SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a concerning rise in cancer cases, with over 12,000 new cases reported annually. Health experts attribute this increase to a range of lifestyle and environmental factors, including tobacco use, unhealthy diets, and exposure to air pollution—issues that resonate across India but appear particularly acute in the region.
Data reveals that over the last five years, Jammu and Kashmir has recorded more than 60,000 cancer cases, averaging over 12,000 cases per year. Cancer development, a complex, multi-stage process, occurs when normal cells transform into tumour cells, progressing from pre-cancerous changes to malignancy due to genetic mutations and exposure to environmental agents.
Several factors are driving this trend in Jammu and Kashmir, including ageing populations, sedentary lifestyles, tobacco use, poor dietary habits, and exposure to pollutants. Among the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the Kashmir Valley are skin cancer (locally known as “Kangri cancer”), lung, breast, stomach, rectal, prostate, liver, cervical, oesophageal, bladder, and blood cancers.
A doctor from SKIMS Soura highlighted lung cancer as the most prevalent form of cancer among men in Kashmir. He noted that contributing factors include an ageing population, rising tobacco use, poor diet, and the limited availability of advanced diagnostic facilities. The increasing rate of cancer in the region may also be influenced by a combination of genetic mutations, immune system vulnerabilities, and external environmental factors such as diet, industrialisation, and population growth.
Alarmingly, over five per cent of cancer cases in the region involve children, with leukaemia as the most common type. The SKIMS doctor explained that leukaemia, which refers to the abnormal production of white blood cells, is highly treatable when detected early, with survival rates as high as 80 per cent. However, late diagnosis remains a major challenge due to a lack of awareness and pervasive myths surrounding childhood cancer.
“Many misunderstandings surround childhood cancer, but it’s essential to know that it’s not a life sentence. Children who undergo treatment can often lead normal lives and return to school,” the doctor said, adding that support and awareness can make a significant difference for affected families.
As cancer rates continue to rise, healthcare professionals in Jammu and Kashmir are urging public awareness on preventive measures and the importance of early detection. The growing burden of cancer in the region underscores an urgent need for improved diagnostic facilities, targeted health policies, and community education initiatives. (With KINS inputs)
