The most common form of cancer reported in the state is the cancer of uterine cervix among women, followed by cancer in the head and neck areas among men, with a relatively low incidence of breast cancer and leukaemia (blood cancer).

``Lately, lung cancer has also started registering its presence in Himachal Pradesh and is spreading at an alarming rate,'' says Harbans Kapoor, a senior professor and head of the Cancer Hospital here.

The disease is completely curable and should not cause any alarm, provided it is diagnosed at an early stage and is treated properly, Kapoor adds.Kapoor, who is also the president of the northern region's body of cancer experts, sees lack of education and awareness about health and hygiene, early marriages and repeated pregnancies as the main reasons for uterine cancer.

The state has so far been more or less free from oral cancer, which is mainly caused by chewing of tobacco and pan masalas. However, excessive drinking, smoking and malnutrition have led to increasing cases of lung cancer. The low incidence of breast cancer among women here has been attributed to early marriages and different life-styles as compared to their counterparts in the metros.

According to the cases diagnosed by oncologists at Shimla's Cancer Hospital districts like Sirmaur, Chamba, Kullu, Shimla, Mandi and Kangra in the state have been found to have a higher share of the disease.

Besides having the provision of accommodating 35 patients at a time, the hospital is also equipped to offer day-boarding facility to the patients coming for chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

To prevent the occurrence of disease, the hospital has also initiated a public education programme, involving mahila mandals and anganwari workers.According to Kapoor, the facilities at the hospital were being upgraded. ``A hi-tech machine in the cobalt unit is being commissioned within a month's time at a cost of Rs 1.50 crore,'' he told The Indian Express. The bed strength is being increased to 75 by adding a new block to the existing building.

A team of doctors headed by Kapoor is also developing treatment protocols for various forms of cancer to help provide an effective link between research in the area and handling of high-risk patients.

Kapoor is also working on another project to develop treatment protocols for breast cancer. He has already taken up the matter of setting up a cancer wing at all zonal hospitals and provision of minimum diagnostic facilities at district hospitals with the state government. The Cancer Hospital - which the doctors claim has facilities lacking even at the PGI in Chandigarh - would also have computerised treatment planning system and equipment for improved treatment without causing any inevitable radiation hazard.

Shortage of the staff, however, remains a problem at the hospital even as the number of patients was on the rise in the state.