Ishtiyaq Kar
Srinagar, Sept 21: Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has seen a troubling rise in cancer cases, with over 60,000 new instances reported in the last five years, indicating an average of 32 cases daily.
According to experts, the primary reasons for this alarming increase include smoking, poor dietary habits, and lack of physical activity.
Cancer is caused by the transformation of normal cells into tumor cells through a multi-stage process, often progressing from a precancerous lesion to a malignant tumor. This transformation is influenced by both genetic factors and external agents such as lifestyle choices, environmental exposures, and aging.
Renowned oncologist Dr. Sameer Kaul said the growing number of cancer cases in developing regions. “The rise in cancer cases is largely linked to smoking, unhealthy diets, and sedentary lifestyles,” Kaul said. He added that while cancer rates are increasing, advances in early diagnosis, immunotherapy, and surgery have made the disease more treatable.
Data from J&K reveals a variety of cancers affecting the population, including skin (Kangri cancer), lung, breast, stomach, rectal, prostate, liver, cervical, esophageal, bladder, and blood cancers. In Kashmir, lung cancer is the most prevalent among men, a trend attributed to smoking and the widespread use of tobacco products.
A doctor from the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Soura said the rise in cancer cases could also be linked to an aging population and a lack of awareness about early detection. “In many cases, delayed diagnosis is a major issue, often because people are unaware of the early symptoms of cancer,” the doctor said.
Environmental factors such as industrialization and pollution, coupled with unhealthy lifestyle choices like tobacco use and poor diets, have exacerbated the problem. Additionally, better diagnostic facilities are often unavailable, contributing to late detection and treatment.
The issue is not confined to adults; around five percent of cancer patients in Kashmir are children, with leukemia being the most common form of cancer among them. However, there is hope. According to doctors at SKIMS, leukemia is highly treatable, with an 80 percent survival rate when detected early.
“Leukemia literally means ‘white blood,’ which reflects the nature of the disease where abnormal white blood cells are produced, compromising overall health,” a doctor explained. He said the need for awareness to ensure early detection, noting that many children with cancer lead normal lives after treatment.
Despite misconceptions and myths surrounding childhood cancer, the prognosis for children, especially with proper medical intervention, is often positive. “Cancer is not the end of the world,” the doctor added, stressing that children with leukemia can return to school and resume normal activities after treatment.
