Cancer Cluster Investigation: How Cases are Counted

As we continue our investigation into what some say is a brain cancer cluster in the Dalton, Georgia area, we take a closer look at how cases of Glioblastoma are counted.

As we reported May 11, the state of Georgia says their investigation found seven cases of Glioblastoma in the Dalton area. They concluded there in no evidence of a cancer cluster. But we've talked to 12 people who say they or a loved one's been diagnosed with a form of the rare brain cancer. So why the difference in the numbers? Some say it's because the state only studied those who live in the area.

"We need to be accounted for." 37 year old Tracy Contorno says she is undergoing treatment for an early stage of Glioblastoma. She says everyday she and her family fears the disease will overcome her. She's angry the state is not searching for a link between her cancer and environmental factors in Dalton, Georgia.

"I'm a victim as well and we should be counted just like the people that live in this zip code."

According to Dr. Susan Lance, Director of the Epidemiology Branch for Georgia's Division of Public Health, the state looked at cancer cases from three zip codes when gathering information for their study. Dr. Lance says those zip codes include two for Dalton and one for Tunnel Hill. But Contorno argues by only looking at three zip codes, the state is missing cases like hers -- those who live outside Dalton but have ties to the area.

Contorno lives in Trenton and says she had been attending Dalton State College for three years as a full time student when she was diagnosed. "I'm not one of the ones that's counted as a statistic here in the Dalton area because I don't live here. But the fact that I spent that amount of time in this area and at the school, I feel like they should be looking at others that commute here, that are working, that are students."

NewsChannel 9 spoke with three other people who say they or a loved one lived outside Dalton, but worked in the city and were diagnosed with Glioblastoma. But we've learned in order to be counted as a number toward Dalton statistics, patients have to live in Dalton. Where they work isn't taken into account when the state tallies numbers for its cancer registry. Dr. John Young, Director of the Georgia Center for Cancer Statistics, explains why.

"The primary source of information is the medical record and that information is just not contained in the medical record."

Dr. Young goes on to say if a cancer cluster is suspected, in general it should be the responsibility of the state department of health to gather more information about the area, including residential and work histories of patients.

But Dr. Lance with Georgia's Division of Public Health says that information was not part of their investigation. She says based on the number of cases they found in those three zip codes, along with an environmental assessment, the state concluded there is no evidence of a cancer cluster in the Dalton area.

Contorno contends until the state looks at all the cases connected to Dalton, she won't be happy with its conclusion.

"It's hard. It's a difficult thing and that's why I'm willing to speak up because I don't want others to have to go through this."

Contorno says she was a student at Dalton State College. The president of Dalton State College says the cancer cases are coincidental as they relate to their institution. He says the school had a study conducted on a particular building on campus and says it found nothing that would raise any suspicions.

You can depend on NewsChannel 9 to continue to follow this story.