Over 1,700 people died of cancer in Kashmir in last 3 yrs: Min

More than 1,700 people have died of various types of cancer in Kashmir Valley while over 13,000 have been diagnosed with the disease in last three years, Jammu and Kashmir health minister Chowdhary Lal Singh said today.
In a written reply to a question by National Conference leader Shehnaz Ganai in the Legislative Council, Singh said the data collected by the department indicate that there has been an increase in the number of cancer patients in the state.
"Analysis of the data of cancer patients of the state indicates increase in their number," he said.
Giving details, he said, "at Government Medical College Srinagar, 784 people have died of cancer from a period of 2012 to 2014 whereas 2,692 were diagnosed with the disease."

"At Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science (SKIMS) at Soura in Srinagar, 987 people have died of cancer from a period of 2012 to 2014 whereas 10,622 people were diagnosed with the disease," he said.
He said while during the same period at Government medical college Jammu 6,220 cancer cases were detected, however the "GMC Jammu does not maintain record of death details," he said.

He held several reasons responsible for increase in cancer cases in the state.
"The reason for the rise in cancer patients is due to change in lifestyle (food habits etc), smoking, obesity, lack of necessary exercise coupled with other ecological changes, imbalances caused due to steep rise of pollution in the atmosphere," he said.

"Financial assistance is being provided to cancer patients through number of government run schemes," he said.
He said that the Centre has announced setting up of two state cancer institutes, one each at Jammu and Srinagar.
"After the cancer institutes are established, quality of patient care will further improve," he said.