A alarming rise in colon cancer cases has been reported by the Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, with nearly 30% of colonoscopy patients diagnosed with the disease. This is significantly higher than the less than 1% detection rate in developed countries. Doctors attribute the surge to lifestyle factors, including poor diet, obesity, and environmental hazards such as pesticide-laden food and unregulated chemicals.
According to data, colon cancer accounted for 6.14% of cancer cases in Kashmiri men and 7.01% in women between 2018 and 2022. Jammu and Kashmir recorded over 60,000 new cancer cases in the past five years, with nearly 50,000 cases in Kashmir alone over seven years. The most common cancers include lung, breast, ovarian, gastrointestinal, and leukemia.
Experts warn that the rising cases are due to aging populations, tobacco use, poor diets, and environmental pollutants. The situation highlights the need for urgent attention to lifestyle habits, environmental factors, and healthcare infrastructure to combat the growing cancer crisis in Kashmir.
