Issues of health in the contemporary era are challenging and daunting for people across the world. Among many deadly diseases, cancer is one of them. Remote areas like Gilgit-Baltistan seriously face such severe disease, coupled with a harsh climate. People are worried due to growing concerns for their health and families. The topic is compelling enough to put pen to paper. I have talked with relevant specialists; they have been proactive in such cases.

At a recent meeting in Skardu, health officials acknowledged what doctors had long observed: cancer cases are rising at a pace beyond local facilities. At RHQ Hospital Skardu, nearly 1,000 outpatient visits over the past year were linked to cancer. More than 200 patients are formally registered. Over 300 chemotherapy sessions have already been administered. Of patients referred to Punjab for specialised care, roughly a third to two-fifths are cancer cases. Even operating rooms reflect the shift, with 5 to 10 per cent of surgeries now cancer-related, according to the hospital’s oncologist.

If we look globally, cancer is a leading cause of death, responsible for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020 — about one in six worldwide. The most common cancers are breast, lung, colorectal, and prostate. Many are preventable. Many are treatable if caught early. Yet in far-flung places like Baltistan, early detection is almost impossible.

International studies on cancer show that the World Health Organization estimates between 30 and 50 per cent of cancers can be prevented through lifestyle changes, vaccination, and reduced exposure to environmental risks. Tobacco use, unhealthy diets, alcohol consumption, air pollution, and physical inactivity remain major contributors. In low- and lower-middle-income countries, infections such as HPV and hepatitis account for nearly 30 per cent of cancer cases. Vaccines exist; awareness often does not.

At the local level, Baltistan’s........

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