Esophageal Cancer in Kashmir: An overview - Greater Kashmir

These exceptionally high figures of cancer esophagus in the surgical biopsy specimens speak volumes of the load of this disease in Kashmir (Indian J Pathology/Microbiology.1990; 33:118-23).

Although speculated, there were no scientific data to prove the point that one or more of the above personal or dietary factors could be implicated in the high incidence of esophageal cancer in the Valley.

While analyzing the above data we must caution that the nature of the study (case-controlled) does not conclusively prove the cause-and-effect relationship of these dietary and personal habits to esophageal cancer in the Valley.

Salted tea prepared by adding sodium bicarbonate showed high methylating activity (equivalent to 3-PPM N-methylnitrosourea) upon in vitro nitrosation (Carcinogenesis 1992;13(11):2179-82).

Although the story of esophageal cancer in the Valley has partially unfolded yet will take years of painstaking hard work to collect epidemiological data to implicate any one or more of the food and personal habits in its causation.

When any of the items are confirmed to cause this cancer mass educational program for the public is needed to reduce the incidence of this devastating disease in this community.