Towards elimination of cervical cancer - human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and cervical cancer screening in Asian National Cancer Centers Alliance (ANCCA) member countries.

About 95% of cervical cancers worldwide are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Cervical cancer is preventable and curable if it is detected and treated early. We reviewed the latest national cervical cancer indicators, and barriers to HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening in 21 Asian National Cancer Centers Alliance (ANCCA) member countries. Half (n = 11, 52%) of the countries have introduced HPV vaccination for girls as part of their national vaccination programme, three countries reported coverage of over 90%. Most ANCCA member countries have cervical cancer screening programmes, only five countries reported screening uptake of over 50%. The barriers to HPV vaccination coverage and cervical cancer screening participation have been identified. Ensuring health service accessibility and affordability for women, addressing sociocultural barriers, and strengthening the healthcare system and continuum of care are essential to increase HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening coverage.

Barriers to breast cancer screening in Singapore: A literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer death among women, and its age-standardised incidence rate is one of the highest in Asia. We aimed to review studies on barriers to breast cancer screening to inform future policies in Singapore. METHOD: This was a literature review of both quantitative and qualitative studies published between 2012 and 2020 using PubMed, Google Scholar and Cochrane databases, which analysed the perceptions and behaviours of women towards breast cancer screening in Singapore. RESULTS: Through a thematic analysis based on the Health Belief Model, significant themes associated with low breast cancer screening uptake in Singapore were identified. The themes are: (1) high perceived barriers versus benefits, including fear of the breast cancer screening procedure and its possible outcomes, (2) personal challenges that impede screening attendance and paying for screening and treatment, and (3) low perceived susceptibility to breast cancer. CONCLUSION: Perceived costs/barriers vs benefits of screening appear to be the most common barriers to breast cancer screening in Singapore. Based on the barriers identified, increasing convenience to get screened, reducing mammogram and treatment costs, and improving engagement with support groups are recommended to improve the screening uptake rate in Singapore.

Behaviour and characteristics of low-grade ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast: literature review and single-centre retrospective series.

AIMS: Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast is a heterogeneous disease that has risen to prominence and more recently controversy, with the advent of screening mammography. Debate concerning the true biological potential of low nuclear grade DCIS continues to challenge therapeutic considerations. In this study, we carried out a comprehensive literature review of the behaviour, outcomes and current management trials of low-grade DCIS, as well as a retrospective study of a large single institutional series of low-grade DCIS diagnosed at our hospital. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study cohort comprised 195 cases of low-grade DCIS diagnosed at the Singapore General Hospital from 1994 to 2010. Clinicopathological parameters and follow-up data were retrieved and compared between screen-detected and symptomatic low-grade DCIS. Immunohistochemistry was performed for ER, PR and HER2. Among 195 cases, 123 (63.1%) were screen-detected, while 72 (36.9%) were symptomatic. Screen-detected cases had frequent calcifications (P < 0.001) and were smaller (P = 0.018) than symptomatic cases. All cases were ER-positive and rate of PR expression was high. No HER2 overexpression was observed. Mean and median follow-up periods were 107.8 and 109.6 months, respectively. Six patients recurred ipsilaterally, and one patient developed direct distant metastasis. One breast cancer-related death was recorded. Positive surgical margins (P = 0.023) were significantly associated with a higher risk of ipsilateral recurrences, as well as poorer disease-free survivals (P = 0.010). CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that low-grade DCIS may be followed by invasive recurrences and even metastatic disease, requiring more study before being regarded as innocuous and indolent.

Characteristics and behaviour of screen-detected ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast: comparison with symptomatic patients.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in Singapore women. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is the putative, non-obligate precursor of the majority of invasive breast cancers. The efficacy of the Singapore breast-screening pilot project in detecting early stage breast cancer led to the launch of a national breast-screening programme, BreastScreen Singapore (BSS), in January 2002. In this study, we compared clinicopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics, as well as clinical outcomes, between screen-detected and symptomatic DCIS. The study cohort comprised 1202 cases of DCIS diagnosed at Singapore General Hospital from 1994 to 2010. Comparison of clinicopathological parameters, immunohistochemical results of ER, PR, HER2, CK14, EGFR, and 34ßE12, and clinical outcomes was carried out between the 2 groups. Amongst 1202 cases, 610 (50.7%) were screen-detected and 592 (49.3%) were symptomatic DCIS. Screen-detected cases were smaller in size (P < 0.001), of lower nuclear grade (P = 0.004), and more frequently expressed ER (P < 0.001). Luminal A phenotype was more frequently observed in screen-detected DCIS, while triple-negative and HER2 phenotypes were more common in symptomatic DCIS (P < 0.001). The basal-like phenotype was also more frequent in symptomatic DCIS (P = 0.041). Mean and median follow-up was 99.7 and 97.8 months, respectively, with a maximum follow-up of 246.0 months. More symptomatic patients developed invasive recurrences compared to screen-detected patients (P = 0.001). A trend for better disease-free survival was observed in screen-detected patients (P = 0.076). Patients who were screen-detected experienced better overall survival than those with symptomatic DCIS (P = 0.007). Our data indicate a more favourable outcome of screen-detected DCIS patients confirming the role of BSS in early identification of this curable disease.

