Radiation Therapy

Breast cancer is the number one cancer among Singaporean women. It usually occurs when harmful (malignant) cells originate from the cells lining the milk ducts and glands. In advanced breast cancer, cancerous cells can spread through the breast to the rest of the body.

Gynecological cancers develop in the female reproductive organs, such as the cervix, the vagina, the vulva, the uterus, the ovaries and the fallopian tubes. Cervical cancer is the cancer of the cervix, caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection. Vaginal cancer is a rare cancer that can affect the cells that line the vaginal canal. Vulvar cancer is a rare cancer that affects the vulva, or the outer part of the female genitalia. Endometrial or uterine cancer is the cancer of the uterus. Ovarian cancer is the cancer of the ovaries. Fallopian tube cancer is a rare cancer that affects the fallopian tubes. Peritoneal cancer is another rare form of cancer but can appear as ovarian cancer on initial diagnosis.

Prostate cancer is the third most common cancer among men. The disease occurs when cancer cells form in the prostate, a walnut-sized gland located between the penis and bladder. Prostate cancer in its early stages is usually localized, but it can spread to other organs if left untreated.

Nose cancer, or nasopharyngeal cancer as is more accurately named, occurs when cells of the lining of the passageway behind the nose, called the nasopharynx multiply abnormally to form a tumour. The most common cell type for nasopharyngeal cancer in Singapore is called undifferentiated carcinoma, which is strongly associated with a virus called Epstein Barr Virus (EBV).