‘Over 620 new cancer cases registered at GMC Anantnag this year’

Younus Rashid
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12 Nov 2025

Anantnag, Nov 12: The Department of Radiation Oncology, Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag, on Wednesday organised a Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme on “Upper GI Tract Malignancies – Multidisciplinary Perspectives”. The session aimed to discuss recent advances in the diagnosis, treatment, and collaborative management of upper gastrointestinal cancers. It was held under the supervision of Principal GMC Anantnag, Prof Dr Rukhsana Najeeb, and was attended by faculty members, postgraduate students, and clinicians from various departments. Dr Shahid Wani, Associate Professor and Head, Department of Radiation Oncology, said that upper GI cancers, including cancers of the oesophagus, gastroesophageal junction, and stomach, continue to pose major challenges due to late presentation and aggressive disease patterns. He said that Kashmir continues to report a higher burden of upper GI cancers, largely influenced by dietary habits, delayed diagnosis, and socioeconomic factors. “Cancer of the stomach remains the most common malignancy in males and also the most common upper GI cancer in females, as reflected in the Population-Based Cancer Registry 2018,” Dr Shahid said. Giving an overview of the department’s services, he said that the Radiation Oncology Department at GMC Anantnag, established in 2019, has emerged as a key centre for cancer care in South Kashmir, Pir Panjal, and parts of the Chenab Valley, serving a population of nearly 25 lakh. “We have registered over 620 new cancer cases this year, with a cumulative total of more than 3,000 since inception,” he added. He said the department has delivered over 3,200 chemotherapy cycles this year and performed around 800 supportive and palliative procedures, including ascitic taps, blood transfusions, and pleural taps. “We are recognised under ICMR-NCRP as a Hospital-based Cancer Registry,” he added. Dr Shahid said that the absence of a radiotherapy unit remains a major challenge, forcing patients to travel to Srinagar for treatment. “Many poor patients decline referral to SKIMS or SMHS due to cost and logistical issues, often returning at an advanced stage of the disease,” he said. He said that a dedicated Oncology Block has been approved and will soon be constructed. “The procurement of radiation therapy equipment is not a luxury but a basic requirement. Around 60 per cent of all cancer patients need radiation therapy at some stage of their illness,” he added. He said the department aims to develop GMC Anantnag into a comprehensive cancer centre for south Kashmir to ensure that patients receive advanced care closer to home.