The Biz Reporter
Srinagar, Dec 8: Jammu and Kashmir is facing a disturbing escalation in cancer cases, with health records indicating that nearly 38 people are diagnosed with the disease every single day. Figures released by the Union Health Ministry place the total number of cancer cases logged in the region over the past five years at 67,037, with 14,112 cases reported in 2024 alone.
The data shows a consistent upward climb rather than fluctuation. In 2020, the region recorded 12,726 cases, which inched up to 13,060 in 2021, rose further to 13,395 in 2022, and 13,744 in 2023, before touching 14,112 this year. Specialists describe the emerging pattern as deeply concerning, noting that a large chunk of patients seek treatment only after their disease has progressed, reducing chances of timely intervention.
A breakdown of the statistics points to noticeable cancer trends among men and women. Stomach cancer leads among males, accounting for around a fifth of the total cases, while lung cancer comes next with roughly 16 percent. Among women, breast cancer remains the most widespread form at 19 percent, followed by stomach cancer at nearly 9 percent. Cancers of the esophagus and colon also make up a substantial share of the overall disease burden across genders.
Researchers at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) attribute the spike to several intersecting factors. Better diagnostic reach, improved reporting, and increased life expectancy mean more cases are now being detected than before. At the same time, lifestyle changes – including rising tobacco and alcohol use, unhealthy dietary habits, physical inactivity and high consumption of salt and processed foods – are contributing significantly to the trend.
To counter the growing threat, the Department of Health and Family Welfare, under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), is extending support to states and Union Territories through the National Health Mission. The programme prioritises early screening, timely diagnosis, treatment availability and strengthening of cancer-care infrastructure, alongside awareness campaigns aimed at discouraging delayed medical consultation.
Medical experts stress that without large-scale prevention efforts and community-level screenings, the numbers could continue to mount. With close to four dozen new cancer patients being added daily in J&K, the situation, they say, underscores the urgent need for stronger preventive behaviour, more research into risk triggers, and greater access to specialist treatment across the region.
