Address rising cancer cases

Kashmir, as our report on Saturday revealed, has reported 50,000 new cancer cases in the past seven years, a fact that should alarm us all. What is more, since 2021, there has been a steady rise in detection.  Data from the Population-Based Cancer Registry (PbCR) at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) shows the increase in numbers from 6,649 cases in 2018 to a projected 9,400 cases by the end of 2024, with stomach cancer being the most common among males (19%), followed by lung cancer (16%). Similarly, breast cancer (19%) and stomach cancer (9%) are the leading types among females.

Doctors have found the environmental, dietary, and lifestyle factors as major contributors to this disturbing trend. They have called for enhanced cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment strategies, including awareness campaigns, improved diagnostic facilities, and expanded access to healthcare services to combat the rising burden of the disease. With hospitals facing mounting pressure, addressing underlying causes is essential to curb the growing impact of cancer in the region.

This is where the role of the local doctors becomes crucial. They have to explain which environmental, dietary, and lifestyle factors contribute significantly to the growing incidence of cancers in the Valley. With stomach cancer being the most common cancer among males in the region, it is apparent that all is not well with our food habits. So, people need to know not just what food habits lead to cancers but also what are the alternatives. Ditto for lung cancer and breast cancer, which affects females the most.

Last year’s data shows 7110 cancer cases detected by September alone, showing a steady upward trend. This means the factors causing the disease in the Valley remain unchanged and some cases may have become worse. What we thus need is not just the bare-bones data as is periodically made available to people by the healthcare institutions, but a fleshed out research with context, detailed examination of the factors causing the disease and suggestions for their amelioration. This, in turn, will persuade people to rethink their lifestyles and dietary habits, which over the long term can be hoped to reverse the trend of rising cancer cases and alleviate the growing health burden in the region.