Jammu: Ladakh has witnessed a sharp rise in cancer cases over the past five years, with the number of diagnosed patients increasing by more than 300 per cent. Stomach, lung and esophageal cancers have emerged as the most prevalent forms of the disease in the Union Territory.
Replying to a query by Ladakh MP Mohmad Haneefa Jan in the Lok Sabha on Friday, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said 214 cancer cases were diagnosed in Ladakh during 2025-26, compared to just 50 cases in 2021-22.
The figures show a consistent upward trend, with 87 cases reported in 2022-23, 173 in 2023-24 and 208 in 2024-25 before rising further to 214 in the last financial year.
Citing findings of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the Ministry said stomach, lung and esophageal cancers are the most common cancers among men in Ladakh, while breast, stomach and esophageal cancers are the most common among women.
On being asked whether environmental, lifestyle, dietary or occupational factors unique to Ladakh’s high-altitude and cold desert conditions were linked to the increasing cancer burden, the Ministry referred to an ICMR study published in 2025.
The study noted that socio-economic changes have altered traditional dietary patterns in the region, resulting in greater dietary diversity but also contributing to a rise in chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular ailments and diabetes.
“The evolution in the traditional diet over the years changed the diet patterns, which is perceived to be the significant contributor to the increase in Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) in the region as well as shifting from agricultural to non-agricultural activities also seen as a factor impacting disease incidence”, the Ministry said.
The Ministry informed the House that two Day Care Cancer Centres (DCCCs) are currently functional in Ladakh to improve access to cancer care at the district hospital level.
It further said that a population-based initiative for prevention, control and screening of common non-communicable diseases, including oral, breast and cervical cancers, is being implemented in Ladakh under the National Health Mission (NHM). Under the programme, all individuals aged above 30 years are screened at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs by trained frontline health workers, including Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs).
The ICMR has identified several region-specific risk factors that may contribute to the high incidence of cancer in Ladakh. These include the Union Territory’s rugged terrain, high-altitude hypoxic conditions, prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation, unique dietary habits, traditional lifestyle and culture, and a relatively high prevalence of Hepatitis B infection, estimated at 8.3 per cent.
Among the dietary factors, excessive consumption of butter tea, locally known as Gurgur tea, has been highlighted as a significant concern. The traditional beverage, often consumed in quantities exceeding five to ten cups a day, contains sodium bicarbonate and common salt, both of which are known irritants of the gastric lining and are considered potential risk factors for gastric cancer.
The study also flagged high consumption of red meat and fatty foods, limited intake of fresh fruits and vegetables during the long winter months, excessive reliance on dried and preserved foods, stored meat, canned food items, and traditional spicy foods and pickles as additional factors that could elevate cancer risk in the region.
