ry
/
Mr. John T. Conway
zm
~2-
May 12, 1966
The only instance of cancer of the thyroid was scen in a Rongelap woman
who was approximately 30 years of age at the time of exposure. The
noduler condition seen in the young people is not a cancerous process,
although cancers of the thyroid often grow in nodular fashion.
In August 1965 nearly all these people were placed on tetraiodothyronine,
a synthetic thyroid hermone, on the basis that such therapy would modify
the incidence and/or course of the nodular process.
It appears to have
been partially effective but it is still too scoaqn to be definite.
Forty children ofthe same age grouping who were on Utirik Island and
received 14 R whole bedy plus proportionately smaller thyroid exposures
were also examined. They showed no signs of thyroid nodules or thyroid
disease.
In addition, 194 unexposed Marshallese now living on these islands were
examined; three instances of nodules were found, all among people more
than 47 years of age.
Five of the Marshallese with nedular thyroids will be brought to the
Brookhaven National Laboratory during May 1966 for further diagnostic
study and posaible aurgery. One is a 46-year-old woman; the others are
girla 13, 13, 13 and 20 years cid now. They will be accompanied by the
Rongelap school teacher who will act as interpreter. The treatment and
travel of these six Marshaliese have been developed with cooperation of
the Honorable Wilfred Goding, High Commissioner, Trust Territory of the
Paciiic Islands.
You will be kept informed of the progress of these atudies.
An advanced
copy of the public announcement on this subject prepared by the Brookhaven
National Laboratory is enclosed.
Sincerely yours,
{s/s
S. G. English
S. G. English
Assistant General Manager
for Research and Developmeat
Enclosure:
"Five Marshall Islanders to be Examined
at Broskhaven Medical Center,'' announcement
by Brockhaven National Laboratory
J CAE