Cancer in violence-torn J&K
militancy-ridden Kashmir has another problem on its hands: over the past decade the state has witnessed a sharp rise in the incidence of cancer. Experts attribute the trend to changed lifestyles, urbanisation and lack of awareness among the people.
Coincidentally, the disease has manifested itself more extensively in the valley since 1990 -- from when the region has been beset by turbulence. The Srinagar-based Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (skims) has released figures of cancer patients that reflect this trend.
According to the institute's department of radiation oncology, 765 patients were registered in 1994 and 815 in the next year. The number jumped from 872 in 1999 to 1052 in 2000 and 1112 in 2002. Almost two decades ago, there was an alarming spurt in the disease when the cases went up from 349 during 1983 to 639 in the following year. "In all likelihood, factors such as higher life expectancy, changed social set-up and environmental degradation are responsible," feels M Y Kharadi, professor and head of the department of radiation oncology, skims.
Doctors also point out that gastrointestinal (gi) cancer is the most common form of the disease in Jammu and Kashmir (j&k). This, they infer, is largely due to the food habits of the local people. "Most Kashmiris are fond of piping-hot tea. This could be one of the causes of gi cancer," avers Ghulam Nabi Yatoo, senior consultant, department of gastroenterology, skims.
However, of late, several cases of lung, breast and ovarian cancers have also surfaced in the state. "We have seen patients with deformed genes, which breed cancer. Women are becoming increasingly susceptible to breast cancer and cancer of the ovaries," observes Ashiq Hussain Naqasbandi, professor of surgery, Sri Maharaja Hari Singh (smhs) Hospital, Srinagar. Naqasbandi is also the president of the Cancer Society of Kashmir (csk), a non-governmental organisation founded in 1999 to spread awareness about the disease.
"Many camps have been organised since csk was formed," reveals Naqasbandi and adds: "Earlier, cancer patients used to consult doctors only when the disease had reached an advanced stage. Now people with symptoms of cancer are coming forward and consulting doctors in the initial period, too." In 1998, some doctors also opened the Naqshbandia Charitable Cancer Clinic at Khawaja Bazaar in downtown Srinagar.
Medical experts ascribe the high cancer rate in j&k to smoking and pollution as well. "Smoking is the main cause of lung cancer and contributes to gi cancer, too," says Naqasbandi. In view of this, csk has launched a vigorous drive to make Kashmir a smoking-free zone in 10 years.
Despite the heightened threat posed by cancer, no centralised data on the disease is available in the state. j&k's health and medical education minister, Abdul Gaffar Sofi, blames it on the situation in the valley: "Right now it is not safe to travel to the remote areas. But we want to conduct surveys, and will begin as soon as the atmosphere is conducive."
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