Extent and correlates of change in anthropometric and fitness outcomes among participants in a corporate team-based weight loss challenge in Singapore: lose to win 2009.

The authors describe a national corporate team-based weight loss intervention targeting groups of overweight/obese employees and assess its effectiveness. A 12-week weight loss program comprising nutrition education and physical activity sessions, enhanced by a nationwide media campaign, was organized by the Singapore Health Promotion Board. A total of 285 participants, forming 72 teams (1 per workplace), had their anthropometric (weight, body mass index [BMI], and body fat percentage) and fitness (fitness index score based on UKK 2-km walk test) measurements taken pre-intervention and post-intervention. Average decreases, from baseline to end of intervention, in weight, BMI, and body fat percentage were 3.58 kg, 1.32 kg/m(2), and 2.14%, respectively. The fitness index score increased by 34.1 units. Greater participation in physical activity and nutrition education sessions was associated with more beneficial anthropometric and fitness changes. The intervention was well received and effective in producing short-term weight loss. Further research needs to be done to ascertain its long-term effectiveness and generalizability.

Health Promotion Board-Ministry of Health Clinical Practice Guidelines: Falls Prevention among Older Adults Living in the Community

The Health Promotion Board (HPB) has developed the Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) on Falls Prevention among Older Adults Living in the Community to provide health professionals in Singapore with recommendations for evidence-based assessments and interventions for falls prevention. This article reproduces the introduction and executive summary of the key recommendations from the HPB-MOH CPG on Falls Prevention among Older Adults Living in the Community for the information of SMJ readers. The chapters and page numbers mentioned in the reproduced extract refer to the full text of the guidelines, which are available from the Health Promotion Board website: http://www.hpb.gov. sg/cpg-falls-prevention. The recommendations should be used with reference to the full text of the guidelines. Following this article are multiple choice questions based on the full text of the guidelines.

Breast cancer in Singapore: some perspectives.

Breast cancer is the commonest malignancy among Singapore women, accounting for 29.7% of all female cancers, with an age-standardized rate of 54.9 per 100,000 per year. It has been the most frequent cancer in Singapore women for the last 30 years, with the highest rates previously reported in those aged between 45 and 49 years, but with a more recent observation of a change in peak age group to women in their late 50s. About 1,100 new cases are diagnosed annually and approximately 270 women die in Singapore each year from breast cancer. In the multiethnic population of Singapore, it has been noted that rising breast cancer incidence is consistent across all three ethnic groups (Chinese, Malays, and Indians). Singapore has among the highest breast cancer incidence in Asia. Possible explanations include rapid urbanization, improvement in socio-economic status, and adoption of a western lifestyle. Our experience with the Singapore breast screening pilot project (1994-1997) and the national breast-screening program (BreastScreen Singapore) has led to increased understanding of this disease in the country. Data from the pilot project showed that breast screening is just as effective in a predominantly Asian population as in the west. Early breast cancer accounted for most breast cancers detected, with pre-invasive ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) comprising 26% of all screen-detected cancers in the pilot study. In the currently on-going BreastScreen Singapore, DCIS forms >30% of all breast cancers among pre-menopausal women, a relatively high proportion probably accounted for partially by the greater participation of women aged between 40 and 49 years. Despite the ready availability of subsidized mammographic screening, there are still women in Singapore who present with locally advanced breast cancer. Clinical management of an increasing number of women with breast cancer embraces a multidisciplinary team-based approach, with regular discussions of therapeutic strategies at tumor boards. In order to improve breast cancer diagnostics and therapeutics in our country, it is important that there are continual breast cancer and breast disease-related educational activities for medical professionals engaged in diagnosing and managing breast cancer. The role of public education in raising awareness is also essential.

Prevalence of childhood asthma and control in children assessed in a pilot school-based intervention programme in Singapore.

AIM: Because of a high childhood asthma burden in Singapore, assessment of disease control status is essential for formulating school-based strategy of childhood asthma control. The aim of the present study is to assess childhood asthma prevalence and control in Singapore and the socio-demographic and help-seeking correlates. METHODS: School-based survey using parental self-administered questionnaire, conducted from February to April 2004. Four mixed-gender primary schools selected from geographically distinct zones of Singapore. All primary one (modal age - 6.5 years) and six (modal age - 11.9 years) students from selected schools were invited to participate. Questionnaire respondents were the students' parents or guardians. The response rate was 75.2% (2123/2825). RESULTS: Prevalence of current asthma was 8.9% (190/2123). Among them, 26.3% (46/175) were assessed to have inadequate control. Asthma was more prevalent, and less adequately controlled in children from lower socio-economic backgrounds (lower-end housing type). Children with poorly controlled asthma were more likely to be treated by emergency room physicians and hospital specialists, and to be on preventer medications. CONCLUSIONS: In Singapore, poor asthma control is found in a sizeable proportion of school children with asthma, is identifiable for high-risk groups of children from lower socio-economic backgrounds and having asthma-related attendance at the emergency rooms.