The Jammu and Kashmir government disclosed to the Legislative Assembly that there were 32,425 cancer cases in the union territory over the past three years. Health minister Sakina Itoo, in response to a query by PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, highlighted that lung, oral, cervical, prostate, and pancreatic cancers were prevalent.
In the Jammu division, a total of 6,804 cases were recorded between 2023 and 2025, with 2,036 cases in 2023, 2,187 in 2024, and 2,581 in 2025. Meanwhile, the Kashmir division reported 25,621 cancer cases during the same period, including 8,021 in 2022, 8,621 in 2023, and 8,979 in 2024.
The most common types of cancer identified include lung, breast, oral, cervical, prostate, and pancreatic cancers. The Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) and the State Cancer Institute (SCI) at Government Medical College, Jammu, offer comprehensive cancer care services encompassing medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, and clinical hematology.
Due emphasis is placed on public education regarding early cancer warning signs and modifiable risk factors like tobacco cessation, healthy diets, and lifestyle changes to aid in cancer prevention and early treatment. Various measures are being implemented for early cancer detection, including awareness campaigns, screenings, and diagnostic services using advanced technologies.
A high-level meeting was conducted to devise cancer prevention and treatment strategies for Jammu & Kashmir, with a focus on managing cancer patients at designated healthcare facilities. Specialized oncology services are primarily available at Government Medical Colleges and higher tertiary care centers, with plans for enhancing oncology facilities across the region.
