I don’t think there is anyone today who is unaware of the term cancer. The word has become as common in conversations as the common cold. Every village, every town, every city is witnessing cases that were once considered rare. In this article, I wish to highlight this growing concern in the context of Kashmir — where the rising cancer burden is deeply worrying. Cancer is neither age-specific nor gender-specific; it affects individuals across every age group and every section of society.

Official figures show that Jammu and Kashmir has recorded nearly 60,000–63,000 cancer cases over the last five to seven years, averaging 13,000–14,000 new cases each year — roughly 35–40 new diagnoses every day. As per available data, 2.7% of all registered cancer cases were among children below 15 years, with leukaemia (blood cancer) accounting for around 36% of childhood cancer cases.

Within Kashmir, commonly reported cancers include breast, gastrointestinal and lung cancers, along with a worrying rise in colorectal cancers, increasingly seen in younger as well as older populations. The uneven trend is particularly concerning. Over approximately three years, Kashmir recorded 25,627 total cases, while Jammu reported only 6,004 cases, indicating that the cancer burden is numerically much higher in the Kashmir division — nearly four times that of Jammu.

While these numbers are alarming, understanding the causes is even more important. Many of the risk factors are not abstract scientific concepts — they are connected to everyday choices, lifestyles, environmental exposure and even cultural practices.

Agro-chemicals and horticulture exposure:

Kashmir’s economy heavily depends on horticulture, especially fruit cultivation. To improve yield, appearance and shelf life, farmers often rely on pesticides and chemical treatments. While regulated use is considered safe, excessive or prolonged exposure to such chemicals can increase long-term health risks, including cancer. The challenge lies not in horticulture itself, but in awareness, regulation and safe practices.

Indoor air pollution:

Harsh winters force many households to depend on traditional heating methods such as kangri, wood and coal-based fuels. Continuous exposure to indoor smoke significantly raises the risk of lung cancer and other respiratory illnesses. What is culturally comforting may, over time, become medically harmful if safer alternatives are not adopted.

Traditional dietary habits — including salted tea, pickled foods, dried fish and smoked meat — form an important part of Kashmiri identity. However, epidemiological studies have linked high consumption of salted and smoked foods with stomach and colorectal cancers. The solution is not abandoning culture, but moderating consumption and promoting balanced diets.

The importance of early diagnosis:

One positive shift is growing awareness. More people are seeking medical advice and screening earlier than before. Early diagnosis dramatically improves survival rates, reduces treatment costs and prevents advanced complications. Awareness, therefore, remains one of the most powerful tools in fighting cancer.

The rising cancer burden in Kashmir cannot be dismissed as coincidence or fate. Many contributing factors are predictable and, to a significant extent, preventable. The data should not be viewed merely as statistics but as a warning signal.

Cancer is no longer a distant or private tragedy in Kashmir — it is a public health emergency. Ignoring it will only deepen the crisis. Addressing this challenge requires political will, stronger health infrastructure, scientific research, institutional accountability and collective responsibility from society.

Kashmir has always shown resilience in the face of adversity. Confronting cancer must now become part of that resilience — through awareness, prevention, early detection and informed choices. The conversation must move from fear to action, because silence is no longer an option

Burhan Ahmad Dar and Asra Majeed Sheikh are students who focus on core social issues through their writing

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