SRINAGAR: Head and neck cancers are on the rise in Kashmir, with Srinagar and Anantnag districts showing the highest number of cases, according to experts.
The World Health Organization’s Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN 2022) ranks head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) as the 7th most common cancer globally, mostly among men. In Kashmir, the incidence of these cancers has been steadily increasing over the past few decades, with thyroid cancer now ranking among the top ten cancers in the region.
Unlike other Indian states, where oral cavity cancers are more common, Kashmir has seen a shift. There is a growing number of thyroid and laryngeal cancers. However, according to experts, most of these cancers are preventable by avoiding modifiable risk factors, and if detected early, 90 per cent of head and neck cancers can be cured.
