Which cancer screenings do I need in Singapore?
Three cancers are recommended for regular population screening: breast (mammogram), cervical (Pap or HPV test) and colorectal (FIT stool test). Depending on your age, sex, family history and lifestyle, your doctor may also suggest prostate (PSA), liver or lung screening — and, for broader coverage, a Lucence multi-cancer blood test.
What is Lucence?
Lucence is a Singapore-founded precision oncology laboratory, headquartered in Singapore with operations in the United States and Hong Kong. It develops liquid biopsy tests that read fragments of tumour DNA circulating in the blood. Its screening test, LucenceINSIGHT, is used for multi-cancer early detection.
What is LucenceINSIGHT?
LucenceINSIGHT is a multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test. From a single blood draw, it screens for signals from up to 50 cancers by analysing circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), and can indicate the likely tissue of origin if a signal is found.
How is the Lucence test better than traditional cancer screening?
It isn't a replacement — it's a complement, and it's better at specific things. Traditional screening covers only a handful of cancers and requires a separate test for each. Lucence screens for up to 50 cancers from one blood draw, including many that have no screening programme at all — pancreatic, ovarian, liver, oesophageal and stomach cancers among them. It needs no bowel prep, no radiation and no discomfort. What it cannot do is replace a mammogram, Pap test or colonoscopy, which remain essential.
How accurate is the Lucence cancer screening test?
In clinical validation studies, LucenceINSIGHT reported around 99% specificity — meaning a low false-positive rate — with about 81% sensitivity, and it can indicate the likely tissue of origin with roughly 88% accuracy. Because it is genetic-based rather than protein-based, it is more accurate than traditional tumour-marker blood tests.
Does the Lucence test replace my mammogram, Pap smear or colonoscopy?
No. It complements them. No multi-cancer blood test is approved to replace guideline-recommended screening, and relying on one alone risks false reassurance. Our doctors will make sure your standard screening stays on schedule alongside it.
Who should consider a multi-cancer blood test?
It is generally considered for adults aged around 40 or 50 and above, and for those at higher risk — a strong family history, known genetic predisposition, or significant lifestyle risk factors. It is a prescription test, so our doctors will assess whether it is appropriate for you.
What happens if the Lucence test finds a cancer signal?
A positive result is not a diagnosis. It means a signal has been detected, and the test may suggest the likely tissue of origin to guide investigation. Your doctor will arrange confirmatory tests — imaging, endoscopy or biopsy as appropriate — and support you through that process.
Can a blood test miss a cancer?
Yes. Some cancers shed little DNA into the bloodstream, particularly at very early stages, so a negative result does not guarantee you are cancer-free. This is precisely why the test complements, rather than substitutes for, your recommended screening.
Are tumour marker blood tests the same thing?
No. Traditional tumour markers such as CEA and CA 125 measure proteins, and are prone to both false positives and missed cancers. Multi-cancer tests such as LucenceINSIGHT read tumour DNA directly, which is a fundamentally more specific signal.
At what age should I start cancer screening?
In Singapore, cervical screening starts at 25, breast screening (mammogram) at 40–50, and colorectal screening at 50. Those with a family history or higher risk may need to start earlier — we'll advise you.
Is cancer screening subsidised or free?
Breast, cervical and colorectal screening are subsidised under Screen for Life, and are often fully subsidised for Singapore Citizens enrolled in Healthier SG when done or referred by their enrolled GP. CHAS and Pioneer/Merdeka subsidies may also apply. Multi-cancer blood tests such as LucenceINSIGHT are self-funded.
Do I need cancer screening if I feel well or have no family history?
Yes. Early-stage cancers often cause no symptoms at all, and most people who develop these cancers have no family history. Regular screening is how they are caught early, when they are most treatable.
What's the difference between men's and women's cancer screening?
Women's screening focuses on breast and cervical cancer (plus colorectal), while men's focuses on colorectal and, where appropriate, prostate (PSA). Colorectal screening is recommended for everyone from age 50.
