As many as 48 persons in Ulikkal village near Coonoor have blood cancer due to the excessive use of chemical fertilizers, said horticulturist and scientist R. Selvaraj said at a meeting in Niligris district.

The scientist revealed this alarming fact at a training session held for small farmers at Jegadala in Coonoor district. He said that the use of cow manure and other natural fertilizers can bring down the prevalence of cancer.

Cancer is a group of diseases caused by abnormal and unregulated cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. Not all tumours are cancerous in nature; the harmless ones, called benign tumours, do not spread to other parts of the body.

There are over 100 different known cancers that affect human beings. Possible signs and symptoms of cancer include growth of new lumps, abnormal bleeding, prolonged cough, unexplained weight loss, and a change in bowel movements, among others. While these symptoms can occur due to other illnesses, they could also indicate cancer. Proper testing is crucial. Early diagnosis and treatment can, in many cases, cure cancer.