Cancer Cluster Investigations in Delaware
The Delaware Division of Public Health has investigated the following suspected clusters since 2004. For more information, please contact the Division's Cancer Program.
New Castle County
2008 Investigations
- Requested: July 2008, by an individual
Geographic Area: Smyrna, census tract 169.02 (area east of Rt. 13, near Black Diamond and Eagles Nest Roads)
Cancer Type: All types (all-site)
What was done: Calculated 2000-2004 incidence rates for all-site and various other cancer types for census tract 169.02; identified a significantly elevated all-site incidence rate for census tract 169.02; determined that the elevated all-site rate was attributable to a significantly elevated kidney cancer rate in the area under investigation; verified that kidney cancer age of diagnosis patterns were normal within census tract 169.02; contacted the Office of Drinking Water (ODW) and a private laboratory in Wilmington to inquire about private well water testing options; contacted the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) to determine if any point source water contamination had occurred in the immediate area of where the requester resides (DNREC was not aware of any water contamination occurrences in that immediate area); provided summary of investigation to requester stating all-site and kidney cancer were elevated in the area under investigation; summary report included information on kidney cancer risk factors and private well water testing information.
Outcome: DPH will assume position of watchful waiting for kidney cancer in census tract 169.02. - Requested: May 2008, by an individual
Geographic Area: Lewes area; Zip Code 19958
Cancer Type:Lung
What was done: Calculated 2000-2004 incidence rates for all-site and various other cancer types for Zip Code 19958; determined that the lung cancer incidence rate for Zip Code 19958 was not elevated compared to the state or the nation; identified a significantly elevated all-site incidence rate for Zip Code 19958; determined that the elevated all-site rate was attributable to significantly elevated bladder cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) rates in the area under investigation; verified that bladder cancer and NHL age of diagnosis patterns were normal within Zip Code 19958; provided summary of investigation to requester stating that bladder cancer and NHL rates are elevated for Zip Code 19958; summary report included information on risk factors for these two cancer types.
Outcome: No lung cancer cluster confirmed; DPH will assume position of watchful waiting for bladder cancer and NHL in Zip Code 19958. - Requested: February 2008, by an individual
Geographic Area: Wilmington, Zip Codes 19804 and 19808
Cancer Type: Female Breast
What was done : Obtained information from requester regarding female breast cancer cases diagnosed in areas in which she has lived; calculated 2000-2004 female breast cancer incidence rates by race for Zip Codes 19804 and 19808; compared Zip Code rates to county, state and national rates; confirmed that female breast cancer cases were diagnosed in expected age groups (=>35 years of age); determined the majority (67%) of female breast cancers in these two Zip Codes were being diagnosed at the early stage; provided summary of investigation to requester.
Outcome : No female breast cancer cluster confirmed.
2007 Investigations
- Requested: November 2007, by an individual
Geographic Area: Wilmington area, Zip Code 19810
Cancer Type: Female breast
What was done: Obtained information from requester re: acquaintances diagnosed with female breast cancer; reviewed Registry abstracts of supplied cases; calculated 2000-2004 incidence rates for all-site and various other cancer types for Zip Code 19810 and census tract 113.00; determined that female breast cancer rates in this Zip Code and census tract were not significantly elevated compared to the state or nation; identified seven cancers in census tract 113.00 with significantly lower rates compared to the state as a whole; determined that melanoma rates were significantly elevated for Zip Code 19810 compared to the state as a whole; provided summary of investigation to requester stating that the melanoma rate was elevated in Zip Code 19810; summary report included information on melanoma risk factors and skin cancer prevention strategies.
Outcome: No female breast cancer cluster confirmed; DPH will assume position of watchful waiting for melanoma rates in Zip Code 19810. - Requested: October 2007, by an individual
Geographic Area: Newark, census tract 144.02 (area near Elkton Rd., Chrysler Ave., Amstel Ave. and Orchard Rd.)
Cancer Type: all types (all-site)
What was done: Obtained information from requester and other informants (supplied by requester) re: various cancer types; reviewed Registry abstracts of supplied cases; calculated 2000-2004 incidence rates by sex and race for all-site and various other cancer types by Zip Code (19711) and census tract (144.02); compared area rates to county, state and national rates; reviewed trends in all cancer cases diagnosed in Zip Code since 1980; confirmed no cancers were being diagnosed in unexpected age groups and no ‘rare’ cancers occurred with unexpected frequency; provided summary of investigation to requester stating that investigation results could not correlate area cancer rates with proximity to Chrysler plant.
