Cancers of different types have emerged as one of the most alarming challenges in the medical field with almost all shades of people belonging to different age groups suffering from this ailment conventionally referred to as ‘terminal disease’. Of course, medical profession has attained impressive advancement in this field as today much has been achieved as far as diagnosis and treatment are concerned but as famous proverb goes, ‘Prevention is better than cure’, stopping cancers from increasing the burden life threatening disease should be the ultimate aim of the entities which do matter in this whole gamut.
It is intriguing that reportedly the State Cancer Institute at the Government Medical College, Jammu, has documented 9,427 cancer cases over a five-year period, with the majority of the patients reporting to the hospital only after the disease had reached advanced levels ranging between Stage III and Stage IV. What is to be noted in this case is the fact that many people prefer going outside the UT for treatment of the cancers thus making it amply clear that the cases of cancers surfacing from Jammu region are more than registered in the aforesaid institution.
Going by the critical figures, it has become necessary that the people at the helm should focus on measures to stop cancers by making concerted efforts to address the root causes including large-scale awareness campaigns on lifestyle risks, strict regulation of tobacco and intoxicants, early screening programmes at the community level, reduction of environmental pollution, and ensuring safe food standards.
Unfortunately, all these factors need focused attention as the present scenario is dismal as various food items being in use are cacogenic, pollution of all kinds galore, and lifestyles of the majority of people across the cities are questionable. What is also important is the requirement to improve the healthcare edifice in the UT of J&K as presently things are moving slow and people finding it difficult especially in rural and far off areas to have timely access to facilities like testing and treatment. All said and done, a futuristic strategy, backed by policy reforms, awareness, and robust infrastructure can significantly reduce cancer incidence and safeguard the health of future generations therefore steps should be taken in this direction sooner than later to save precious lives of the people in J&K and elsewhere.
