Speech by President Halimah Yacob at the Pink Carpet Party Dine to make a Difference

Professor William Hwang, Medical Director, National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS),

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good evening. I am pleased to be here today in support of breast cancer research.

Let me begin by thanking the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) for organising this evening’s event. NCCS has been an important advocate for breast cancer research through its public education and outreach efforts, as well as collaborations with community partners to raise awareness of breast cancer prevention.

In the past four decades, breast cancer incidence has nearly tripled in Singapore. Not only is breast cancer the most common cause of cancer death for women, it was the most common cancer affecting women between 2011 and 2015, with nearly 10,000 women diagnosed with this disease during that period. Of these, nearly 50 per cent were younger than 54 years old. Based on the 2015 Singapore Cancer Registry report, it is estimated that one in 14 women in Singapore will develop breast cancer before the age of 75. These are sobering statistics.

What is also troubling about this trend is that breast cancer has a far-reaching impact on our society. Women are often the glue that holds the family unit together. When a woman is ill or absent from home, it leads to negative consequences for the family, with a knock-on effect on society. As a community, we should therefore do more to help individuals fight against this dreadful disease.

We need to take a more holistic approach towards engaging the public to take proactive steps in cancer prevention. Early detection of breast cancer is important as early-stage cancers can be easier to treat, and can improve outcomes for patients. To encourage more women who are 50 and above to go for regular screening, BreastScreen Singapore under the Health Promotion Board (HPB)’s Screen for Life programme provides subsidised mammograms for eligible women at selected polyclinics and participating community providers. HPB also works closely with key community stakeholders such as the Singapore Cancer Society and Breast Cancer Foundation to increase awareness through the Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign and to further reduce the cost of breast cancer screening for vulnerable populations. At NCCS, the Cancer Education & Information Services department organises public education activities such as forums, workshops and roadshows to inform members of the public on various aspects of cancer, focusing on prevention, early detection, diet and healthy lifestyle. Through these activities, NCCS hopes to empower members of the public with the right knowledge and skills to help themselves and their loved ones.

Besides public education, research can play a crucial role in helping to mitigate the impact of breast cancer. Research enables clinicians to better understand the type of breast cancer that afflicts Singaporeans and study the biological mechanisms that drive the increasing number of breast cancer cases in Singapore, so that we can better diagnose, treat and control the incidence of breast cancer in our community.

In the past three decades, Singapore has built up key research infrastructure and capabilities, which have enabled the translation of research to better health outcomes. In recognition of the importance of cancer research, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has identified cancers as one of the five therapeutic areas of focus under the Health and Biomedical Sciences domain, as part of the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2020 (RIE2020) Plan. MOH, through the National Medical Research Council (NMRC), has supported breast cancer research through its grant schemes and human capital awards.

One such example is a 2017 study conducted by NCCS in collaboration with the KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital. In this study, the team of doctors and researchers discovered a new way to aid early detection, and potentially make screening for the risk of breast cancer more accurate. By developing a unique research method, the team was able to identify three gene variations in Asians, which were found to be closely linked to an increase in breast cancer risk. Significantly, this method may be used to identify 1,000 or more gene variations associated with breast cancer, which could potentially lead to better risk prediction and improved breast cancer screening in the future.

It is heartening to know that there are patients who have benefited from breast cancer research. One of them is Mdm Christina Ng, who was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000 and sought treatment. Unfortunately, in 2013, she discovered a painful lump growing under her arm. Tests revealed that the cancer had recurred and had spread to her lungs. At that point in time, there was no cure for her condition, but there was an opportunity for her to try out a new drug. Mdm Ng was enrolled on a Phase 3 clinical trial in 2014. Four years on, the mass in her underarm had shrunk by 90 per cent. I am glad that Mdm Ng is able to have a new lease of life after receiving treatment.

Apart from new drugs and treatment, research is also important in helping us better understand the causes of breast cancer and their biological pathways. Such research can help reduce the risk of women developing cancer, improve breast cancer detection to aid early intervention and improve the chances of survival, and help us develop therapies that will target the cancer cells more specifically.

I would therefore like to take this opportunity to thank the many doctors and researchers in Singapore who are committed to studying ways of improving treatment and care for breast cancer patients. Breast cancer research brings together a group of doctors and researchers from all public hospitals in Singapore. They share a common goal of improving breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, detection and prevention through research.

For the rest of us, let us also do our part to support breast cancer research. I hope we can take this opportunity to speak to the doctors and researchers here tonight to find out more about their work. Only when the whole community comes together, can we win the battle against breast cancer.

I wish everyone a fruitful and enjoyable evening. Thank you.