More than a

few people in Fayette County have expressed concern about

what seems to them to be a higher than normal rate of

cancer among local residents. In the interest of opening

the topic for public dialogue, I began a process this

past week of gathering information from our local health

department, the state Department of Human

Resources-Division of Public Health, and the

National Cancer Institute.

In the course of

conversations with the state Division of Public Health, I

discovered that current queries are not the first. The

Division of Public Health has a file on Fayette County

which was established in 1997 in response to other

concerned citizens' questions. At that time, there were

some letters in the local newspapers, and communication

between our local health department, the state

Environmental Protection Division, and the District Four

Health Services Director seeking answers to citizens'

questions and a proper forum for public education on the

issue.

The issue then and the

issue now is whether or not Fayette County is a "hot

spot" for cancer, or a "cancer cluster."

The answer to that question

is complicated, and will take some time to determine. It

will also take a willingness on your part to participate

in the process.

Three years ago, a

concerned citizen placed a survey in the newspaper asking

residents to report known cases of cancer. That

information (minus names) was turned over to the state

Division of Public Health, and is part of the Fayette

County file. I have to admit that when I read the list of

cases, it seemed compelling and extraordinary. The fact

that we have added quite a few more to the list in the

last three years does give a person ample reason for

concern.

It seems unlikely, though,

that we are dealing with a true cluster as defined by the

National Cancer Institute, but that doesn't mean we

shouldn't ask the questions or seek to have our fears

addressed.

According to the National

Cancer Institute, a cluster "is the occurrence of a

greater than expected number of cases of a particular

disease within a group of people, a geographic area, or a

period of time." They offer as examples the outbreak

of Legionnaire's disease in the 1970s, the occurrence of

birth defects in the 1960s among women who took

thalidomide during their pregnancies, and the occurrence

of a rare type of pneumonia in the early 1980s which

eventually led to the identification of AIDS.

When a suspected cancer

cluster is first reported, the health department gathers

information and provides the caller with some general

information about clusters.

According to the National

Cancer Institute, "approximately 70 to 80 percent of

reports of suspected cancer clusters are resolved at this

initial contact stage because concerned individuals

realize that what seemed like a cancer cluster is not a

true cluster."

The fact that many people

in Fayette have only lived here a relatively short time,

the fact that we are seeing a variety of cancer types,

the fact that we represent a huge range of environmental

backgrounds (from literally all over the country and

beyond), and the fact that the process of carcinogenesis

(changes within cells) usually occurs over the course of

many years suggests we are most likely experiencing

circumstance.

The National Cancer

Institute reports that "cancer is a common disease;

it strikes one of every three people and is the

second-leading cause of death in this country."

Cancer is actually an "umbrella term for at least

100 different but related diseases, each of which may

have its own set of causes."

Cancer, which is the

"uncontrolled growth...of abnormal cells," is

usually caused by a combination of factors including

heredity, lifestyle and the environment. The fact that

cancer occurs most often in older people who are now

living longer "can create an impression of an

abnormally high number of cases."

To produce a preliminary

set of data to present to the Division of Public Health,

I am asking you to respond again to a public survey. It

is not necessary to give your name, but if you will,

provide contact information.

If our data warrants an

official epidemiological study, trained professionals

will be able to contact you directly to preserve your

privacy.

Please include pertinent

information, such as age, gender, race, street name or

subdivision name, city, the type of cancer diagnosed, and

how long you have been a resident of Fayette County. It

would also be helpful to include any pertinent

occupational or environmental history.

Please indicate if you were

a respondent to the 1997 survey, and if you are reporting

a case of primary cancer or metastatic cancer. Metastatic

cancer is that which has spread or recurred.

I'll pass along the numbers

(no names) in a future column, and will seek out some

answers from our state and local health departments.

Please respond to [email protected]. Or mail to Amy

Riley, 146 Ardenlee, Peachtree City, GA 30269. Phone

770-632-9260.