The number of cancer patients is on the rise in Jammu Kashmir as around 6,000 patients have been registered at the Department, of Radiation Oncology, SMHS Hospital GMC Srinagar since 2017.
However, this does not give the overall scenario of the growing cancer cases in Kashmir. Sher e Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) receives the highest inflow of cancer patients in the valley, while most of the patients travel to various other cities including including Chandigarh, Delhi, Bombay and others.
As per the details available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), around one thousand cases of cancer have been registered this year alone at the department and officials said that number is likely to reach around 2,000 this year.
The details reveal that 491 new cancer patients were registered at the radiation oncology department, SMHS in year 2017; 1,032 in 2018, 801 in 2019, 650 in 2020, 1,010 in 2021, 1,169 in year 2022 and 953 in 2023 till date.
Officials told KNO that around 5 to 6 new cancer patients are being registered at the department every day.
Prof Manzoor Ahmad Head of Department, Radiation Oncology, SMHS Hospital, GMC Srinagar, said that the OPD of the department remains functional for six days (Monday-Saturday) from 10 am to 4 pm where the consultant along with senior resident and PG student remains available.
“After checking the relevant reports in the OPD, patients are registered and data is digitised,” he said, adding that there are two separate units where patients are being admitted and four consultants along with senior residents remain available in each of the wards.
“Later, plans are being discussed after proper unit meetings and accordingly, the patient is being treated for months. The patient comes for follow-up in OPD whenever it is feasible for him,” he said.
All high-tech and latest technologies are available at the department including Intensity-modulated radiation therapy, Image-guided radiation therapy, Stereotactic body radiation therapy, Stereotactic radical surgery and Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT), the doctor said.
Prof Manzoor said all treatments are being done easily. “There is an inpatient ward, day care ward for patients who come for blood transfusion and chemotherapy besides that there is a ward for terminally ill patients as well,” he said, adding that all kinds of tumours among adults as well as children except acute leukaemia are being treated at the department.
The department has Telecobalt 60, linear accelerator, Brachytherapy and CT stimulator machine available and everything is being managed very well, he said—(With inputs from KNO)