19.07.2016
Neuroendocrine cancer occurs in the cells of the neuroendocrine system. It is an insidious invader which causes a wide range of symptoms that could be attributed to other diseases, making diagnosis difficult. The neuroendocrine system is a diffuse one that runs throughout the body, and its cells are present in organs such as the pituitary…
19.07.2016
Cancer remains an important and significant health problem globally and in Singapore it is responsible for the largest proportion of deaths. The most common cancer in women is breast cancer. Like other cancers, it occurs when normal cells undergo genetic changes and keep on growing without control, spreading to colonise other tissues…
19.07.2016
Amanda, the 50-year-old lady whose story started this article, is an otherwise healthy and cheerful lady who is full of energy. Because she was usually healthy and does not like visiting doctors, she has held off her diagnosis and treatment for too long until she presents with severe pain, unable to talk or get out of bed.
19.07.2016
One of the hallmarks of cancer is the way the cells behave. Normally, cells grow and divide, forming new ones only to maintain the state of health. Old cells die and new cells take their place. However, sometimes a single cell may mutate in a way that results in uncontrolled and unorganised growth of one mass of cells with the destruction of other healthy functional cells.
19.07.2016
New evolution in oncological therapeutics can not only completely cure cancer in more instances, they can now be administered with much less (in some cases minimal) side effects and are able to prolong a patient’s life by many years. Within cancer therapeutics, immunotherapeutic drugs have gained broader acceptance because…
19.07.2016
The rising rate of deaths by cancer in first-world countries strikes a grave chord in the hearts of Singaporeans, especially in the wake of a recent government report predicting that up to 40% of Singaporeans are likely to develop some form of cancer during their lives. The first news of a cancer diagnosis is never easy to accept.
19.07.2016
Singapore’s cancer statistics make for grim reading. Each day, 36 people are told that they have cancer. According to the National Registry of Diseases Office, cancer is the top cause of death here, with one in three dying of it. Cancer cases have increased by 17% since 2010, marking a worrying trend. However, what is reassuring is that…
19.07.2016
Before the turn of the millennium, there were very few cancer treatment drugs available for solid tumours. Thanks to intensive research and development, there are now literally hundreds, with side-effects reduced significantly. Positive news abounds for cancer patients with tens of thousands of publications every year on new perspectives…
19.07.2016
Recent projections from the Singapore government appear fairly alarming: the report tells us that approximately 50% of all Singaporean men are likely to develop some kind of cancer in their lifetime, while the same is true for approximately 40% of all Singaporean women. Cancer is quickly becoming…
