SRINAGAR: There is only one PET-CT scan available for staging and assessing the treatment response of patients, despite the steep rise in cancer cases in the Kashmir valley.
The oncologists stated that Kashmir “badly needs” a few more PET-CT scan machines for the proper management of cancer in economically disadvantaged individuals.
An oncologist, who wished to remain anonymous, told the news agency KNO that in modern-day oncology practice, PET-CT has emerged as a game-changer in cancer management.
“It represents a significant advancement in the initial diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, prognosis, surveillance, and relapse throughout the course of the disease by providing precise anatomical imaging in addition to functional imaging,” he said.
PET-CT is an abbreviation for Positron Emission Tomography – Computed Tomography, which is nuclear medicine equipment housing a PET scanner and a CT scanner. It acquires multiple sequential views to create 3D images of the body. This modality provides a hybrid image formed by merging the functional image of PET with the anatomical image of CT.
Dr Shabnam, who is Kashmir’s first female organ-specific oncosurgeon, told KNO that Kashmir “badly needs” more PET-CT scan facilities for the proper management of cancer patients. Currently, there are only two facilities available—one at SKIMS and another at Medicare. She added that this type of scan is not recommended in all cases, as it has its own indications and limitations.
Dr Zahoor, another oncologist from SKIMS Soura, stated that PET-CT is necessary for staging and assessing treatment response in select patients, but it does not have a significant role in early detection.
A senior doctor from GMC Srinagar said the facility should be available at GMC Srinagar, considering the number of patients visiting for treatment. The absence of PET scans causes suffering among patients, as it is an essential tool for detecting cancer. He added, “Only a few patients can undergo PET-CT at SKIMS on a daily basis, while others have to wait a long time for their turn.”
The doctor mentioned that the majority of patients cannot afford private diagnosis, which compromises their diagnosis. “PET-CT helps doctors determine the best treatment and aids in detecting the primary site, thus influencing the choice of chemotherapy,” he said.
The Regional Cancer Center at the Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura registered around 14,000 new cancer patients in the last three years. In 2021 alone, 4,737 cases of cancer were reported, up from 3,840 cases in 2020, while 5,284 new patients were registered in 2022.
According to data from the Union Health Ministry, J&K reported 51,577 cases of cancer in the last four years (2019-2022), with 12,396 in 2019, 12,726 cases in 2020, 13,060 cases in 2021, and 13,395 cases in 2022.
A total of 35,623 people in J&K died from cancer between 2018 and 2022. In 2018, 6,824 cancer patients were reported to have died. In 2019, 7,003 deaths were reported, followed by 7,189 deaths in 2020, 7,211.
