Cancer risks on the Cape? (Boston, Lynn: appointed, for sale, homes)

[twiggy]

Well this is bumming me out! Is this really a concern? If yes, then what area is free of it> Please don't tell me it is the whole Cape! And if this is so, can I still live there and just take some precautions? What about the nuke plant> Is this what they are talking about? Thanks

[capecodcathy]

Twiggy,
As usual, the press is being just a titch alarmist but I'll post the link to the report in the interest of honesty:
wbztv.com - State Seeks Cause For Cape Cancer Cases (broken link)
This particular report is about Pave Paws, an Air Force radar that protects the entire east coast. There are similar installations in California and Alaska.
I remember the Sandwich HS student who died last year. He was a hockey player and our town participated in the the memorials for him. Very sad. Not a dry eye in the rink.
I have several issues about this report:
1. How many kids on Cape Cod have NOT had this form of cancer despite living here their entire lives. Many have children and grandchildren of their own.
2. How does this "elevated" incidence of Ewing's compare to the other Pave Paws installations? And, what exactly, do they mean by "elevated"? The report ignored those questions.
3. How do incidences of other forms of cancer compare to this one?
4. Why, when the study's results are due in three weeks (according to the news report) did they not wait for those results before airing the report? Alarmist? Quest for ratings?
5. As with other studies of issues related to the military installations here, there can never be a complete and ultimate finding, because so many families have moved in and out of Otis, just like other military installations across the country. The DOE will not pay to study all of the Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard and other military families who have lived on these bases over the past decades. One reason is that they have lived so many OTHER places and there's nothing to say they didn't contract a particular disease THERE. The sampling of life-long (vs. transient) residents is too small to draw any conclusions one way or the other.
The media, as usual, attempts to get viewers. I don't think Channel 4 has ever been a leader in local news and this is yet another attempt at sensationalism to garner ratings.
As with the local MRSA scare, the media blew it all out of proportion. The more reputable channels (including Fox, believe it or not,) appear to be awaiting the findings of the study before sending the population into a tizzy.
I'm actually rather disappointed in the reporter. He usually has a very good reputation and is a very nice man. I used to wait on him at a local diner. He spends quite a bit of time on the Cape and has family who live in my town. I can only think that his superiors rushed the report to get the "exclusive" so they can say "You heard it here first!"
I'll wait to hear the findings of the report in 3 weeks before I come to any personal conclusions.
Here's another link about Pave Paws:
PAVE PAWS - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hope this helps!
Cathy

[blackirishblonde]

My husband and I have been searching for a home in Dennis for the past few months. We had been noticing some beautiful homes for sale on Signal Hill. Now I am rethinking about where we should live. Dennis (north side) has been our vacation area for the past 30 years. We love Chapin Beach and we actually rented for three months in the fall last year. Our plan was to buy now and retire there in 4 years. Our biggest concern before this "cancer scare" (we have three grandchildren who spend a lot of time with us) was the disaster plan and how we would get back over the bridge to be with our family if we needed to.
We just sat down this morning and are rethinking what to do. Is Plymouth an option for us, or should we take the chance and follow our dream of walking that beautiful bay beach?

[twiggy]

