For the human body to function normally, each organ must have healthy, functional cells. Cells usually have a short lifespan, and are replaced through cell division. Cancer occurs when cell division becomes uncontrolled, causing the cells to grow and develop abnormally.
Cancerous cells can grow in an aggressive manner, crowding out normal tissues, becoming a tumour and eventually spreading to other parts of the body. In most cases, the cause of cancer is unknown. Scientists have, however, identified certain risk factors that are common among cancer patients.
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. From 2015 to 2019, Singapore Cancer Registry Annual Report 2019 states that there were 78,204 cases reported in Singapore, from which 15,605 males and 12,940 females died of cancer. *The top cancers in terms of the number of new cases in 2020 worldwide are:
- Breast Cancer (2,261,419 cases)
- Lung Cancer (2,206,771 cases)
- Colorectal Cancer (1,931,590 cases)
- Prostate Cancer (1,414,259 cases)
- Stomach Cancer (1,089,103 cases)
- Liver cancer (905,677 cases)
*Source: https://gco.iarc.fr/today/online-analysis-table
Cancers in Singapore
Top 10 Cancers in Singapore (2015 – 2019)
*Other urinary refers to renal pelvis, ureter, urethra etc.
Top 10 Cancer Deaths in Singapore (2015 – 2019)
*Other urinary refers to renal pelvis, ureter, urethra etc.
Ref: Singapore Cancer Registry Annual Report 2019, Trends in Cancer Incidence and Mortality, 2015-2019