The Kashmir region with its beautiful landscapes has been brought to an alarming state today, with one more evildoer added to its list-cancer. Once a disease on par with other rare infections, over the last few years’, cancer is coming into being like a wildfire.
This trend underlines the need to urgently establish infrastructure within the healthcare sector, and one of the most important reasons herein is the growing cancer burden and the corresponding requirement for a population that is aware and identifies the illness at much earlier stages of development.
Current figures from health care services states that Kashmir was witnessing a surge in new patients with lung, breast, and gastrointestinal cancers.
The figures reveal that the major cancer centre at SKIMS has registered over 28,457 cancer cases in six past years.
Some reasons have come up as to why this peak has occurred, but none can be confirmed in this regard; environmental pollution and lifestyle changes were a few of the contributory factors. Also, it is adding concern to these figures-an aging population.
Lack of a strong early detection system remains among the biggest problems confronting increasing cancer cases in Kashmir among others. Most victims will see doctors when they are almost dying because of the advanced signs. This greatly reduces treatment options and decreases possibilities of successful treatment. “
Although there has been improvement, but the hospitals remain grossly under-equipped with modern diagnostic tools, highly specialized oncologists, and cancer centres, thereby making early detection and timely intervention all the more essential.
Nonetheless, the government has dedicated much effort to building up healthcare infrastructure in Kashmir but it is indeed very important to have centres dedicated to specialized cancer treatment with state-of-the-art equipment for diagnostics, chemotherapy and other forms of radiotherapy.
Specific awareness should also be created in that regard against the growing cancer trend in Kashmir concerning cancer prevention knowledge, early screening importance, and treatment options.
