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Approximately 5 Singaporeans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer every day. It is one of the 3 leading cancers in Singapore, regardless of gender and ethnicity. It is more common in men than in women, but harder to diagnose in women because it may be wrongly attributed to menstruation or other gynaecological problems. Read more about colorectal cancer in women here.
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In Singapore, an inguinal hernia is the most common type of hernia in men and women; though between the two sexes, men experience this condition more. But that’s not to say women are in the clear — in fact, women who have an inguinal hernia are more likely to have a femoral hernia too. Femoral hernias are known as the “silent” hernia because they don’t usually cause symptoms and are more likely to “pinch” a part of the bowel without you knowing. As such, the risk of complications is higher.
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We know that hernias are more prevalent in obese individuals (hiatal hernia) and the general male population (inguinal hernia), but did you know that hernias can be present in babies since birth as well? This type of hernia is known as an umbilical hernia.
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Obesity brings a slew of medical conditions — if you are overweight or obese, I’m sure your doctor must have already told you about its associated health implications, including a hiatal hernia.
Unlike an inguinal hernia, which is typically associated with birth defects or heavy lifting, a hiatal hernia is almost exclusively known to be linked with obesity. Why so? Let’s find out more about this type of hernia and its treatment options.
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As we get older, our muscles weaken, and so does our chance of developing a hernia. A hernia is generally caused by a combination of pressure and weakness of muscle, in which the pressure pushes an organ or tissue into the weak spot. Depending on where the spot is, the hernia can either be very serious or not at all.
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Whether you’re a parent or not, you must have heard of newborns getting jaundice and how it’s pretty normal. But jaundice in adults? How does that even happen, and is it anything serious?
Yes, I receive a handful of adult patients with jaundice — and unfortunately, jaundice in adults is often a sign of an underlying medical condition which does not improve on its own without serious side effects, unlike neonatal jaundice. Let’s find out all about adult jaundice.
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There can be a lot of misinformation on the Internet regarding illnesses and surgeries. Gallbladder removal is one of them. Many patients with gallstones either panic and think of the worst case scenario because of something they’ve read online, or avoid surgery due to the fear that they might lead a lower quality of life. In this blog post, I will share some of the top myths surrounding gallstones and gallbladder removal as well as my thoughts.
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Both women and men are at risk of developing colorectal cancer. Although men have a slightly higher risk than women (38.2% chance in men and 27.2% chance in women), it is harder to detect colon cancer in women as the symptoms are often dismissed as gynaecological or menstrual issues. These include abdominal bloating, discomfort and gas. As a trained specialist, it is relatively easy for me to distinguish between some colorectal and gynaecological symptoms, but many female patients tend to overlook those warning signs and avoid going to the doctor entirely.
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When it comes to abdominal pain, appendicitis usually isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Many would automatically assume the discomfort for a bout of food poisoning, since the symptoms of both conditions are pretty similar. But unlike food poisoning, appendicitis usually rapidly worsens in a matter of hours and is considered a medical emergency.
As a general surgeon in Singapore, I’ve seen cases where patients ignore the pain or try a wait-and-see approach only to be faced with a life threatening situation. Don’t let that be you — here’s how to tell if a stomach ache is actually appendicitis and what to do should you be diagnosed with the condition.
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March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. As we end the month, let’s continue raising awareness for this number one killer in Singapore. Did you know that colorectal cancer is one of the three leading cancers in Singapore, regardless of gender or ethnicity? Everyday, approximately 5 Singaporeans are diagnosed with colon cancer, and to date, we have more than 1,200 cases each year.
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