm – 5.00pm  Closed Closed 9.30am – 1.00pm 2.00pm – 5.00pm For all Singaporean/ PR with or without CHAS at year-long at SCS Clinic @ Bishan SCS Clinic @ BishanTel: 1800-727-3333 Address: 9 Bishan Place, #06-05, Junction 8 Office Tower, Singapore 579837Operating Hours: Mon to Fri – 9am to 6pm (Last appointment at 5.15pm) Sat – 9am to 4pm (Last appointment at 3.15pm)