Smoking leads to upsurge in cancer cases

Smoking leads to upsurge in cancer cases

Over 4000 patients registered in 2017 at SKIMS

Mansoor Peer

Srinagar:

In an alarming trend over 30% of the cancer cases in Kashmir are caused due to smoking. 
At the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, the cancer cases are on rise for the past many years.

“In the previous year, we saw more than 4000 cases of cancer patients at the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC), SKIMS. There is yearly increase in the registrations,” said, Incharge department of Medical Oncology SKIMS, Dr Gul Mohammad Bhat. 

He said there are 200 types of cancers worldwide and many of them are found in Kashmir adding that the lung cancers are common in Kashmir and are increasing. “ More and more patients are registered every year at the institute,” he added. 

As per the figures of RCC 4438 new cancer patients were registered at the centre in 2104-2015. Between January-December 2014, 3940 patients were registered. As many as 3000 patients were registered in 2011.
Dr Bhat said that smoking was the root cause of lung cancer and it is a disease of the aged population and suggested for the need to curb the habit and strengthening of the anti-tobacco laws. 
“The cancers are caused due to smoking and people need to be educated for its bad results with the help of education and awareness,” he told Rising Kashmir.

Apart from other types of cancers, breast cancers are also found in women in Kashmir and most of the patients get cured. 

“70-75% of breast cancer patients are cured in SKIMS as the facilities have increased and it is depending upon the state of the disease. There are four stages of breast cancer but the fourth stage is not curable,” he said. 

Bhat said breast cancer has also increased as far its rising registration in SKIMS is concerned. 
According to him sedentary lifestyle and taking fewer vegetables and less exercises are the common causes of the cancers in Kashmir.

“We need to adhere to the active lifestyle to fight cancer. Colonic cancers have increased which is related to diet,” he said. “We take more of red meats and more of grilled chicken this is also an important factor,” he said.
According to him, however, the paediatric cancers are found very rarely in Kashmir.
“Lifestyle is very important we should have more facility for exercise. Cycling is very important and we should maintain weight of our body,” he said.

Cancer doesn’t only impact the patient, but also the family of the patient. They are also confined to immense depression, and grief and it devastates everyone, doctors added. 

The hospital which is the only institute treating cancer patients in the state recently got PET scan facility due to which it has eased the burden on cancer patients as the patients were compelled to go outside the state for the scanning. source-http://www.risingkashmir.com