Cancer is a group of diseases caused by the growth of abnormal cells. Our bodies are composed of millions of tiny structures called cells. Normal cells reproduce themselves by dividing in a regular, controlled manner so that growth and repair of the body tissues can take place. However, this cell division can also produce abnormal cells which grow and multiply uncontrollably. When these cells invade and spread to other parts of the body, they are called cancer cells.
According to Ministry of Health, cancer is the number one killer in Singapore. One in three Singaporeans dies of cancer. Colorectal cancer and breast cancer are the most prevalent cancers for men and women respectively.
In an effort to improve clinical outcomes for cancer, JurongHealth Campus and the National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS) of the National University Health System (NUHS) formed the Western Cancer Action Network (WCAN). WCAN seeks to provide a comprehensive and integrated cancer care service from prevention and screening, diagnosis and treatment to survivorship as well as palliative and hospice care for the community in the west.
The JurongHealth Campus–NCIS Cancer Service at NTFGH specialises in the following types of cancers:
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer occurs in the tissues present in the breast.
Gastro-intestinal Cancers
Gastrointestinal cancer refers to cancer of the organs of the digestive system – including the esophagus, gallbladder, liver, pancreas, stomach, small intestine, large intestine (colon) and rectum.
Head & Neck Cancers
Head and neck cancers refer to cancers that occur in the lip, oral cavity (mouth), nasal cavity (hollow space inside the nose), paranasal sinuses (a group of air-filled spaces that surround the nasal cavity, above the eyes, between the eyes and behind the ethmoids), pharynx ( throat), and larynx (voice box).
Urological Cancers
Urologic cancers include cancers of the bladder, kidney, prostate and testicles.
