Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a sharp rise in cancer cases, with thousands of new patients diagnosed every year.
Hospitals across the region have reported alarming numbers, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen healthcare facilities to address the growing crisis effectively.
According to official data, accessed by the news agency JKNS SKIMS has reported 5,200 new cancer cases in 2024, adding to a cumulative 50,000 since 2014. SMHS documented 1,520 cases this year and 8,500 since 2017, while GMC Anantnag recorded 400 cases in 2024, with a total of 1,600 in recent years.
Notably, breast cancer among young women has become a major health concern in the region. Since 2019, 9,321 women have been diagnosed with breast cancer, with 2,024 losing their lives to the disease, the data reveals.
Experts attribute the rising cancer burden to lifestyle and systemic challenges. “The increase in cases is linked to factors such as tobacco use, poor diets, sedentary lifestyles, and high salt consumption.
Additionally, limited diagnostic facilities, including just one PET scan machine in the entire Kashmir Valley, pose significant challenges,” said a senior oncologist at SKIMS.
The healthcare system is under severe strain, with 2–3 new cancer cases reported daily. Early detection remains critical, yet the lack of adequate resources delays diagnosis and treatment, worsening patient outcomes. —(JKNS)
