West Salem families want water tested after cancer diagnoses
»Play Video
WEST SALEM, Ore. – Hundreds of families here want their water and soil tested for toxins after multiple cases of a rare bone cancer were diagnosed.
This type of bone cancer is so rare that a town of this size usually would see it just once in a generation.
The families hope the Environmental Protection Agency takes action, and more than 975 people have signed an online petition asking why West Salem has seen at least four cases of osteosarcoma in the past three years.
Gail Harder’s daughter, Lisa, battled the cancer for 46 months.
"She had a headache for three months and never told anybody. Didn't do anything. Just thought she had a headache. And here she had a tumor in her brain," Gail says.
Three weeks after Lisa passed, the family hopes to find out why the bone cancer that's diagnosed just 800 times each year in America, has hit so many West Salem families.
"It all revolves around kids in a three-mile radius," says Gail. "Was it the water? Was it a carrot that they ate? Don't know, but I'd sure like to have an answer, because as a parent it kills you. You wonder, 'How could you let your child have something like this and not have an answer?'"
West Salem High School senior Emily Henderson led the campaign this fall to name Lisa homecoming queen alongside homecoming king, Tyler Prosser, who's still fighting his osteosarcoma.
"It's enough to have one student, but to have three in such a short period of time is completely wrong," she says.
Like so many families in the area, Henderson and Harder are convinced the higher osteosarcoma rate here is not a coincidence, and they're hoping the EPA will either prove them right or prove them wrong.
"If it could help a child, it would be great," Gail says.
In addition to the more than 975 signatures online, another petition circulated at West Salem High School has been signed more than 600 times. The people behind these petition efforts are meeting Monday night to decide when and where to take their signatures.
What is water currently tested for? Is whatever that may be causing this even tested for? The residents can test their water. What is the suspected chemical etc. they are expecting to find that caused it? I would want my water tested too. I would test it. I would hope if there is a known compound that could cause this.........the water be tested for it before it is piped to a Municipal System.
Also a group can also have the government intervene as well .
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/
@lee986321 What is water/soil tested for currently? What do they want it tested for (chemical etc?)?
This is a sad story, it hits close to home. Â But even if they find something in the soil, what can they do? Soil is everywhere we are.
My sister got osteosarcoma when she was 21 and I got adenocarcinoma of the lung (I am a non smoker) when I was 31. Â We are very sure it was from radon that sits in the soil, but there is honestly nothing we can do about it..right?
I watched an interview with the Oregon state epidemiologist who brought up a sentient point. Even if there is some 'ah-ha' results in any such study (which is unlikely), there (medically speaking) is no known 'cause' for cancers such as osteosarcoma, insofar as accepted medical protocol. I can see the results being beneficial if they find out (total spitball idea) the locker paint is radioactive. Bring in a hazard mitigation crew and clean it up to protect the students, but that outcome is highly unlikely.
Â
My concern is, should this study come up with any 'ah-ha' type results (radon, contaminants in the water supply), it will only serve as a cause for families to bring lawsuits against the city, county and/or school district. While I do feel a sincere remorse for the families of the victims, I'm concerned that the end result is going to be a tort heyday for some lawyers on judicial welfare.Â
There doesn't seem to be any known environmental causes and most cases aren't a result of inherited DNA.. I'd say find the place they were all exposed to high radiation levels. That seems to be the number one cause.
Â
Very sad, though. Naming both of these victims King and Queen was a nice gesture, but also leaves the impression that the school has an epidemic. I bet the other students are afraid, and that's not healthy, either.
All community water systems are required by law to do testing on a regular basis. Those tests are on file at the office that provides that water.
Â
As for testing soil where do they do the test? There is a lot of soil in the area.
I feel for the families and they should have an answer. But two different sources (PubMed Health and Wikipedia) both say "Osteosarcoma is the most common cancerous (malignant) bone tumor in kids." Both the sources also say there are genetic links. Genetic links in a geographically close population should be the first place to look for causes.
It would be stupid to pull out a crystal ball and say what I think the cause is, but it might just be a statistical anomaly. Â The problems will start when soil, water, air, and environmental testing shows nothing interesting. Â People will be so desperate for an answer, any answer, that a null result will prove unacceptable. Â Even if it's true.
I think it should be checked out!
Hope they get some answers, but, unless things have changed, on line petitions are worthless because of duplicates, fraud, etc.
What a heartbreaking story, my heart goes out to the families. The community in West Salem is right to be alarmed and wanting answers. I hope the powers that be do the right thing without requiring petitions, they need to find out what is causing these kids to get a very rare form of cancer. Their kids could be at risk. KATU, please follow up and keep on this.
I signed it but I don't live in Salem. I wonder if it counts...