Breast Cancer Spreading Fast in Kashmir

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, March 9: One out of 12 women in Kashmir have tendencies to develop breast cancer.

The experts reveal that breast cancer is common in Kashmir. "It is the 4th most common cancer in Kashmir after the cancers of food pipe, stomach, lung and lymphoma", said the experts.

The experts further said the incidents of breast cancer increased from 1208 cases in 2005 to 1301 cases in 2006. "In 2007, 200 new cases of breast cancer were reported in Kashmir while the follow-up cases range in thousands".

Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad Shah, head of the Oncology department of Kashmir's leading hospital described breast cancer as a "new challenge" more so than deaths as a result of war.

The experts said that the urban women are more prone than rural areas. "The risk of developing breast cancer increased with age. Over 70 percent of breast cancer occurs in women over 50 years of age. Only some 5 to 10 percent of breast cancers may be linked to family history," said Dr Imtiyaz Ali.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.

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