Cancer Cluster Confirmed In Pa. Region

(AP)  Nearly a year after federal epidemiologists first sounded the alarm over a cluster of rare blood cancers in northeastern Pennsylvania, their research has zeroed in on a hardscrabble region 80 miles northwest of Philadelphia that is home to several Superfund sites and a power plant fired by waste coal.

The U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry said Monday that it confirmed an elevated number of cases of polycythemia vera, or PV, in a 20-mile stretch between Hazleton and Tamaqua.

It remains the first and only cluster of PV ever recorded in the United States, though the condition became reportable to state cancer registries only in 2001, and officials said it's statistically likely there are others.

Residents in the affected area were four times as likely to suffer from PV as residents living in outlying areas, according to the government.

Researchers cautioned, though, that their investigation was not designed to uncover an environmental link to PV, a cancer that results in the overproduction of red blood cells and can lead to heart attack or stroke. PV's cause is unknown.

"We don't want to give the message that there are no connections," said researcher Vince Seaman. "We just don't have the data."

Some residents blame their illnesses on a recycler that accepted hundreds of thousands of gallons of paint sludge, waste oils, used solvents, PCBs, cyanide, pesticides and many other known or suspected carcinogens.

Environmental officials shut down the site in 1979, and it was later placed on the federal Superfund list and cleaned up. Other Superfund sites dot the area, too, along with a power plant that burns waste coal that some residents also suspect has caused health problems.

Researchers said they confirmed 33 cases of PV in Luzerne, Carbon and Schuylkill counties. That was a slightly lower number than they reported last October at the conclusion of their preliminary investigation into the cluster.

The agency revealed its latest findings at a community meeting in Hazleton on Monday night.

Researchers said they found that Pennsylvania does not accurately report the number of PV cases statewide. That's because the criteria for diagnosing the illness have changed and because PV is reported only by hospitals.

Seaman said inaccurate PV reporting is also likely a problem in other states.

U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter announced Monday that the Senate Appropriations Committee approved $262,000 for a planned Drexel University investigation into the cluster. The funding has yet to clear the full Senate.

"It is clear that more research is necessary to pinpoint the reasons for this cluster, including whether environmental contaminants are a factor," Specter said in a statement.

[memnoch12]

i was dx with p.vera in oct of 03 . I worked with chemicals and hazardous waste since 1969. I am convinced that my cancer is related to this. Is anyone aware of ongoing lawsuits related to this? I would appreciate any feedback.

[grammawhamma]

I live near a small town that is surrounded by potato fields. Per capita we are the cancer capitol of the country. I think the pesticides and herbicides have leeched into the drinking water.

[teekaboo1]

My Husband has PV. The Doctors told him it could be passed down generations. But after reading this article, who knows. He was raised in Tijuana,Mx. So you can only imagine whith all the waste problems they have there! He was twenty when he was diagnosed. No Doctor could figure out why he was bleeding from his nose every time he bent over or why he had such bad headaches. His skin color was blood red. It was a very scary time for us. Finaly we found a Doctor who knew alot about the disease. He diagnosed and started therapy right away. We have learned alot from the disease. Today is 15 years that he has had the cancer. As long as you go to therapy, everything is pretty much ok. Its scary but wants you have it under control, you learn to deal whithh it. Watch your iron intake, That causes more problems because that causes to overproduce even more red blood cells. Make sure you do not cook on any iron pans, the iron transfers to the food. I could go on and on. If anyone needs insight on the disease from someone who has been dealing whith it so long. Dont be afraid to ask!

[deacon20081]

And now the Bush administration is trying to force legislation to allow "self Evaluation" by companies who pollute and endanger protected species.
The EPA has been taken over by Bush appointees and special interest insiders. NO MORE! THIS HAS TO BE STOPPED.

[missingamerica]

...under more Democratic administrations than Republican during and prior to the 1970''''s. In those days, the Democrats were far more protectionist of business and far more hawkish than the Republicans are today. And don''''t forget - PA is a very heavily pro-union and Democrat dominated state. Republicans of today have nothing to do with this problem.

Posted by dan3232321 at 02:39 PM : Aug 26, 2008

Is that so? What did the Republicans need anti-regulation Ronnie Raygun for, then?

Man...I thought "revisionism" was only something the Soviets would accuse people of in Solzhenitsyn novels....

Now, the Republicans are becoming artists at it.

[u-r-right]

Posted by samson_74 at 07:40 PM : Aug 26, 2008

I find most of PA gray and depressing for some reason. Im originally from Pittsburgh. Every time I go back, it reminds me of what a cesspool the Western PA area is.

[samson_74]

I lived in Hazleton for over 8 years (twitch, twitch) there''s nothing wrong with me (twitch).

It''s no wonder that place was always so depressing. I mean, there''s like nothing there that''s natural. I always thought it was because it was an old coal town. And it was! No surprise it became a drop off spot for industrial toxic waste. If we think for a minute that corporations don''t sometimes wonder how to get rid of some troublesome byproduct without having to pay millions and go thru the red tape involved with such things, we are fooled. Besides that, I am sure the immigrant population is incentive to locate a business there. This place has been in the news before.

[samson_74]

I lived in Hazleton for over 8 years (twitch, twitch) there''s nothing wrong with me (twitch).

It''s no wonder that place was always so depressing. I mean, there''s like nothing there that''s natural. I always thought it was because it was an old coal town. And it was! No surprise it became a drop off spot for industrial toxic waste. If we think for a minute that corporations don''t sometimes wonder how to get rid of some troublesome byproduct without having to pay millions and go thru the red tape involved with such things, we are fooled. Besides that, I am sure the immigrant population is incentive to locate a business there. This place has been in the news before.

[samson_74]

I lived in Hazleton for over 8 years (twitch, twitch) there''s nothing wrong with me (twitch).

It''s no wonder that place was always so depressing. I mean, there''s like nothing there that''s natural. I always thought it was because it was an old coal town. And it was! No surprise it became a drop off spot for industrial toxic waste. If we think for a minute that corporations don''t sometimes wonder how to get rid of some troublesome byproduct without having to pay millions and go thru the red tape involved with such things, we are fooled. Besides that, I am sure the immigrant population is incentive to locate a business there. This place has been in the news before.

[xmanborg]

Its nice to know that the Govt has so much EXTRA FREE cash to clean up these Super Fund Sites and is so concerned about the public and their welfare.