Cancer Cluster Investigations in Delaware
The Delaware Division of Public Health has investigated the following suspected clusters in the past few years. For more information, please contact the Division's Cancer Program .
2007
Geographic Area: Indian River
Cancer Type: Primarily Lung Cancer
What Was Done: A full report on the Indian River Cancer Cluster Investigation is available on this website. A follow-up study is being conducted to determine if other confounding factors, such as age, immigration, or tobacco use, might account for the suspected cluster.
Outcome: No cluster yet confirmed; investigation ongoing.
2006
Requested: November 2006, by an individual.
Geographic Area: Chiefly New Castle County: Middletown, Townsend; also Smyrna (Kent County)
Cancer Type: Chiefly pancreatic, but some other types.
What Was Done: Obtained details from requestor; reviewed Registry abstracts of 11 of 12 cases of interest (which in four cases revealed a primary cancer other than pancreatic); reviewed state and ZIP code-specific statistics for the ZIP codes represented by the seven cases of primary pancreatic cancer and for other ZIP codes of similarly-sized populations; confirmed that number of cases was consistent with expected number per ZIP populations and per age groups represented.
Outcome: No cluster confirmed.
2005
FIRST REQUEST
Requested: November 2005, by an individual
Geographic Area: New Castle County; on / near Countryside Lane
Cancer Type: Multiple; esp. breast
What Was Done: Obtained details from requestor and other informants (supplied by requestor) re: breast cancer cases which (upon discussion) were those of chief concern; reviewed Registry abstracts of cases; reviewed state and county breast cancer statistics for age ranges of cases of concern (=>35 years of age); confirmed that cases likely reflected: breast cancer's known frequency or occurrence, increased risk associated with age (two cases occurred in women age 55 or older) and with family history of breast cancer (three of five cases occurred in one family).
Outcome: No cluster confirmed.
SECOND REQUEST
Requested: September 2005, by an individual.
Geographic Area: Sussex County; area of Sussex Pines Road, Zoar Road and Gravel Hill Road
Cancer Type: Multiple types.
What Was Done: Obtained details from requestor; reviewed Registry abstracts (which in two of four cases examined showed a primary cancer type other than that requestor had reported); reviewed state and county cancer statistics for primary cancer of interest (brain); confirmed cases of interest occurred in common age group (=>45 years of age). Provided summary of investigation and background information on brain cancer (from NCI) to requestor.
Outcome: No cluster confirmed.
THIRD REQUEST
Requested: September 2005, by an individual.
Geographic Area/Family: Two cases of cancer + two family members with non-cancerous disorder of same organ
Cancer Type: Thyroid
What Was Done: Obtained details from requestor; reviewed Registry abstract of one case (other case would have resided in VA registry, as family member lived in VA at time of diagnosis); reviewed state and county cancer statistics for primary cancer of interest; confirmed that DE case of interest occurred in common age group (50-54).
Outcome: No cluster confirmed.
2004
Requested: June 2004, by an individual
Geographic Area: Sussex County; Ellendale general vicinity
Cancer Type: Multiple
What Was Done: The cancer registry data and the vital statistics data were review. No common histological site could be identified that could be linked to the community concern about an old gas station and possible dumps.
Outcome: No cluster confirmed.
2003
No requests received.
2002
No requests received.
Links:
- Information on cancer clusters, and how to report a suspected cluster
- Report on the Indian River Cancer Cluster Investigation
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