BY: Victoria Barker

WHEN Mr Peter Yeo noticed traces of blood in his stool eight years ago, he did not think much of it. He visited his general practitioner, who prescribed him suppositories for what was diagnosed as "piles".

Six months later, when the bleeding worsened,Mr Yeo visited a specialist who, after performing a colonoscopy, diagnosed him with third-stage colorectal cancer. He had to undergo surgery and chemotherapy, but has since fully recovered.

"I'm lucky the doctor caught it when he did. Otherwise I wouldn't be here today," said the retiree, now 68. Mr Yeo previously worked in the financial industry.

Though breast cancer is still the most common cancer to affect women, colorectal cancer is currently the most prevalent cancer among men here. It is also the leading cancer when the tally for both men and women is combined.
If caught during the first stage, when the cancer is still completely localised within the colon and rectum, there is a 95-per-cent cure rate. A patient is considered cured when cancer is absent for at least five years after surgery.

Subsequently at the third stage, when the cancer spreads, the cure rate drops to about 50 per cent. Beyond that, the survival rate is negligible.

While undergoing a colonoscopy is the primary means of detecting colorectal cancer, there is a less invasive procedure called faecal occult blood testing.

To raise awareness on the importance of screening and early detection of colorectal cancer, Singapore General Hospital (SGH) will be distributing 1,200 faecal occult blood-test kits at an event this weekend.

Those who test positive will be offered a free colonoscopy. SGH head and senior consultant surgeon of the colorectal surgery, department, Professor Eu Kong Weng, hopes this will motivate more Singaporeans to go for screenings.

"Fear plays a big part in the decision to get screened. Some hope the symptoms they notice may go away on their own. By the time they seek treatment, it may be too late," he said, adding that at least 1,300 new cases are diagnosed here each year.

Bleeding from the rectum, a change in bowel habits and blood in the stool are some of the symptoms of the disease. A family history of the cancer plays a major role as well.

"What people need to realise  is that this particular cancer is unique in the sense that it is very curable, and even, preventable," Prof Eu explained.

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