NIP or Neoplasm Interception Program is a comprehensive cancer screening program newly set up in National Cancer Centre. It was started in December 2005 and has seen close to a hundred patients since.

Each individual is unique, therefore NIP offers screening based on each individual’s risk profile for cancers. This is done through a detailed medical and family history taking and a thorough physical examination, including gynaecological examination for the females. Taking into considerations patient’s risk for major cancers, a series of investigations will be discussed and offered.

There is no “standard” package of tests. Only screening tests that the individual needs, based on risk profile, will be recommended.

These investigations include blood tests, radiological tests and procedures like papsmear, OGD and colonoscopy.

Blood tests include general screening tests like screening for diabetes and cholesterol. Additional tests will be added as required, based on patient’s history as well as previous blood test results if any. Radiological tests include x rays, mammogram, ultrasound, CT scans and MRI.

Biopsies of suspicious findings during procedures, for example, colonoscopy or OGD, can be done. Ultrasound guided biopsies of suspicious breast lesions can also be arranged.

Being part of a tertiary centre, most of the various tests and procedures can be done over one to two days.

The patients will be given a review date to return for their results. Their results will be explained and there will be a report generated advising patients on their risk profile and they will be advised on when to return for their next screening as we believe that health screening should be a continuous and ongoing process.

We hope that through this programme, we can identify and screen people at risk of various cancers, and to detect cancer at its earliest stage so that we can change its course from “terminal” to “preventable”.

Dr Ong Wah Ying
Senior Resident Physician
NIP clinic