CANCER OF THE WOMB (Preventive measures)

Madam Chan Choy Siong asked the Minister for Health, in view of the prevalence of patients suffering from cancer of the womb, whether he has plans to expand the facilities for the preventive and early diagnosis of female genital cancer.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, a small-scale screening unit was introduced last year (1965) in the Kandang Kerbau Maternity Hospital to detect early cancer of the womb of patients as they were being treated for routine gynaecological complaints or after child-birth. As a result of this screening service, the number of cases of cancer of the womb which was at 351 in 1964 rose to 576 last year. Deaths arising from cancer of the womb were 90 in 1964 and 69 in 1965.

The staffing of this cancer screening unit has been further strengthened this year with the return of a Medical Officer specially trained in this technique in the United States of America and four laboratory assistants have also been recruited for training in this technique.

However, for an effective preventive service to provide early diagnosis of female genital cancer, it will be necessary to examine every woman in Singapore in the dangerous age group of 30-50. As there are approximately 160,000 in this age group, it is therefore obvious, Sir, that this desirable task cannot be achieved for some time to come.

Therefore, for the immediate future, only selective examination of cases will be undertaken by the screening unit in Kandang Kerbau Hospital until more funds can be allocated towards training more staff and provision of more equipment and facilities.

I am, however, happy to disclose that a second cancer screening unit for women in the Republic is likely to be established, before the end of this year, under the auspices of the Singapore Family Planning and Population Board.