There is an alarming surge in the number of cancer cases across Jammu and Kashmir Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKUMS), Soura has reported 5200 such cases this year alone. Reports suggest that since 2014, the Institute has documented 50,302 cancer cases. While, among women, most of the cases reported were about breast cancer, lung cancer is more prevalent among males. The records at KIMS indicate a yearly rise in cancer cases. As per reports the Institute documented 3940 cases in 2014; 4417 in 2015; 4320 in 2016; 4352 in 2017; 4816 in 2018; 4337 in 2019; 3814 in 2020; 4727 in 2021; 5271 in 2022; and over 5200 cases this year.
Besides SKIMS, other hospitals too have registered cancer cases and the numbers are worrisome. The disease is spreading dangerously. The growing number of malignancies have also been witnessed among the children. Expert trace the reasons for increasing number of cancer cases to sedentary lifestyle, tobacco use, unhealthy food habits and air pollution while as skin cancer cases are being linked to use of Kangi (fire pot). Whatever the reasons, fact of the matter is that the disease is spreading and spreading fast.
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The health department need to launch a full-fledged awareness campaign in the nook and corner of Jammu and Kashmir. Normal patients visiting health facilities should be counselled by concerned doctors making them aware how they can save themselves from falling prey to this disease.
The administration on its part should take the challenge head on and enhance the diagnostic and treatment facilities for the cancer patients within J&K. While there is a chunk of population who can afford to move out for the treatment but majority of poor patients can’t afford to do the same. They are solely dependent on the health institutions within the UT. So there is an urgent need to enhance both diagnostic as well as treatment facilities here to save the precious lives.
Sadly, not a single serious study has been done by the health experts here to dig into the causes of growing number of cancer cases. Some experts say that use of Kangri during winters causes skin cancer. Some say excessive intake of Nun Chai (salt tea) is the reason, bla bla. No scientific research has been done till date. Kangri people have been using since ages and in fact its usage has come down during past few decades. Instead of making wild guesses, the administration should appoint a committee of health experts and ask them to do an in depth scientific research to find our the reasons behind this surge. The findings should be put in public domain so that people know the reasons and thus avoid falling prey to this disease.
