Cancer continues to emerge as a global health challenge, with Jammu and Kashmir witnessing an alarming surge in cases.
With the deadly cancer disease emerging as a major health threat globally, Kashmir is witnessing an upsurge in the number of cases in the past few years with lung and breast cancers topping the list.
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally, second only to cardiovascular diseases. In India, it ranks fifth in terms of mortality rate. The incidence of cancer varies across different regions of India. This study focuses on the Kashmir region which is a valley located in the northern part of India. The aim is to analyze the dynamics of cancer incidence in this region using various models and statistical techniques. Data of 23646 patients registered for treatment of various cancers over the last five years at Regional Cancer Center (RCC) was analyzed using statistical techniques and models. Our study shows that the most prevalent types of cancer in the Kashmir region are Esophageal cancer, followed by Breast, Lung, Liver, Colorectal, Brain and Dermal cancer. The study also examines the association of various factors such as Gender, Smoking habit, Residence (Rural/Urban), and Occupation (Agricultural/Non-Agricultural) with different types of cancers in the region. The results suggest that these factors, as well as their interrelationships, are strongly linked to the development of cancer among Kashmiri population. While dermal and brain cancers were found to be associated with occupation and residence, esophageal lung liver cancers were strongly linked to smoking habit and gender. The data reveals that around 22,002 persons died due to cancers from 2018 to 2021 in Jammu & Kashmir, of which 6824 (31.01 percent) patients died in 2018 and in 2019 the number of deaths rose to 7003(31.82 percent) and in 2020 the fatalities surged to 7189(32.62 percent), and 986 (4.48 percent) died in 2021, thus showing an upward trend (Source: RCC SKIMS). Moreover, Jammu & Kashmir has reported 39041 cancer cases, of which 12675(32.46 percent) were recorded in 2019, 13012(33.32 percent) in 2020 and 13354 (34.20 percent) in 2021 (Source: Union Health Ministry).
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From the other sources, since January 2014 there were 12,091 patients who were detected with cancers in various J&K hospitals while as in 2013, 6,300 patients were detected with the killer disease of cancers. In 2016 till date, more than 9800 cancer patients were registered at SKIMS with the number increasing at an alarming pace. The official data at Regional Cancer Centre, SKIMS revealed that the number of registered patients has jumped from 2097 in 2007 to 4800 in 2016 to 1100 cases of cancers in the first quarter of ensuing year which is expected to go much higher.
The Regional Cancer Centre SKIMS Soura witnessed a heavy rush with nearly 70,000 older cases that doctors call follow-ups, visiting it for various kinds of therapies. The data available with the Regional Cancer Centre SKIMS Soura reveals that cancer patients registered for 2007 were 2,097, in 2008 the number was 2,465, and in 2009, it was 2,968. However; the patient influx recorded a sharp decline in 2010 at 2,623 only but in 2011 it went up again to 3,057. Even as cancer cases in far flung areas go unreported, the 2010 decline has been attributed to the unrest in the valley that year.
The medicos at the Department of Radiation Oncology, SKIMS, Soura, believed that the cancer cases in Kashmir region have witnessed a surge with the prevalence of lung cancer in men folk as the most common disease while women are fast falling prey to breast cancers. Figures revealed that against 2021’s total patient load of 4800, SKIMS Soura received 1110 cancer cases in the first three months (Jan 1 to March 31) of 2022, highest in recent times.
In an alarming trend, every day, two new cases of cancer are diagnosed in Kashmir, while the majority of patients come from the summer capital of Srinagar. This number is constantly adding to the 5000 old cases already suffering from the life consuming ailment in the Valley. Even as the number of cancer cases has been on rise across the UT J&K, Kashmir seems to be bearing the brunt. As per the data collected from government sources, in 2022, 4632 cases of cancer were received by the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Soura and the SMHS Hospital alone. What is more alarming is that most of the cases are detected only when the disease has reached the last stage, meaning that chances of survival through treatment are bleak, or zero.
Summary & Findings: Most respondents believe that the rise in cancer cases in Kashmir is linked to unhealthy lifestyles, including poor dietary habits, smoking, lack of physical activity, and stress. Common causes include high body mass index, tobacco use, and consumption of contaminated food. The introduction of foreign food culture after the 1990s has also contributed to these issues. Smoking-related cancers, such as lung cancer, are on the rise, especially among young people. Raising awareness about these risks is crucial to curbing the increasing cancer trend in Kashmir.
The study emphasizes the need for regular health check-ups and awareness programs to educate people about the dangers of their dietary and lifestyle choices. Efforts should be made to increase awareness using health camps, TV, radio programs, and expert teams equipped with modern technology.
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Recommendations: Education and awareness can play a crucial role in controlling cancer, especially in rural areas. Media interventions, school-based cancer education programs, and mobile mammography clinics can help detect and prevent cancer early. NGOs need to get more involved in cancer awareness, screening, and treatment, particularly for those who cannot afford care. Access to affordable cancer treatment is a major issue, as the costs of drugs and diagnosis are often beyond the reach of middle and lower-income families.
In this backdrop the Department of Medical Oncology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura commemorated World Cancer Day with a special event, emphasizing the need for generating awareness, timely detection, and tailored treatment.
Director SKIMS, Dr. Ashraf Ganai, addressed the gathering via video conferencing, highlighting the Institute’s commitment to improving cancer detection and treatment. He revealed that several projects are in the pipeline to enhance cancer care services. Ons of these, he said, was Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) from Department of Biotechnology, GoI. LC-MS is a powerful analytical technique that combines the separation capabilities of liquid chromatography (LC) with the detection and identification capabilities of mass spectrometry (MS) and helps in cancer diagnosis and research.
Dr. Syed Nisar, Associate Professor of Medical Oncology at GMC Srinagar, explained the theme of World Cancer Day, “United by Unique.” He emphasized that each cancer case is distinct, even if the type of cancer is the same. This uniqueness necessitates tailored treatment approaches.
Dr. Nisar also highlighted the various challenges faced by cancer patients, including cultural barriers, late diagnosis, social issues, gender differences, ignorance, gaps in access, treatment, financial barriers, job issues, familial problems, and marital problems. These unique situations underscore the need for personalized care and support.
Dr. Mir Hussain, Assistant Professor of Medical Oncology, stressed the importance of generating awareness about cancer. He emphasised that awareness can lead to timely detection and treatment, ultimately improving outcomes. Dr. Hussain also highlighted the need to focus on prevention, as cancer cases continue to rise, with 30 lakh new cases projected in India every year.
The event was organized by the Department of Medical Oncology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant at SKIMS Soura, which functions under the umbrella of the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences. The observance of World Cancer Day at SKIMS Soura aimed to promote awareness, education, and advocacy for cancer prevention and control.
