National Cancer Centre apologises after email addresses of over 460 recipients mistakenly exposed

An administrative error at the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) allegedly exposed the names and contact details of individuals with hereditary cancer conditions, including their workplaces, in an email invitation for an event titled "Living with HBOC." The invitation, sent on September 18, was intended for an audience associated with Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Syndrome (HBOC), a genetic predisposition to cancer that affects both men and women.

Instead of using the blind carbon copy (BCC) function, the email was sent to the carbon copy (CC) field, which meant that recipients could see the email addresses of other invitees. This oversight potentially exposed the identities of over 500 individuals. NCCS attempted to recall the email within two and a half hours, but recipients were asked to delete the email from their inboxes and trash folders, as well as not to circulate it further.

The NCCS Cancer Genetics Service, which provides genetic counselling and risk assessment for HBOC, organized the event. The Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) is aware of the incident and is investigating.