From: Fort McMurray Forum
by Fort McMurray News » Wed Dec 18, 2013 1:30 pm
The doctor who raised the
first red flags about a possible link between oilsands exposure and
cancer rates in Fort Chipewyan is weighing in on another case in the
community.
John Chadi was diagnoses with bile duct cancer shortly after he was sworn in as a RMWB councillor in October. A diagnosis is rare, with only a 1 to between 100,000 to 200,000 chance of getting the disease.
Dr. John O'Connor first raised concerns about elevated rates of bile-duct, blood, colon and liver cancer in Fort Chipewyan. He says Chadi's case, may point to links with nearby industry development.
"He's not First Nations, he's not from the community, I don't believe he's worked in the tar sands. What independent science has brought to light in terms of community exposure to toxins emanating from that industry. Going through the list of known causes of bile duct cancer, it sort of narrows down pretty quickly. Again, people have asked me that question since this news broke and I'll repeat the answer, it could be. It could well be. It certainly is another red flag."
In 2009, a Cancer Board report found rare forms of cancer are 30 per cent more frequent in Fort Chipewyan, compared to the provincial average. Authors recommended a extensive health study of the community. O'Connor says it's baffling that years later the federal and provincial government have failed to even start the research.
The community is waiting for the results from the annual Alberta Cancer Registry, which Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Talbot, plans to share with the Fort Chipewyan in the new year, before they're made available to the public.
"We still can't ignore what has happened and the size of the community, Mr. Chadi, the Cancer Board's recommendation" says O'Connor. "That is not going to go away. The Cancer Board did not say we should do a health study and wait until 2014, until there's more evidence. The Cancer Board did not say that." MORE
John Chadi was diagnoses with bile duct cancer shortly after he was sworn in as a RMWB councillor in October. A diagnosis is rare, with only a 1 to between 100,000 to 200,000 chance of getting the disease.
Dr. John O'Connor first raised concerns about elevated rates of bile-duct, blood, colon and liver cancer in Fort Chipewyan. He says Chadi's case, may point to links with nearby industry development.
"He's not First Nations, he's not from the community, I don't believe he's worked in the tar sands. What independent science has brought to light in terms of community exposure to toxins emanating from that industry. Going through the list of known causes of bile duct cancer, it sort of narrows down pretty quickly. Again, people have asked me that question since this news broke and I'll repeat the answer, it could be. It could well be. It certainly is another red flag."
In 2009, a Cancer Board report found rare forms of cancer are 30 per cent more frequent in Fort Chipewyan, compared to the provincial average. Authors recommended a extensive health study of the community. O'Connor says it's baffling that years later the federal and provincial government have failed to even start the research.
The community is waiting for the results from the annual Alberta Cancer Registry, which Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Talbot, plans to share with the Fort Chipewyan in the new year, before they're made available to the public.
"We still can't ignore what has happened and the size of the community, Mr. Chadi, the Cancer Board's recommendation" says O'Connor. "That is not going to go away. The Cancer Board did not say we should do a health study and wait until 2014, until there's more evidence. The Cancer Board did not say that." MORE
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