Breast cancer is the no. 1 cancer for women in Singapore

Did you know breast cancer is the most common form of cancer for women in Singapore? In fact, 1 in 11 women experience some form of the disease in their lifetime. Read on to learn more about Breast Cancer.

What are the key causes of breast cancer?

A combination of factors could increase your risk of breast cancer. Inherently, the female body’s biological structure causes more women than men to contract this disease. That said, breast cancer can affect men too. You will find a lot of information online relating to the key causes of breast cancer, and here are some contributing factors we found:

Age and weight: The risk of breast cancer increases with age. And, while not always the case, being overweight or obese could put one at risk because of higher estrogen levels which increases the risks of breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

Family history: The risk of contracting breast cancer may be higher for someone whose family has had a history of the disease.

History of breast cancer: Patients who have had breast cancer and recovered from it tend to be at higher risks. Also, certain types of benign breast lumps could become cancerous at a later stage.

Drinking: A study in the US based on 88,000 women concluded that women who had light to moderate drinking were 1.13x more likely to contract breast cancer than women who didn’t. The Ministry of Health of Singapore recommends no more than one standard alcoholic drink a day for women. That’s about a can of beer (330ml), half a glass of wine (100ml), or 30ml of a spirit.

Smoking: Smoking is detrimental in more ways than one. Regular smokers are exposed to an increased risk of contracting 15 kinds of cancers, including breast cancer, heart disease and stroke.

How to detect breast cancer: Signs and prevention

Regular mammograms or ultrasound are helpful in ensuring the early detection of breast cancer. Afterall, early-stage cancers have a much higher survival rate when given timely treatment. Staying alert to any gradual or sudden changes around your breasts is equally important.

Don’t hesitate to see a doctor if you notice the following signs:

• Constant pain in the armpits or breast
• Nipple rash
• Peeling, flaking or redness of skin on the breast
• Bloodied discharge from the nipple
• Change in size and shape of the breast
• Lumps

While not all lumps are cancerous, it’s always best to get a medical opinion. They say prevention is better than cure — but apart from that, you should also consider protecting yourself from unforeseen circumstances.

These are some recommended tips:

Early Measures

Mammograms: Mammograms don’t prevent breast cancer, but they help in early detection if done regularly. There are many outlets for subsidised mammogram screenings in Singapore — the Singapore Cancer Society has a full list.

Exercise and a healthy diet: If you exercise but eat an unbalanced diet, your health may be at risk. So opt to eat healthily, and clock at least 150 minutes of exercise weekly. Over time, these could lower your risk of chronic diseases.

Additional Measures

Cancer insurance: While cancer insurance cannot protect you from breast cancer — or any other forms of cancer, for that matter — it can help in your journey to recovery. Essentially, cancer insurance coverage safeguards you from financial worries during the treatment and recovery phase.

FWD Cancer insurance, for example, offers a 100% payout for all types of cancers, even for early stages. This lump-sum payout can help in many ways, like compensating your loss of income should you decide to take a break from work. Coverage is available up to S$200,000, with a free second medical opinion too. The best part is, it costs a fraction of most critical illness plans.

We hope you’ve found these tips helpful. Cancer is worrying but many survive it too. Enjoy additional assurance with a safety net such as FWD’s Cancer insurance.

Find out more about FWD Cancer Insurance.