Table 7 presents limited information relevant to
the diagnosis of the cancers in the Comparison
group, but ail 8 cases have been described in
greater detaii in this or earlier BNL reports.
the present time thereis no evidence of residual
disease in either of the thyroid cancer patients.
5. Table lists only deaths that might have been
related to cancer. There have been twocases of
thyroid cancer that have been diagnosed. The
6. In attempting to determine whether there
has been an increase in cancer deaths in either
the exposed or Comparison population one
should note a Radiation Effects Research Foundation report on the Japanese exposedto atomic
bombing. From 1950 to 1985. there had been
5936 cancer deaths among 75991 personsin the
LSS (Life Span Study) cohort. Three hundred
and fortv of the cancer deaths (6% of the total
cancer deaths) are thought to be attributable to
the 1945 radiation exposure (Preston and
Pierce, 1988). The small size of the exposed and
Comparison Marshallese groups. the smaller
number of cancer deaths, and naturally occurring fluctuations in disease incidence will make
thvroid cancers, discussed elsewhere in this
statistical detection of any excess cancer mor-
3. The most frequent lethal cancers in the United States are jung, breast. colon and leukemia. lymphoma.
4. Areas where heaith careis limited often have
increased mortality from noncancerousdisease.
and an increase in cancer incidence has been
viewed as evidence of improved overall health of
some populations because it reflects improvements in longevity.
report, have not been a cause of death. and at
tality impossible in these populations.
TABLE 7: POSSIBLE CANCER DEATHS IN THE RONGELAP
EXPOSED AND COMPARISON (UNEXPOSED) POPULATION
ID#
Year of
Death
Age at
Death
A. COMPARISON GROUP
842
1986
61
Years on
Rongelap*
Cancer
Type
,
Confirmation
2
? Hepatoma
Not available
846
1986
63
4
Leukemia
Yes
861
1960
68
2
Cervix
No. Normal! pelvic exam in
3/59.
389
1980
55
2
Breast
Yes
975
1985
65
2
° Lymphoma
“Atypical lymphoepithelicid
proliferation”
1005
1984
51
2
Lung
Yes (Smoker)
1050
1985
50
20°*
? Colon
No
1571
1982
28
or**
Astrocytoma
Yes
2
Ovary
Yes
B. RONGELAP EXPOSED
62
1959
60
30
1962
60
5
Cervix
No
13
1966
71
9
Uterus
No
34
1972
19
7
Leukemia
Yes
68
1974
64
16
Stomach
Yes
* Years of residence on Rongelap after rehabitation of Rongelap island in 1957, as recorded in the medical
records of the Marshall Isiand Medical Program or from personal history.
** Added to Comparison group in 1964: did not live on Rongelap between 1957 and 1964
"** Added to Comparison group in 1976: residence prior to 1976 is not recorded.
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