Epidemiological Distribution and Incidence of Different Cancers in Kashmir Valley-2002-2006

There are no population-based data available on cancer pattern in Kashmir and our study is the firstkind which represents the trend in cancer pattern in the valley. The source of our data were cancer patientsregistered in the Department of Radiation Oncology, Sheri-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar,and Department of Radiation Oncology, SMHS, Srinagar during the period Jan 2002 to Dec 2006 . These areleading medical centres in the valley and draw most all of cancer patients from all over Kashmir for treatment.During the period a total of 6,943 cases were registered of which 4,345 were males and 2,598 were females. Theage standardized incidence rates were 34.9 per 100,000 for males and 24.8 per 100,000 for females. Oesophaguswas the leading site of cancer in both sexes (male ASR 11.2; female ASR 8.3) followed by lung (ASR 6.5), brain(ASR 2.2) and head and neck (ASR 2.2) in males and breast (ASR 5.2), skin (ASR 1.6) and rectum (ASR 0.95)in females. The incidence of cervical cancer in females and prostate cancer in males was lower in Kashmir ascompared to other Indian registries. Overall cancer incidence was significantly lower and cancer patterns weremarkedly different in Kashmir. The observed cancer pattern indicates that awareness campaigns, life style anddietary habit changes, tobacco-control measures and early detection of breast cancer are very important forcancer control in this population.