Breast cancer, as per experts, is rapidly rising amongst women in urban areas and it is one of the most common cancers in India.
Among women, breast cancers are estimated to contribute 2.0 lakhs (14.8%) and cervix cancer are estimated to contribute 0.75 lakhs (5.4%), whereas for both men and women, cancers of the gastrointestinal tract is estimated to contribute 2.7 lakhs (19.7%) of the total cancer burden.
There is a need for increased awareness regarding breast cancer and efforts should be made to increase the reach among the young generation so that they get educated about the risks factors, screening and early detection.
There is a need to pool and share resources, using the latest technologies for the diagnosis, treatment and awareness about breast cancer.
Of late, there is an increase in the estimated number of incidences of cancer cases in Jammu and Kashmir. From 12675 in 2019 and 12344 in 2018, the cancer cases have increased to 13012 in 2020 in Jammu and Kashmir, according to the latest National Cancer Registry Programme Report.
As per World Health Organization, cancer is a generic term for a large group of diseases that can affect any part of the body. Other terms used are malignant tumours and neoplasms. One defining feature of cancer is the rapid creation of abnormal cells that grow beyond their usual boundaries, and which can then invade adjoining parts of the body and spread to other organs; the latter process is referred to as metastasis. Metastases are the primary cause of death from cancer.
While cancer is a multifactorial disease, the risk factors, inter alia, include ageing population, sedentary lifestyle, use of tobacco products, unhealthy diet and air pollution.
As per the government, cancer is diagnosed and treated at various levels in the health care facilities. The treatment in Government Hospitals is either free or “highly subsidized” for the poor and needy, the Ministry of Health informed the parliament recently.
The studies show a sharp rise in dangerous diseases like cancer, largely attributed to food. The experts have been stressing the implications of junk and packaged food. As depicted from the data, tobacco related cancers are also on rise.
There is a likelihood of availability of food items in the markets that pose a threat to the health of people and the concerned authorities need to devise mechanisms with renewed focus to check the same. There is also a need for educating more people about the ill-effects of tobacco use as well as preventing diseases like breast cancers etc.
