Category Stomach and Abdominal Pain

Dr Ganesh Ramalingam: Why do women with gynaecological cancers have a higher risk of colorectal cancer?

A recent report by the Singapore Cancer Registry1 found that colorectal cancer is one of the top three cancers diagnosed locally. In fact, the increasingly rampant cancer now accounts for 1 in 7 in Singaporean women (1 in 6 for men), with Chinese individuals being most at risk.

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Colonoscopy Screening in 2022: A Guide by Dr Ganesh Ramalingam

Colorectal cancer is the most prevalent cancer in Singapore with around 1200 new cases every year.1 Male Chinese Singaporeans are at the highest risk of colorectal cancer.

Early screening via colonoscopies can detect them and improve the likelihood of recovery.

So, what does a colonoscopy entail and how do I prepare for it? Is it Medisave claimable? This ultimate guide will give you a detailed insight into colonoscopy in Singapore.

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Dr Ganesh: Why you should be aware of stomach polyps, the potentially dangerous growths anyone can develop

I have been seeing an increasing number of patients coming to me complaining about stomach problems such as indigestion, stomach pain, heartburn or fatigue. Of course, this can often be attributed to signs of stress, exhaustion, or any of the numerous difficult life events we face every day.

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Don’t Ignore Abnormalities In Your Bowel Movements – They Could Be Signs Of Colorectal Cancer

Been experiencing stomach ailments or a change in bowel habits lately? In recent years, I’ve seen more patients coming to me with bowel movement problems. While most aren’t serious issues, having bowel movement issues too frequently or experiencing certain symptoms can mean a bigger health problem – like colorectal cancer. Before you brush aside the possibility, here are some statistics that will show how common colorectal cancer actually is.

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Colonoscopy in Singapore 2021 by Dr Ganesh Ramalingam: All you need to know

A colonoscopy is a medical procedure to visually image the lining of your colon in order to examine it for any irregularities. Colonoscopies are usually carried out by general surgeons or Gastroenterologists. A long and soft tube with a camera & light known as a Colonoscope is carefully inserted via the anus, carrying a live image to a screen which allows the doctor to examine the colon, all the way to the exit of the small intestine.

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Dr Ganesh Ramalingam: A blood test to detect gastric cancer? An endoscopy is still the way to go

One of the leading causes1 of cancer-related deaths is gastric cancer. This type of cancer may show little to no symptoms at all during its early stages – a reason why it becomes more difficult to treat when discovered at a later time. More than 300 lives succumb to gastric cancer yearly in Singapore, according to the Singapore Cancer Society.2

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Do I need an endoscopy, colonoscopy or gastroscopy? Dr Ganesh weighs in

Many of you may have heard of the terms “endoscopy”, “colonoscopy” or “gastroscopy”, especially when we go to the doctor for a tummy ache or vomiting. But what are all these scopes and what exactly do they do for us? The terms that doctors throw around can be confusing to the layman audience, so let me help you understand them in the simplest way possible, no sweat!

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Dr Ganesh Ramalingam: Could your gut health be the source of your stress?

Have you experienced “butterflies in your stomach” or just had a strong “gut feeling” in difficult situations? There’s a good reason why these terms came about – the gastrointestinal tract is inextricably linked to the brain, and stresses from the environment can send signals from the brain to the gut and vice versa, which produces these physical symptoms of the digestive system. This is why you often feel the need to go to the toilet when you are nervous or anxious about something. 

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