People shouldn’t eat meat more than once in a week: Dr Shabnam Bashir

Sameer Showkin Lone

Srinagar, March 28: senior Consultant Breast & Colorectal Cancer Surgeries Dr Shabnam Bashir on Thursday expressed concern over growing cancers in the valley and  called for taking preventive measures to stay healthy.

She was speaking at the 3rd Annual Colorectal Cancer Awareness event-Bluethon-2024 at the Voluntary Medicare Society Rehabilitation Centre, Bemina..

Dr Shabnam who is also the Executive Committee Member of Association of Colon & Rectal Surgeons of India (North Zone), stressed on lifestyle modification in the context of Kashmir and urged to reduce the meat consumption that ,according to her is the major cause of such diseases in the valley.

The conference organised under the aegis of the Association of Colon & Rectal Surgeons of India (ACRSI) in collaboration with Commissionerate Of Disabilities J&K  and Voluntary Medicare Society on Thursday.

According to GLOBOCAN 2020, Colorectal cancer is the 3rd most common in men and 2nd most common cancer in women worldwide while according to study at SKIMS (2014-2016): CRC was most common in age group of 56-65 years (25%) & around 20% were less than 35 years of age & 50% had presented in Stage 3. 

Experts said Colorectal cancers have a huge behavioural component and 90% of colorectal cancers are preventable. 

An official spokesperson of the ACRSI said This year’s theme was ‘Awareness is Everyone’s Right!’ The event received support from Care Foundation J&K and Kashmir Cancer Awareness Network. 

The Bluethon-2024 included a Cancer awareness talk by Dr Shabnam Bashir, a talk by President founder of J&K Care Foundation Mr Dildar representing people with Spinal cord injury in which he mentioned various issues faced wheelchair -bound people and difficulties in accessing healthcare facilities and treatment. 

On the occasion Former President of the Association of Colon & Rectal Surgeons of India, Prof. Nisar Chowdari reiterated the importance of such cancer awareness events and Commissioner Disabilities J&K Iqbal Lone Congratulated Dr Shabnam Bashir for the initiative and Voluntary Medicare Society for all the support in such activities & extended his support for such activities in future. 

The event was also attended by Director Social Welfare Ishfaq Ahmed and the Founder President of Voluntary Medicare Society, Prof Mohd. Maqbool.