Dr Azhar Jan Battoo

The rising incidence of thyroid cancer in Jammu and Kashmir highlights

Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer, although relatively rare, is on the rise globally, and this trend is also evident in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). It is noteworthy that thyroid cancer ranks as the 7th most common cancer worldwide and is the 5th most common cancer among females. The age-standardized incidence rate for thyroid cancer is 9.1 per 100,000 population across both sexes, with a higher rate of 13.6 per 100,000 in females. Despite the increasing number of diagnosed cases, the mortality rate for thyroid cancer has remained comparatively low, which clearly hints at good prognosis of the disease.

While there is no published population-based cancer data available specifically for Jammu and Kashmir, a glance at the Population Based Cancer Registries in India indicates that thyroid cancer ranks between the 2nd and 5th most common cancer among females. Its growing incidence highlights a pressing need for better management of the disease, with dedicated services for the same.

The thyroid gland........

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