REPORTS OF THYROID CANCER FROM NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA'S MOST PERCHLORATE CONTAMINATED MUNICIPAL WELL
Cases of Follicular Variant Papillary
Thyroid Carcinoma
From a California nurse:
"Larry, You don't know me but I am a friend and use to be a
neighbor of Lori P***** in Rancho Cordova. She told me about all
the stuff that has been happening. Well shortly after I moved
up here to Crescent City, I noticed a lump in my neck. It was
a tumor that started growing pretty fast attached to my thyroid.
I saw a specialist and he said since I was so young (29 at the time)
that he did not thing it was anything to be concerned with, but since
it was growing so fast I decided to have it taken out. The surgeon
took half of my thyroid and the pathologist found it to have 2 types
of cancer, at least on being malignant. So the next day the surgeon
took out the rest of my thyroid and on the back side of it was another
tumor that was malignant. While I lived in Rancho Cordova I had
3 miscarriages, I finally stopped using the water and only used bottled
water and had 3 successful pregnancies after that. If my testimony
would help you, please feel free to call me or email me."
From a Texas businessman:
"1. I did indeed live within the affected area ... I rented
a duplex on Hirschfeld Way, about 2 blocks from Cordova High School,
close to the intersection of Sunrise and U.S. 50. (corner of Hirschfeld
Way and Erla Ct.)
2. My health condition
prior to moving to Hirschfeld Way was very good. In act, I had passed
extremely rigorous medical examinations in 1987 and 1988 that allowed
me to complete the Air Force's Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training
at Mather AFB. (This also routinely exposed me to JP-4, which
may have made me more susceptible to higher concentrations of NDMA in
my drinking water at home and on-base.)
3. I can't place the name
of Hagan Park, however, I walked my dog at the park next to Cordova
High (Hagan?) every night, and routinely walked him through the affected
area north towards and along the American River. The pooch died
a rather miserable death after contracting cancer at the same time I
did. The dog's cancer was also concentrated in his endocrine system,
being primarily involved with the pituitary and thyroid glands.
I wonder if your researchers have correlated human disease with domestic
animal disease in the affected area?
4. At the same time I
developed the thyroid cancer, I developed a benign hemangioma in my
spine, and suffered from degeneration of joint tissues. The hemangioma
is of particular interest, since it once showed up on an MRI (1991)
and is well-documented. However, it did not show up in recent
x-rays. (?) The joint tissue problems were mostly noticable in
my upper vertebrae and legs. This and the hemangioma absolutely
did not exist in 1989, but by 1991 one doctor quipped "you have the
skeletal system of a 65 year old". Fortunately, most of the ladies
I date can't see that! However, I now receive VA disability for the
hemangioma and advanced osteo-arthritus, which is primarily confined
to my knees, neck, and upper back.
5. The thyroid problems
really started at the end of 1989, when I noticed that I was suffering
from fatique, excess hair loss, and weight gain. Originally, this was
attributed to the stress of flying fighter aircraft and the intense
training involved with that. However, the thyroid condition was
finally diagnosed in 1990-91 (?), after I endured a number of thyroid
tests. I found the tumor while shaving in the fall of 1990, but it was
mis-diagnosed as a "thyroid nodule", "goiter", gland swelling, and a
bunch of other nonsense for about 5 months. I didn't finally get
a firm diagnosis until the tumor had been removed and biopsied during
a horrible 7-1/2 hour surgery. By this time, my total thyroid
was involved, and a couple of my lymph nodes. I lost some of my
neck strapping muscles and tendons, part of my extreme upper chest tissue,
and got a free chin-tuck in the process. I have been pretty successful
in rehabilitating everything since then by routine swimming, neck stretches,
and neck muscle building, so the casual observer can't really tell I
had the operation unless you know what to look for. My weight
is now stable at 185, and I've got a full head of hair again. For your
records, I am causcasion, 38 years old, 6'-1", non-drinking, non-smoking.
My only other significant medical history prior to the thyroid disease
was kidney stones. Since then, everything went to heck in a hand-basket,
and I have a lot of other miscellaneous problems, some significant.
6. My medical records
are "exquisite" for research. The Air Force has over 4 inches
of documentation on me since 1984. I would consider submitting
a portion of my records for the review of you or your colleagues."
