Singapore’s national prevention health initiative, Healthier SG, is involving general practitioners (GPs) to create community awareness on early screening and detection in line with the Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) 2023 beginning from 1 October 2023. On 29 September, National University Health System announced the initiative.

BCAM will feature Healthier SG roadshows, with the campaign theme “Keeping Her In The Picture” to encourage eligible women for breast cancer screening. 

The National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS) is the chair of this year’s BCAM national campaign, launched in collaboration with agencies and institutions, namely the Breast Cancer Foundation, Health Promotion Board, SingHealth DukeNUS Breast Centre, Singapore Cancer Society and Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Together, the BCAM agencies and institutes are calling for the community, especially key partners such as primary care physicians, to join the fight against breast cancer and take charge of their breast health by prioritising regular mammogram screening. Women aged 50 to 69 are recommended to go for mammograms once every two years. Those aged 40 to 49 should go for annual mammogram screening after a discussion with their doctors. 

The National Population Health Survey 2022 noted that close to two-fifths, or 37.6%, of Singapore women aged 50 to 69 reported that they had gone for mammography in the last two years, an increase from 31%in 2021. For the five-year period from 2017 to 2021, the age-standardised incidence rate of breast cancer was 74.6 per 100,000 women. For Singapore citizens enrolled in Healthier SG, the mammogram screening is fully subsidised.

“Through the Screen for Life (SFL) programme, we have increased the accessibility and affordability of breast cancer screening. Eligible Singapore citizens enrolled in Healthier SG can also receive free breast cancer screening at participating SFL centres” said Simon Lim, Group Director of Outreach, Health Promotion Board(HPB).