The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday revealed that there was a sharp rise in cancer cases in the state, particularly in Kashmir region.
Replying to a question of legislator Saif-ud-Din Bhat and supplementary questions raised by legislators Qaiser Jamsheed Lone and Vibod Gupta, Minister for Health & Medical Education Bali Bhagat said that 28,424 cancer patients have registered with government hospitals of Jammu and Srinagar in the last seven year.
Giving year-wise details, the minister said that number of cancer patients treated in 2011 was 3057, in 2012 the number of patients increased to 3288, in 2013 it was 3157, in 2014 the number of patients again increased to 3940, in 2015 the number of cancer patients was 4275, in 2016 the number of cancer patients increased to 4976 and in 2017 the numbers was 5731.
Expressing concern over the number of patients increasing after every year, he said that tobacco, poor personal hygiene, unsanitary living conditions, low immunity, consumption of adulterated food, fruits and vegetables laden with pesticides, environmental pollution are the major risk factor for cancers.
He added that breast and colon cancer are increasing due to change in lifestyle, late age at first child birth; obesity, fatty diet low in fiber, increased consumption of red meat and sedentary lifestyle.
“Change in dietary habits and lifestyle are the main reasons of increasing in diabetes mellitus type-2”, he informed.
The minister also said that a high-end Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan machine worth Rs 23 crore has been made operational in SKIMS Soura on January 7 this year for the convenience of cancer patients, adding that PET-Scan is a machine that is used to detect cancerous tissues and cells in body.
He further said that Union Government has sanctioned Rs 120 crore for establishment of two State Level Cancer Institutes one each in Jammu and Srinagar besides sanctioned Rs 45 crore for establishment of 3 District Level Cancer Centres at Kishtwar, Udhampur and Kupwara Districts.
The Minister informed that the Union Government also launched several schemes to extend financial assistance for treatment of cancer patients, adding that there is need to sensitize the masses about these schemes.