Enhancing treatment for Cancer
As health experts in Kashmir have been sounding an alarm over a sustained and troubling rise in cancer cases, describing the trend as a growing public health crisis that is stretching the Valley’s limited oncology infrastructure, the government has finally announced a comprehensive cancer control strategy, including infrastructure development, capacity building and partnerships.
The administration is significantly expanding medical infrastructure, diagnostic services and emergency healthcare facilities across the Union Territory. The cancer control strategy will be rolled out in collaboration with NITI Aayog and the Indian Council of Medical Research.
Since the announcement comes as a huge relief for the locals here who have to struggle for seeking timely and cost effective treatment, the administration has charted a plan to keep its focus on managing the disease through strategic interventions and planning with reputed organisations such as the Tata Memorial Centre.
According to official figures, Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura registers more than 7,000 new cancer patients every year, with clinicians reporting a steady increase over the past decade.
The situation is no different at the Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar where the oncology department continues to witness a heavy daily rush, with thousands of new cases annually, many of them detected at advanced stages.
Ironically, about 60 to 70 per cent of patients reach the treatment stage late, often when the disease has already spread. Though with timely screening and early diagnosis, survival rates could improve significantly, but late presentation of cases remains a biggest challenge.
Medicos too have been pointing out that the cancer profile in Kashmir shows clear patterns. Breast cancer has emerged as the leading cancer among women, while lung, gastrointestinal, oesophageal, colorectal and head-and-neck cancers are more prevalent among men. Medical professionals have also flagged a worrying rise in cases among younger age groups, pointing towards changing lifestyles, increasing tobacco consumption and dietary habits.
Health officials said tobacco use—both smoking and smokeless forms—continues to be a major contributor.
Notably, the widespread use of tobacco products is directly linked to the high incidence of head-and-neck and lung cancers besides, the environmental factors and physical inactivity also are seen to be playing a role.
Experts cautioned that the actual cancer burden in Kashmir may be higher than official figures suggest, as limited screening facilities in districts, delayed referrals and social stigma lead to underreporting and late diagnosis, particularly in rural and remote areas.
Importantly, awareness programmes, counselling sessions and screening camps are being organised to emphasise the importance of early detection, but medicos have been advising people to seek immediate medical attention for warning signs such as unexplained weight loss, persistent pain, abnormal bleeding, non-healing ulcers or long-standing lumps.
Cancer is emerging as a serious health crisis in Kashmir and what is needed is are the efforts for expanded screening programmes, strengthened district-level oncology services and sustained public awareness campaigns to curb the rising cancer burden in the Valley.
