Jammu and Kashmir is facing a worrying rise in cancer cases, with fresh government data revealing that an average of 38 people are being diagnosed with the disease every single day across the region.
According to figures released by the Union Health Ministry, J&K alone reported 14,112 cancer cases in 2024, taking the total caseload of the last five years to 67,037. What concerns health experts is not just the volume of cases but the pace at which the numbers are rising.
A year-wise breakdown shows a steady climb:
- 2020: 12,726 cases
- 2021: 13,060 cases
- 2022: 13,395 cases
- 2023: 13,744 cases
- 2024: 14,112 cases
Doctors say this upward trend clearly shows that the region is not experiencing a temporary spike but a consistent increase in cancer burden. “The annual rise is small but persistent, and a lot of our patients still arrive at advanced stages, which limits treatment options,” said a senior oncologist at SKIMS Soura.
A deeper look at the data highlights sharp gender-based patterns.
Among men, stomach cancer has emerged as the most common malignancy, accounting for nearly 20% of all male cancer cases. Lung cancer follows closely, representing 16%, a trend specialists say is tied to smoking, late diagnosis, and dietary habits.
For women, breast cancer remains the most prevalent, making up 19% of all female cases in J&K. Stomach cancer, at around 9%, is now the second most common cancer among women. Meanwhile, esophagus and colon cancers continue to contribute significantly to the overall disease load in both genders.
Health professionals warn that the figures reflect a growing public-health concern that urgently needs attention. Late detection, poor screening rates, lifestyle changes, and lack of awareness are among the key factors linked to the rising numbers.
With more than 67,000 cancer cases reported between 2020 and 2024, the data paints a stark picture of the region’s growing health crisis—one that experts believe cannot be ignored any longer.
