Tahir Bhat
Jammu
Over 1,300 breast cancer and 695 prostate cancer cases were reported in Jammu and Kashmir over the past four years, said the government on Wednesday.
“Prostate cancer is common in men above the age of 70 years in the state but not as common as breast cancer in females,” Health Minister Bali Baghat said in a written reply to a question of NC Legislator Mubarak Gul in the legislative assembly.
He said that 1318 cases of breast cancer were reported during the same period. Baghat said 303 breast cases were reported in 2014,330 in 2015,296 in 2016 and 389 in 2017.
Similarly, 242 prostate cancer cases came to light in 2014,273 in 2015, 75 in 2016 and 105 in 2017, Minister said.
He said the cancer patients are referred to institutions outside the state for radiation treatment while the regional cancer Centre at Sher Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Srinagar has state cancer institute.
He added that in Jammu the process for establishing a cancer institute and Nuclear Medicine Department in the GMC Jammu has also been initiated.
“The incidents of histopathologically confirmed malignancy have increased over the years,” he said.
He added that the Oncology Department in the SKIMS and the Medical colleges in collaboration with other departments have been conducting outreach and public awareness programs related to prevention, early detection and early referral of such patients at various districts of the state.
