Clyde Cancer Cluster. A Communicator s Perspective

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Clare Alison Day
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1 Clyde Cancer Cluster A Communicator s Perspective

Couple visits D.C. to lobby for cancer research BY LESLIE BIXLER Staff writer November 18, 2009 CLYDE -- Warren and Wendy Brown are in Washington, D.C., this week to make sure money is being appropriated for childhood cancer research.

the Clyde Cancer Cluster are frustrated with the government over what they feel is a lack of communication.

2 Couple visits D.C. to lobby for cancer research BY LESLIE BIXLER Staff writer November 18, 2009 CLYDE -- Warren and Wendy Brown are in Washington, D.C., this week to make sure money is being appropriated for childhood cancer research. Parents of kids with cancer frustrated with Ohio Department of Health Posted: Dec 03, :34 PM Updated: Dec 04, :35 AM EST By Jonathan Walsh OAK HARBOR, OH (WTOL) - Families in the area of the Clyde Cancer Cluster are frustrated with the government over what they feel is a lack of communication. Questions remain unanswered in Clyde cancer cluster November 29, 9:54 AM Toledo Environmental News Examiner Lisa Hossler The city of Clyde Ohio has been traumatized by the threat of a cancer Latta seeks full funding for Chilhood Cancer Research program 5th District Congressman Bob Latta has requested full funding of a Childhood Cancer research program, prompted in part by the above-average number of child victims living in what's been called the Clyde Cancer cluster among its children. Between , there were 36 new cancer Cluster. cases in

3 Cancer Cluster: Clyde parents demand answers from health officials Dec 17, :28 AM EST CLYDE (WTOL) - There is no force stronger than a parent with a sick child. Sadly, parents in Clyde, Oh., know this is true because many of them have children with cancer. Indeed, they've been on the hunt for answers for several years. That hunt led to a meeting Tuesday night with State of Ohio health officials. Click the video for Tim Miller's report. And while you're watching, maybe you can send a good thought to all parents

4 Cancer cluster is confirmed in Clyde BY MEGHAN GILBERT BLADE STAFF WRITER Published: 5/30/2009 Officials said they have found "an important lead" in the investigation into a high number of cancer cases in children in eastern Sandusky County.

5 US EPA Investigates Possible Cancer Cluster in Clyde 2012

8 Ohio hopes to avoid costly, unfruitful cancer cluster investigations State plans to focus more on prevention ASSOCIATED PRESS COLUMBUS The head of Ohio s cancer-control program wants to focus on cancer prevention and early detection and try to avoid using resources to investigate suspected cancer clusters. Investigations of geographic locations that report higher-thanexpected numbers of cancer cases take time and money but don t often yield results that meet high expectations, said Robert Indian, head of the state s cancer-control program at the Ohio Department of Health. Indian said he thinks residents will be better served by the state focusing on cancer prevention, The Columbus Dispatch reported Monday.

11 The Fridley Cancer Cluster

12 Cancer in Fridley Facebook Local resident observes apparent excess of cancer cases Facebook page created (Early Feb. 2012) Membership 330 when first story published in Fridley Patch (March 21) Grows to 2,539 by April 4, 2,921 by Sept. 26

13 Cancer in Fridley The Fridley Patch Fridley Patch starts series on cancer cluster (March 21) Patch creates online, interactive map (March 23) ANYBODY can add a cancer case to the map

14 As of April 4

15 Cancer in Fridley Patch had published 79 stories on cancer cluster by Aug. 29 Mainstream media began doing stories around March 27

16 Cancer in Fridley Surveillance data shows slight elevation in Fridley CA rates (mostly lung) Anoka County also has 3 rd highest smoking rate in state

17 Cancer in Fridley Speculation about Hazardous waste sites (6 in Anoka County) Drinking water (TCE a concern)

18 Cancer in Fridley Erin Brockovich organization enters picture circa March 23 Associate (Bob Bowcock) begins investigation Bowcock is environmental consultant for law firm Girardi & Keese Brockovich also affiliated with G&K

19 Cancer in Fridley Brockovich holds public meeting on June 27 About 500 people attend City officials, MDH attend as listeners Video available on YouTube

20 The Response MDH first becomes aware of issue when contacted by Patch for March 21 story Interaction with Patch turns into ongoing dialogue

21 The Response Coordination was key Broadly-based planning group established Began meeting late March/early April Regular meetings, conference calls

22 The Response Planning group included: Minnesota Department of Health Minnesota Pollution Control Agency U.S. EPA City of Fridley Anoka County Public Health

23 The Response MDH planning group members included: Chronic/environmental epi (cancer surveillance) Public water supply program Site assessment Communications Office Executive Office Legislative liaison

24 Strategies Transparency from beginning to end with media with Brockovich group with Facebook group Did online video panel discussions on city website April 5 & Aug. 16 Held informational forum ( health fair ) on Aug. 22 Approx. 50 people attend health fair

25 Observations Transparency seemed to defuse situation (somewhat) Mainstream media did not seem to be a major driver Social media, online media were key Contagion dynamic advocacy groups appear in neighboring communities

26 Observations Things seem to have cooled a bit for now Fridley Facebook page remains active No Patch stories since late August Additional action by Brockovich group is possible

27 Cancer Cluster Risk Communication Ken August California Department of Public Health

28 Carlsbad

29 Chase Quartarone

30 Encina Power Plant, Carlsbad Public Hearing, Feb. 1, 2010

36 John Quarterone

37 Dr. Don Lyman

39 My whole focus in life now is to do what I can to stop this epidemic in Carlsbad. John Quartarone, San Diego Union-Tribune, March 30, 2010.

40 Risk = Hazard + Outrage Peter Sandman, Ph.D.

41 Perception

42 Mental Noise

44 Communicate

45 Listen

46 Don t Quit

48 Questions?

Podcast Interview Transcript

Podcast Interview Transcript Dionne Coker-Appiah, Wendy Bennett Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action, Volume 3, Issue 4, Winter 2009, pp. 313-316 (Article) Published