MP Baey Yam Keng advocates for screening after benign polyps discovery

SINGAPORE: Tampines GRC MP Baey Yam Keng clarified that he was not in any discomfort before he went for his colonoscopy screening.

He shared in a Facebook post on Tuesday (8 Aug), to inform well-wishers and supporters that he is well and fit, accompanied by a photo of him doing a star jump.

“I did during my run this morning. Thank you for all your concern and apologies if I have caused any unnecessary alarm.

“I arranged for it because I believe in screening. I was not hospitalised as the colonoscopy was over within an hour. There was no surgery done on me at all. I also feel perfectly fine since then.

“Following my recent post on my colonoscopy, I have received many kind words of concern and wishes for a speedy recovery. I need to clarify that I am perfectly fine,” he said.

In the same post, he shared an excerpt from SingHealth website regarding polyps in the adult population.

Earlier, the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport as well as Sustainability and the Environment discovered three benign polyps after going for colonoscopy, and is encouraging others to get screened as well.

Photo from Baey Yam Keng Facebook

Colorectal cancer is the No. 1 cancer in Singapore, and people over 50 have a higher risk, which is why he decided to go for a screening, said Baey in a Facebook post on Friday (4 Aug). He turns 53 at the end of this month.

Although he was initially apprehensive, he went ahead after consulting his fellow Tampines GRC MP Koh Poh Koon, who was a colorectal surgeon.

“I was under sedation and didn’t feel any discomfort, both during and after the procedure.

“The doctor discovered three polyps, measuring less than 0.2cm each, and removed them. All the polyps were benign, or not cancerous,” he said in last week’s post.

Referencing a photo of himself generated by artificial intelligence that portrayed him as “looking good, young and fit”.

“It is our responsibility to make use of modern medical technology to go for screeningBaey Yam Keng depending on our own risk profile,” said the father of three.

He added that he will be having another colonoscopy in the next three years as part of regular screening.