SRINAGAR: In a disconcerting trend over the past decade, the mortality rates of cancer cases in Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh have witnessed a relentless increase, sounding a dire warning for the future.
Data compiled by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Cancer Registry Programme (ICMR-NCRP) indicates a consistent rise in cancer cases in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, mirroring the national trend. However, the mortality rates in Jammu and Kashmir surpass those in some neighbouring states, including Himachal Pradesh.
The gravity of the situation is starkly illustrated by the escalating figures of cancer-related deaths. In Jammu and Kashmir, the mortality toll has steadily climbed over the years: 5832 in 2013, 5991 in 2014, 6164 in 2015, 6318 in 2016, 6495 in 2017, 6670 in 2018, 6845 in 2019, 7027 in 2020, 7211 in 2021, and a staggering 7396 in 2022.
Similarly, Ladakh has not been immune to this alarming trend, with the mortality figures for cancer cases rising from 135 in 2013 to 171 in 2022. The consistent year-on-year increase highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions to address the growing health crisis.
The breakdown of data reveals the prevalence of lung cancer as a significant contributor to the rising mortality rates. In the year 2022 alone, 583 males and 201 females succumbed to lung cancer in Jammu and Kashmir. In Ladakh Union Territory, the toll stood at 14 males and four females for the same period.
