Dr Aftab Jan
Cancer in Kashmir has silently transformed from a health concern into a looming crisis that touches almost every household, reflecting both global patterns and unique regional factors. Over the last decade, the Valley has experienced an alarming surge in cancer cases, turning hospitals into crowded battlegrounds where medical staff struggle to keep pace with the growing number of patients. According to official data from Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) and Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, more than 28,000 cancer cases were registered between 2019 and 2024 alone. The year-wise figures reveal a steady climb: 4,337 cases in 2019, 3,814 in 2020, 4,727 in 2021, 5,271 in 2022, 5,108 in 2023, and an expected rise beyond 5,200 in 2024. Between October 2016 and October 2022, SKIMS alone recorded 27,727 cancer patients, while combined data from SKIMS and Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital between 2013 and 2023 surpasses 50,000 cases. Earlier records from 2015 to 2018 also show a gradual escalation, from 230 cases in 2015 to 511 in 2018. The burden is slightly higher in men, with a male-to-female ratio of approximately 1.4:1, although breast and ovarian cancers among women are rising sharply. The most common cancers in Kashmir mirror its cultural, environmental, and dietary patterns.
Stomach or gastric cancer remains the leading type in men, often accounting for over a quarter of total cases, followed by lung cancer, which has seen a troubling surge due to widespread tobacco use and air pollution. Esophageal cancer is also frequent, closely linked to local dietary habits such as drinking excessively hot salted tea (noon chai) and consuming heavily salted, sun-dried foods. Breast cancer has become the most common cancer in women, influenced by lifestyle shifts, delayed marriages, and later childbearing, while gastrointestinal malignancies, including colon, liver, and ovarian cancers, also contribute substantially to the total caseload. Multiple factors intertwine to fuel this rising epidemic. Traditional Kashmiri dietary habits play a major role. High consumption of salted and preserved foods, sun-dried vegetables and meats, alkaline noon chai, and spicy, oily dishes increases exposure to carcinogens that irritate the stomach and esophagus over time.
Scientists have long linked excessive salt intake and the habit of drinking very hot beverages to a higher risk of gastric and esophageal cancers. Urbanization has further introduced processed and junk foods into daily diets, which are high in trans fats and low in protective nutrients, contributing to colorectal and metabolic-related cancers. Another growing concern is plastic exposure. Plastic has silently invaded kitchens, food markets, and households in the form of packaging, bottles, storage containers, and black kitchen utensils. Globally, around 40% of plastics are produced for food packaging and many contain additives like BPA, phthalates, and flame retardants that have carcinogenic and hormone-disrupting properties. When food is stored for long periods or heated in these containers, toxic chemicals leach into the food and enter the body. Microplastics and nanoplastics are now found in human blood, lungs, and even placental tissues, raising grave concerns about their role in triggering cancerous mutations. Studies have shown that polystyrene-based microplastics, commonly found in disposable containers, can cause malignant changes in lung cells. Black plastic utensils, often made from recycled electronic waste, are contaminated with toxic flame retardants linked to hormone-related cancers such as breast and prostate cancer. This emerging hazard makes plastic exposure a serious but often overlooked cancer risk in Kashmir. Tobacco use remains one of the strongest contributors to the cancer load, particularly lung and oral cancers. Smoking is widespread among men and is increasing among women, while passive smoking affects non-smokers, including children, within households. Traditional practices like adding tobacco to kahwa or other forms of oral consumption exacerbate the problem.
Environmental pollution compounds these risks. The cold climate leads to heavy use of Kangri heaters and biomass burning indoors, increasing exposure to smoke and fine particulate matter. Outdoor air pollution from vehicles and unplanned urbanization further pollutes the air, significantly elevating lung cancer risk. Lifestyle changes have added a modern layer to this problem. Reduced physical activity, rising obesity, hypertension, delayed childbirth, and urban sedentary routines are contributing to breast, colorectal, and metabolic-related cancers. Despite the growing burden, healthcare infrastructure in Kashmir faces serious limitations. SKIMS and GMC Srinagar serve as major treatment centers but struggle to handle the ever-increasing patient load. There are issues of limited bed capacity, delays in early detection, inadequate screening facilities, and non-functional diagnostic equipment in some hospitals. Duplication of patient data across institutions makes it difficult to maintain precise cancer registries, hindering proper epidemiological planning. Patients often face long waiting times for treatment, leading to disease progression before therapy can begin. Awareness about early detection remains low, with many patients presenting at advanced stages when treatment options are limited and outcomes poorer. Globally, the situation is equally daunting. Cancer remains one of the top causes of death worldwide, with approximately 20 million new cases and more than 10 million deaths estimated for 2025.
Lung, breast, colorectal, prostate, and skin cancers dominate the global statistics. Developing regions like Kashmir face a dual challenge: rising incidence coupled with inadequate healthcare capacity. The World Health Organization projects a 74% increase in global cancer cases by 2050, reaching 33 million new cases annually, largely due to population growth and aging. Nearly half of all cancer deaths are linked to modifiable risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diets, obesity, infections, and environmental pollution. Yet, only 39% of countries provide basic cancer management services and just 28% offer palliative care in their essential health systems, reflecting deep global disparities. In the context of Kashmir, this escalating situation calls for immediate and comprehensive action. Public health initiatives must focus on spreading awareness about harmful dietary habits, tobacco cessation, and the dangers of plastic exposure. Strong regulatory measures are needed to phase out harmful plastic additives and encourage safer alternatives for food packaging and storage. Screening programs should be expanded to enable early detection, particularly for gastric, breast, and lung cancers that dominate the region. Strengthening the health infrastructure with advanced diagnostic equipment, trained personnel, and better record-keeping systems is crucial to manage the rising patient numbers effectively. Environmental pollution control measures, including cleaner heating options and stricter vehicle emission norms, can help reduce respiratory-related cancers. Promoting healthier lifestyles, regular exercise, and balanced diets can also lower risk. Cancer in Kashmir today is not merely a medical issue; it is a multifaceted crisis intertwined with tradition, environment, lifestyle, and modernization. The year-wise statistics paint a worrying picture of a society facing a relentless health challenge, where old habits and new hazards combine to create a perfect storm. Unless preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic strategies are implemented with urgency and coordination, this crisis will deepen, overwhelming families, communities, and healthcare systems. The fight against cancer requires collective responsibility—by policymakers to implement strong measures, by medical institutions to advance research and care, and by individuals to adopt healthier choices. Only through such united efforts can Kashmir hope to curb the rising tide of cancer and secure a healthier future for its people.
The author can be reached at jaanaftaab5@gmail.com
