Cancer Pattern at a Tertiary Care hospital in Pir Panjal (Rajouri & Poonch) region of Jammu and Kashmir

Background: Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide with incidence of 20 million and expected to increase to 32.6 million by 2045. The present study intends to study the cancer patterns in Rajouri and Poonch districts in a tertiary care hospital.

Material and Methods: This is a retrospective study of all patients registered in our tertiary care hospital under department of Radiation Oncology, GMC Rajouri from January 2019 to October 2025. This study has been conducted to assess the pattern of cancer in our region.

Results: In this retrospective study, a total of 495 patients were registered in department of Radiation Oncology. Of all the patients registered, 239 patients (48.2%) were male and 256 patients (51.7%) were female. 389 (78.5%) patients were from District Rajouri, 99 (20%) from District Poonch and 07 (1.5%) from other districts. Majority of the patients (271, 54.7%) belonged to age group <60 yrs, 169 patients (34.1%) were above 60 yrs and less than 75 yrs, 55 patients (11.1%) were above 75 yrs of age. Regarding site of cancer, Gastrointestinal cancers were most common. Individually lung cancer was most common in males followed by prostate cancer, esophageal cancer and lymphoma. In females, breast cancer was most common followed by ovarian cancer, gall bladder/cholangiocarcinoma, gastric cancer and cervix uteri cancers respectively. At the time of presentation most of patients were in advanced stage; 157 patients (31.7%) in stage III and 180 patients (36.3%) in stage IV. Regarding treatment modality, 256 patients (52%) received chemotherapy, 171 patients (34.5%) received radiation therapy and 130 (27%) received surgery.

Conclusion: Majority of patients had gastrointestinal cancers. Lung cancer was most common in men and breast cancer in women. Majority of patients presented in late stage (III & IV).