Outcome: No cluster confirmed. - Requested: August 2007, by an individual
Geographic Area: Wilmington, Zip Code 19803
Cancer Type: Brain/CNS (Central Nervous System)
What was done: Obtained information from requester regarding acquaintances diagnosed with brain/CNS cancer; reviewed Registry abstracts of supplied cases; calculated 2000-2004 incidence rates for all-site and various other cancer types for Zip Code 19803; determined that brain/CNS cancer rates in this Zip Code were not significantly elevated compared to the state or nation; verified that brain/CNS cancer age of diagnosis patterns were normal within Zip Code 19803; provided summary of investigation to requester stating that the brain/CNS cancer rate in her Zip Code was not elevated.
Outcome: No brain/CNS cancer cluster confirmed.
2006 Investigations
- Requested: November 2006, by an individual
Geographic Area: Middletown, Townsend, and portions of Smyrna; Kent County
Cancer Type: Pancreatic cancer
What was done: Obtained details from requester; reviewed Registry abstracts of 11 of 12 cases of interest; four of 12 cases revealed a primary cancer site other than the pancreas; 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 Code populations and per age groups represented.
Outcome: No cluster confirmed.
2005 Investigations
- Requested: November 2005, by an individual
Geographic Area: Bear; Zip Code 19701 (area near Country Side Lane)
Cancer Type: Primarily female breast
What was done: Obtained details from requester and other informants regarding breast cancer cases diagnosed in the area in which requester resided; 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 family history of breast cancer (three of five cases occurred in one family).
Outcome: No cluster confirmed.
Kent County
(No investigations requested to date.)
Sussex County
2008 Investigations
- Requested: January 2008, by an individual
Geographic Area: Millsboro/Long Neck; census tract 507.02 (area near Banks Road and John J Williams Highway)
Cancer Type: All types (all-site)
What was done: Obtained information from requester regarding various cancer types; reviewed Registry abstracts of supplied cases; calculated 2000-2004 and 2001-2005 incidence rates for all-site and various other cancer types for census tract 507.02; compared census tract rates to county, state and national rates; confirmed no cancers were diagnosed in unexpected age groups and no ‘rare’ cancers occurred with unexpected frequency; reviewed well water test results from two private wells and from one of Delaware’s Department of Agriculture test wells nearby; provided summary of investigation to requester stating that only lung cancer was elevated for the area (currently being addressed by Indian River Project) and that well water testing did not indicate link between well water contamination and cancer rates for the area.
Outcome: No cancer cluster confirmed.
2007 Investigations
- Requested: December 2007, by an individual
Geographic Area: Millville, Zip Codes 19967 and 19970
Cancer Type: All types (all-site)
What was done: Obtained information from requester regarding various cancer types; reviewed Registry abstracts of supplied cases; calculated 2000-2004 incidence rates by sex for all-site and various other cancer types for Zip Codes 19967 and 19970 as one combined area; compared area rates to county, state and national rates; confirmed no cancers were diagnosed in unexpected age groups and no ‘rare’ cancers occurred with unexpected frequency; provided summary of investigation to requester stating that all-site incidence rate was elevated for the area but no individual cancer types were elevated for the area.
Outcome: No cluster confirmed; DPH will assume position of watchful waiting for this area.
2006 Investigations
- Requested: December 2006, by a citizen action group
Geographic Area: Zip Codes 19939, 19945, 19947, 19966, 19970, and 19975
Cancer Type: All types (all-site), with an emphasis on lung cancer
What was done: Data from the Registry were reviewed; 2000-2004 incidence rates were calculated for all-site and lung cancer in the six zip-code area; results revealed elevated all-site and lung cancer rates in the area under investigation. A full report on the Indian River Cancer Cluster Investigation is available on this website. A follow-up study — the Indian River Community Level Survey is being conducted to determine if other confounding factors, such as age, immigration, or tobacco use, might account for the suspected cluster.
Outcome: All-site and lung cancer rates were elevated in the six-Zip Code area. An in-depth investigation into lung cancer rates across Sussex County is currently underway. Results from the in-depth investigation are expected in early 2009.
2005 Investigations
- Requested: September 2005, by an individual
Geographic Area: Area of Sussex Pines Road, Zoar Road, and Gravel Hill Road
Cancer Type: Primarily Brain/CNS (Central Nervous System)
What was done: Obtained details from requester regarding cancer cases diagnosed in residential area; reviewed Registry abstracts; two of four cases revealed a primary cancer site other than what the requester had reported; reviewed state and county cancer statistics for brain/CNS cancer; confirmed cases of brain/CNS cancer occurred in expected age groups (=>45 years of age). Provided summary of investigation and background information on brain/CNS cancer to requester.
Outcome: No cluster confirmed.
2004 Investigations
- Requested: June 2004, by an individual
Geographic Area: Ellendale
Cancer Type: All types (all-site)
What was done: Data from the Registry and Vital Statistics were reviewed; no common histological site was identified among cancer cases; based on investigation results, investigator concluded that cancer cases could not be linked to the community concern about possible water contamination from gas stations and nearby dumps.
Outcome: No cluster confirmed.
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