Cancer cluster has Ohio families concerned

CLYDE, Ohio, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- Several families in Sandusky County, Ohio, said they want government officials to take action regarding a suspected cancer cluster in their area.

The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer said Monday nearly 20 people in the area of Clyde, Ohio, have been diagnosed with cancer since 2001 and some area residents want to know why.

"Dots on a map. That's all we're really looking for right now – some way to compare all of these cases and try to make sense of them," said Steve Keller Sr., who lost his young grandson to a brain tumor in 2007.

According to studies, the cancer diagnosis count in the Clyde area is nearly triple the expected number of cancer cases.

The Ohio Department of Health and state Environmental Protection Agency said when Clyde's cancer case tally is combined with cancer cases in other parts of Sandusky County, the overall tally reaches 38.

The Plain Dealer said while some area residents want details released regarding the cancer cases, the head of the state's Comprehensive Cancer Control Program said such data is private.

"We've got an issue with the law -- and there's two specific laws that say we can't publicly release the identities of the families of children who have cancer," program chief Robert W. Indian said.