The healthcare workers across Jammu Kashmir in general and Sher e Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in particular are worried about the rising trend of cancer cases in Jammu Kashmir.
According to estimates from the Union Health Ministry in 2021, Jammu Kashmir reported 12675 cancer cases in 2019, 13012 in 2020, and 13354 in 2021.
Against the total patient load of 4800 in 2021, SKIMS has received 1110 cases in the first three months (Jan 1 to March 31) of 2022. In the last few years, the highest number of cancer patients registered at Regional Cancer Center SKIMS Soura were affected with cancer in their lungs. An official at SKIMS Radio Oncology Department revealed that, Lung cancer was predominant among the male cancer patients received by the institution this year so far, while breast cancer was predominant among female patients received at SKIMS.
“At the Sher e Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences in Soura, Lung cancer is predominant among male patients, and breast cancer among female patients,” the official told The Kashmiriyat. Lung and breast cancer was followed by another gastrointestinal (GI) tract malignancy – Esophagus Cancer, the official added.
The official said that smoking is one of the primary reasons for the growing cancer among males. “Obesity, age and Family history are among various factors that determine the gravity of a case, ” she said.
Breast cancer has been described as an alarming health problem in India. According to reports, breast cancers have badly attacked the women population in India.
In 2012, approximately 145,000 Indian women were diagnosed with breast cancer. Nearly 400,000 of those who had reportedly been diagnosed with breast cancer in the previous 5 years were still alive.
In 2009, breast cancer became the most frequently diagnosed form of neoplastic disease in women in India and is now the most common cause of cancer deaths in the country, accounting for more than a fifth of all female cancer mortality. The study Cancer Scenario in Kashmir— reveals that the most common cancer in females is breast cancer and it is the most common cause of death in females.
According to a study conducted by SKIMS in the year 2012, the rising incidence of cancer is due to “food choices and lifestyle patterns,” as well as the intake of high-salt meals.
Many dyes, which are employed in businesses and even in foods, are thought to cause cancer in humans. And some of these dyes, such as carmoisine and tartrazine, have been discovered in Kashmir as colouring agents in a variety of foods, spices, and sauces.
As per Union Health Ministry’s figures, Jammu Kashmir has reported an estimated 39041 cancer cases, of which 12675 were recorded in 2019, 13012 in 2020 and 13354 in 2021.
“Cancer is a multi factorial disease and the risk factors inter alia include ageing population, sedentary lifestyle, use of tobacco products, unhealthy diet and air pollution. The number of cancer cases due to water and industrial pollution is not available,” the ministry’s note read
“One of the positive changes that has happened in the valley in the past few years is that people are getting awared about tehe disease. “We have high inflow of such patients who come forward to get themselves treated. People have overcome their fear of getting terateted,” the SKIMS official told The Kashmiriyat.