By Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad Wani

The serene valleys of Kashmir, once synonymous with vitality and vigour, are now facing a silent crisis - a dramatic rise in cancer cases. Data from the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) paints a sobering picture: 28,457 new diagnoses between 2019 and 2024, including over 5,200 cases in just the first half of 2025. This marks a steep climb from the 44,112 cases reported between 2013 and 2023.

As a physical activity expert, I see this alarming surge as a clarion call to revive Kashmir's active traditions and rethink our dietary habits to confront this growing threat.

The State Cancer Institute at SKIMS reports a 52% spike in gastric cancers in districts like Budgam, with cases rising from 50 in 2014 to 76 in 2023. Lung cancer, driven by widespread tobacco use, accounts for over 5,200 cases since 2014 - making it the region's fastest-growing malignancy.

Nationally, India's cancer burden is projected to reach 1.56 million new cases in 2024, and Kashmir mirrors this grim trajectory. As one senior oncologist at SKIMS notes,“We're seeing over 12,000 annual diagnoses in Jammu and Kashmir. This isn't just about ageing-it's about how we live.”

Having spent years advocating for physical activity, I'm deeply troubled by Kashmir's shift from its physically demanding past - tilling fields, trekking hills, or playing traditional sports like kho-kho - to increasingly sedentary urban lives. Desk jobs, long commutes, and screen-heavy routines in cities such as Srinagar and Anantnag have fuelled obesity, a known risk factor for breast, colorectal, and endometrial cancers.

Research indicates that 30–50% of cancers in Kashmir are preventable through lifestyle changes, with physical inactivity being a major contributor.

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