Sign-ups for 3 types of free cancer screening available for lower-income S’poreans in March, April

SINGAPORE – Lower-income Singaporeans will be able to register for a free colonoscopy, mammogram and Pap test in March and April, as part of an initiative to encourage early detection of some cancers through health screenings.

The free colonoscopy, for the detection of colorectal cancer, will be available for registration from March 6 until April 30, the 365 Cancer Prevention Society (365CPS) said in a statement.

The free mammogram, which screens for breast cancer, and Pap test, for cervical cancer, are available for registration until the end of March and March 15, respectively, the society had announced earlier.

To sign up for any of these three tests, eligible Singaporeans can visit the 365CPS website.

Free screenings for prostate cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer, and fatty liver disease will also be held in 2025 at a later date.

Those aged between 45 and 70, and holding a blue or orange Chas, or Public Assistance (PA) card, and have not done a colonoscopy in the last five years, will be eligible for the free test.

A colonoscopy is performed to examine the internal lining of the colon and rectum.

Colorectal cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among both men and women in Singapore, said the non-profit organisation. There are around 1,400 new cases annually, and the overall lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer in Singapore is around 5.6 per cent.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Singaporean women, said 365CPS, with more than 2,000 women diagnosed annually.

Women above the age of 40, and who hold a blue or orange Chas card, or a PA card, are eligible for the free mammogram. Those aged between 40 and 49 must not have undergone a mammogram within the past year, while women aged 50 and above must not have done so in the past two years.

Those who have received breast implants, or are undergoing breast cancer treatment, are not eligible for the test.

The free Pap test will be available to women between the ages of 25 and 69, who have engaged in sexual intercourse, or are currently sexually active.

They will also need to be either blue or orange Chas card holders, or have a PA card.

Cervical cancer is largely asymptomatic in its early stages, but some women may experience signs such as vaginal bleeding after intercourse, irregular bleeding between periods or after menopause, said the organisation.

It added that with regular screening, cervical cancer is highly preventable, and that pre-cancerous abnormalities can be detected through screening tests.