print article Print     e-mail article E-mail
Published October 05, 2009, 07:15 AM

Woman wants N.D. to check for cancer cluster

A woman promoting awareness of childhood leukemia wants health officials to investigate a possible “cancer cluster” in Grand Forks County.

  • Image
    • image
    Eric Hylden / Grand Forks Herald Ali Borgen, center, looks at a radiation mask that she wore during her treatments for cancer while her mom, Karen Borgen, right, and Kristen Abner compare notes on a possible cancer cluster in the area.

GRAND FORKS (AP) — A woman promoting awareness of childhood leukemia wants health officials to investigate a possible “cancer cluster” in Grand Forks County.

Kristen Abner of Grand Forks said she’s identified at least nine children diagnosed in the past three years with leukemia. Two of the children have died.

State health officials say they’re still collecting data. A review of available figures from 1997 to 2006 suggested nothing out of the ordinary.

Marlys Knell of the North Dakota Cancer Registry said it takes time to get the figures together and parents’ permission is needed to get the records.

Grand Forks public health director Don Shields said it’s difficult to tell whether a cluster exists because there are so many variables in what people are exposed to.

Tags: , , , , 

More from around the web