Originally Posted by capecodcathy

Twiggy,
As usual, the press is being just a titch alarmist but I'll post the link to the report in the interest of honesty:
wbztv.com - State Seeks Cause For Cape Cancer Cases (broken link)
This particular report is about Pave Paws, an Air Force radar that protects the entire east coast. There are similar installations in California and Alaska.
I remember the Sandwich HS student who died last year. He was a hockey player and our town participated in the the memorials for him. Very sad. Not a dry eye in the rink.
I have several issues about this report:
1. How many kids on Cape Cod have NOT had this form of cancer despite living here their entire lives. Many have children and grandchildren of their own.
2. How does this "elevated" incidence of Ewing's compare to the other Pave Paws installations? And, what exactly, do they mean by "elevated"? The report ignored those questions.
3. How do incidences of other forms of cancer compare to this one?
4. Why, when the study's results are due in three weeks (according to the news report) did they not wait for those results before airing the report? Alarmist? Quest for ratings?
5. As with other studies of issues related to the military installations here, there can never be a complete and ultimate finding, because so many families have moved in and out of Otis, just like other military installations across the country. The DOE will not pay to study all of the Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard and other military families who have lived on these bases over the past decades. One reason is that they have lived so many OTHER places and there's nothing to say they didn't contract a particular disease THERE. The sampling of life-long (vs. transient) residents is too small to draw any conclusions one way or the other.
The media, as usual, attempts to get viewers. I don't think Channel 4 has ever been a leader in local news and this is yet another attempt at sensationalism to garner ratings.
As with the local MRSA scare, the media blew it all out of proportion. The more reputable channels (including Fox, believe it or not,) appear to be awaiting the findings of the study before sending the population into a tizzy.
I'm actually rather disappointed in the reporter. He usually has a very good reputation and is a very nice man. I used to wait on him at a local diner. He spends quite a bit of time on the Cape and has family who live in my town. I can only think that his superiors rushed the report to get the "exclusive" so they can say "You heard it here first!"
I'll wait to hear the findings of the report in 3 weeks before I come to any personal conclusions.
Here's another link about Pave Paws:
PAVE PAWS - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hope this helps!
Cathy

Thanks Cathy! I knew you would have some good perpective on this issue. I'm not going to worry about it, like I told puffle (were I heard it), I already live with an increase in lung and skin cancer in Phoenix from the pollution and sun so it has to be better than that!

[twiggy]

Originally Posted by blackirishblonde

My husband and I have been searching for a home in Dennis for the past few months. We had been noticing some beautiful homes for sale on Signal Hill. Now I am rethinking about where we should live. Dennis (north side) has been our vacation area for the past 30 years. We love Chapin Beach and we actually rented for three months in the fall last year. Our plan was to buy now and retire there in 4 years. Our biggest concern before this "cancer scare" (we have three grandchildren who spend a lot of time with us) was the disaster plan and how we would get back over the bridge to be with our family if we needed to.
We just sat down this morning and are rethinking what to do. Is Plymouth an option for us, or should we take the chance and follow our dream of walking that beautiful bay beach?

I would risk Dennis any day. Buy a boat and sail across yourself. That's what I plan to do. Plymouth seems nice though, Buzzards Bay just over the bridge is really cute too. There are a lot of nice areas but they all have a thing or two to consider.

[capecodcathy]

I think there are risks everywhere. Some we don't even know about yet. Plymouth is a nice town but its actually closer to Pave Paws than Dennis is. While its a personal decision as to where you want to live, there are thousands of people who have lived here a very long time with no unusual health issues. Many are military retirees who were stationed here and stayed. They're living well into their 80's and 90's. Their children and grandchildren live here, too. There's no telling either if someone is predisposed or more susceptible to all illnesses.

[aomething]

