Anybody have experience with CDC or EPA???

[banslug]

OK, this may be long, so I apologize ahead of time. (and bear with me, as I'm emotional right now and am just rambling with thoughts and am trying to get it all in this post.)

Has anybody ever contacted, worked for, or inquired at the Centers for Disease Control & Protection or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency?

Here's why I'm asking. Our area has had too many cases of children being diagnosed with leukemia and a few other cases over the last 2-3 years of other types of cancers...all in children. In 2006, we lost a HS boy to leiomyosarcoma. Last year (March, 2007), we lost a HS student girl to colon cancer. 18 months ago, a HSer was diagnosed with leukemia, and this was the start of a wave of more. A (now) 5th grader (a classmate of my son's) was diagnosed this past June; a (now) 6th grader (the son of our art teacher) was diagnosed just 2 months ago; and MOST RECENTLY, last week a 2 year old was diagnosed with ALL, also a leukemia!!!

THESE ARE OUR BABIES!

That doesn't include the adults that are being diagnosed. My mom is going into her 2nd year of fighting kidney cancer. My uncle was just diagnosed last week with prostate cancer. Our police chief died of a form of cancer last year. There are countless others to list!

My DH passed away from leukemia. The 4 year anniversary is this Thursday.

I'm President of the school's PTA this year, and we are running a blood drive in honor of these students. We're raising funds to donate to these families.

And yet I'm helpless.

Many of us in our community are beginning to really feel that there is something in our environment that is causing this recent wave of illnesses. It can't just be ironic timing, can it? Is there something we can do (or feed or not feed our kids) to protect our families? I grew up in this town. My dad grew up in this town. This is scary with a capital S! Does anybody have any experience in dealing with either agency?

I know I can hit the websites, and I WILL! But soemtimes it's easier to ask for experience first.

THANKS!

Gayle

 

[elliemom]

Hi Gayle,
First let me say how sorry I am for all your losses and heartache. Cancer is a terrible disease and seems to be striking more and more. Especially in young children.
If you really want to help you must contact the epidemiologist at the CDC. They specifically look for and study "cancer clusters". I'm not saying that your area definately has one but it is worth looking into.I can get you a contact in the CDC thru my husband. I will PM you with the info as soon as he gets home.
elliemom

 

[beccajanern]

Gayle,

I understand your concern and fear. A dear friend of mine lost her 6 year old nephew to a neuro-blastoma. He was part of a cancer cluster. I don't know about contacting the CDC (it sounds like Ellie is helping you with that) but I do know when our little guy was sick, they were told that most childhood cancers are environmental.

Praying for you and your community through this difficult time. I will also pray for you on Thursday as I know anniversaries are hard.

 

[SirenSongWoman]

I'm not big on conspiracy's but it sounds like there are an awful lot of coincidences for it to be coincidental. I don't trust government agencies but I don't know who else to ask.

 

[fit_fairy]

Just wanted to send ((HUGS)). And wow, that is a lot of cases of cancer I have no doubt that we are killing ourselves. It's in the air, the food we eat, the drinks we drink,.... And the FDA does nothing.

I apologize for the tangent. I am sorry for all that you and your community are going through.

 

[meowracer]

Gayle, WOW - sounds like too much happening there, and I am sorry to hear of the loss of your husband 4 years ago. Those anniversaries are tough - my thoughts will be with you Thursday. How large it the population? The cancer clusters are interesting, and that is what I was going to mention. I have a PhD in statistics, but depending on population, it wouldn't take much to figure out that this sounds like too many cases of cancers. Still, regardless of population, these are just the people that you are familiar with. Too many. Meanwhile, I would drink bottled water, not eat homegrown foods (from the ground or animals), and go organic from the grocery store for as much as possible. I would not trust anything from around there, organic or not. Are there any industries around? Did there used to be? All the best to you - it is very sad to read about things like this, and I think you are doing the very right thing in looking into it further.

 

[icumom]

Yeah,you have a huge case that should be studied, but in the last 8 years funding to these organizations has been slashed, and any attempt to point out environmental toxins gets you scoffed at and called a liberal tree hugger (I have a friend in EPA) - and the "jury is out" on these things.....

Make a loud enough noise, call the media, don't give up, the power of one loud mouth can change policy.....be the loud mouth...

 

[MAYNARDSMOM]

Gayel ~

My prayers will be with you tomorrow. I'm sure it won't be easy.

We did have a school in our area a few years back who had their football field closed off for a time due to some type of cancer scare. Elmira New York is the area. To be honest I don't know any details as I did not follow it. But a number of kids were getting cancer, more than should.

We have also had what seems like a number of cases just on our side of town. We are a very small town so I wonder if the number just seems high sicne we are so small.

Please keep us posted as to what youcome up with & our prayers go out to you & your community.