More Younger People Getting Colorectal Cancer

Lack of exercise, poor diet and family history increase the risk among adults under 50 in S'pore

- Amrita Kaur

Mr Ambrose Lee was 36 when he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer — a disease that usually strikes those in their 50s and older.

In July 2022, he experienced heart palpitations and shortness of breath. He would feel unusually winded after walking short distances, something he attributed to the lingering effects of a Covid-19 infection.

Concerned about his health, he saw a general practitioner (GP), who found nothing abnormal, but referred him to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital for further tests.

At the hospital, doctors conducted a series of blood tests and found that Mr Lee's red blood cell count was alarmingly low.

Initially, the doctors suspected thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder that affects the body's ability to produce haemoglobin and healthy red blood cells. They administered iron infusions, but his iron levels remained critically low.

"This raised concerns of internal bleeding, prompting doctors to conduct further investigations," says Mr Lee, who is single and works as a freelancer in the psychology field.

Over several days, he underwent multiple scans. These showed no visible signs of internal bleeding. As a last step, doctors performed a colonoscopy and an upper endoscopy to check for abnormalities in his digestive tract and colon.

It was during these procedures that they discovered a tumour in his colon. Mr Lee was then told he had Stage 2 colon cancer.

Unlike typical colorectal cancer patients — who experience symptoms such as changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool or abdominal discomfort — Mr Lee had none of these clear warning signs.

"The only indication was a persistent feeling of incomplete bowel evacuation, which I had been experiencing for at least six months before my diagnosis. Despite having regular and normal bowel movements, I often felt that my bowels were not fully emptied," says the 39-year-old.