Originally Posted by capecodcathy

Twiggy,
As usual, the press is being just a titch alarmist but I'll post the link to the report in the interest of honesty:
wbztv.com - State Seeks Cause For Cape Cancer Cases (broken link)
This particular report is about Pave Paws, an Air Force radar that protects the entire east coast. There are similar installations in California and Alaska.
I remember the Sandwich HS student who died last year. He was a hockey player and our town participated in the the memorials for him. Very sad. Not a dry eye in the rink.
I have several issues about this report:
1. How many kids on Cape Cod have NOT had this form of cancer despite living here their entire lives. Many have children and grandchildren of their own.
2. How does this "elevated" incidence of Ewing's compare to the other Pave Paws installations? And, what exactly, do they mean by "elevated"? The report ignored those questions.
3. How do incidences of other forms of cancer compare to this one?
4. Why, when the study's results are due in three weeks (according to the news report) did they not wait for those results before airing the report? Alarmist? Quest for ratings?
5. As with other studies of issues related to the military installations here, there can never be a complete and ultimate finding, because so many families have moved in and out of Otis, just like other military installations across the country. The DOE will not pay to study all of the Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard and other military families who have lived on these bases over the past decades. One reason is that they have lived so many OTHER places and there's nothing to say they didn't contract a particular disease THERE. The sampling of life-long (vs. transient) residents is too small to draw any conclusions one way or the other.
The media, as usual, attempts to get viewers. I don't think Channel 4 has ever been a leader in local news and this is yet another attempt at sensationalism to garner ratings.
As with the local MRSA scare, the media blew it all out of proportion. The more reputable channels (including Fox, believe it or not,) appear to be awaiting the findings of the study before sending the population into a tizzy.
I'm actually rather disappointed in the reporter. He usually has a very good reputation and is a very nice man. I used to wait on him at a local diner. He spends quite a bit of time on the Cape and has family who live in my town. I can only think that his superiors rushed the report to get the "exclusive" so they can say "You heard it here first!"
I'll wait to hear the findings of the report in 3 weeks before I come to any personal conclusions.
Here's another link about Pave Paws:
PAVE PAWS - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hope this helps!
Cathy

Cape Cod Cathy-have you participated in the harvard Medical School study regarding women that have grown up on Cape Cod? My mother did back in the 80's and then I was recently sent a survey to fill out regarding my health in regards to living on Cape Cod. It's specific to Upper Cape due to the base and all the problems from the flumes that run into Falmouth. I don't live on Cape Any more, but all family still does.

It's interesting to see how many women are facing some kind of cancer issue due to living on the Upper Cape. Question is though: Is it really from living on the Upper Cape OR is it something completely different? That is the whole idea behind the study, to find out if it's environmental. I'll get the correct name for the study and post it again, as soon as I find the information.

[twiggy]

Originally Posted by aomething

Cape Cod Cathy-have you participated in the harvard Medical School study regarding women that have grown up on Cape Cod? My mother did back in the 80's and then I was recently sent a survey to fill out regarding my health in regards to living on Cape Cod. It's specific to Upper Cape due to the base and all the problems from the flumes that run into Falmouth. I don't live on Cape Any more, but all family still does.

It's interesting to see how many women are facing some kind of cancer issue due to living on the Upper Cape. Question is though: Is it really from living on the Upper Cape OR is it something completely different? That is the whole idea behind the study, to find out if it's environmental. I'll get the correct name for the study and post it again, as soon as I find the information.

Yes, I have heard of this to. I have family living in that area as well. No cancer yet but I know friend of theirs have had it. So is the mid to lower cape safer? Any reports down there?

[blackirishblonde]

Originally Posted by capecodcathy

I think there are risks everywhere. Some we don't even know about yet. Plymouth is a nice town but its actually closer to Pave Paws than Dennis is. While its a personal decision as to where you want to live, there are thousands of people who have lived here a very long time with no unusual health issues. Many are military retirees who were stationed here and stayed. They're living well into their 80's and 90's. Their children and grandchildren live here, too. There's no telling either if someone is predisposed or more susceptible to all illnesses.

I do understand that there are different problems in different areas. I received this from a friend last night.
[SIZE=5]Cape Cancer Spike Eyed - News Archive Story - WCVB Boston[/SIZE]
I guess I must have missed this broadcast in January. Thanks for the input. Living on the Cape has been a dream of ours for years, and we will be doing it .

[capecodcathy]

I'd be interested in the report. I didn't grow up here. I'm a Lynn Girl! Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I've had a few Cape friends who have been diagnosed or died from Cancer. Breast, leukemia, etc. None grew up on the Cape. The one who died from Breast Cancer, had a family history (mother and two sisters) none of whom spent any time on the Cape.
I believe my kids would experience more threats in a more suburban location. We used to live in Randolph and if anyone has heard the news out of there recently.....welll....I'm glad we're here.
The risks to my children's health and well-being are much less here than most other places IMHO. Other than, maybe, Kansas? But I don't plan on moving to Kansas. Too many twisters! Yet another threat.