Kashmir’s Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura has witnessed a troubling surge in cancer cases.
This year, over 4,000 new cases were reported, adding to the staggering tally of 44,112 cases registered since 2014.
Yearly statistics reveal an escalating trend: 3,940 cases in 2014 rose steadily to 5,294 in 2022.
However, these figures might not fully depict the actual magnitude of cancer cases in Kashmir. Many diagnosed patients seek treatment outside the region, traveling to cities like Punjab, Mumbai, Delhi, among others.
Notably, lung cancer predominantly afflicts men, while breast cancer incidence is on the rise among women.
Experts attribute this surge to multiple factors including smoking, family history, obesity, and age.
The Union Health Ministry’s data outlines the alarming cancer statistics in Jammu & Kashmir over the last four years (2019-2022).
In this period, the region witnessed 51,577 reported cancer cases: 12,396 cases in 2019, followed by 12,726 in 2020, 13,060 in 2021, and 13,395 cases in 2022.
The heartbreaking numbers depict a continuous rise in cancer-related deaths: 6,824 reported deaths in 2018, escalating to 7,003 in 2019, 7,189 in 2020, 7,211 in 2021, and reaching 7,396 cancer patient fatalities in 2022.
A 2012 SKIMS study linked this rise in cancer cases to dietary habits, lifestyle choices, and high-salt foods.