the present time thereis no evidence of residual
diseasein either of the thyroid cancer patients.
Table 7 presents limited information relevant to
the diagnosis of the-cancers in the Comparison
group, but all 8 cases have been described in
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 exposed to atomic
bombing. From 1950 to 1985, there had been
5936 cancer deaths among 75991 persons in the
LSS (Life Span Study) cohort. Three hundred
and forty of the cancer deaths (6% of the total
cancer deaths) are thought to be attributable to
the 1945 radiation exposure (Preston and
greater detail in this or earlier BNL reports.
3. The most frequent lethal cancers in the United States are lung, breast, colon and leukemia/-
lymphoma.
4, Areas where healthcareis 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.
Pierce, 1988). The small size of the exposed and
5. Table 7 lists only deaths that might have been
related to cancer. There have been two cases of
thyroid cancer that have been diagnosed. The
thyroid cancers, discussed elsewhere in this
report, have not been a cause of death, and at
Comparison Marshallese groups, the smaller
numberof cancer deaths, and naturally occurring fluctuations in disease incidence will make
statistical detection of any excess cancer mortality impossible in these populations.
TABLE 7: POSSIBLE CANCER DEATHS IN THE RONGELAP
EXPOSED AND COMPARISON (UNEXPOSED) POPULATION
ID#
Year of
Death
Age at
Death
Years on
Rongelap*
Cancer
Type
A. COMPARISON GROUP
842
1986
61
? Hepatoma
Confirmation
Not available
846
1986
63
Leukemia
Yes
‘861
1960
68
Cervix
No. Normal pelvic exam in
3/59,
889
1980
55
975
1985
65
1005
1984
51
1050
1985
50
20** -
? Colon
No
1571
1982
28
O**t*
Astrocytoma
Yes
2
Ovary
Yes.
B. RONGELAP EXPOSED
62
1959
60
2
2
Breast
Yes
? Lymphoma
“Atypical lymphoepithelioid
proliferation”
Lung
Yes (Smoker)
30
1962
60
5
Cervix
No
_ 13
1966
71
9
Uterus
No
(BA
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 Island Medical Program or from personalhistory.
** 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.
19