Inquiry finds no link between teen cancers

Friends Jeffrey Thumath, Charles Hetaraka (deceased) and Cameron Duncan (deceased). The trio were born in the same hospital, attended the same Primary School, and were all diagnosed with cancer within three months of each other. Picture / supplied

An inquiry has rejected any causative link between a raft of teenage cancers in west Auckland.

One of the victims was young filmmaker Cameron Duncan who died of osteosacoma in 2003. His mother Sharon Duncan suggested there may be a link between his death and the cancers of two other teenagers who were born in National Women's Hospital, went to the same school, lived in the same neighbourhood and who were diagnosed within three months of each other.

Other teenagers in the area were also reported last year to have had cancer as well as some women who had had breast cancer.

"There was a suggestion there was some cancer clustering in the area," said Dr Scott Macfarlane, an oncologist with the Starship Hospital in Auckland.

He said there was a worry there was a common factor which had contributed to the cancers.

However, a thorough inquiry by the Public Health Unit of the Auckland District Health Board had found no link. The cancers were all different types with different triggers.

He said the inquiry found there was no increase in the rate of cancer compared with other parts of the country.

He said it was "quite reassuring evidence I believe that although a number of young people have been affected with cancer, there is no link between them, over and above chance.

"It is coincidence -- an unfortunate coincidence but there doesn't appear to be any causal link between living in that area any more than living in any other area of New Zealand."

He said there was a suggestion there must have been some environmental precipitant which had triggered the cancer.

However, the inquiry had found there was no cluster and no evidence "anything, horticultural residues or anything else" had caused an increase.

"There is no cluster."

Dr Macfarlane said because they were different cancers, they had different causative triggers and the rate of some of the cancers was lower than in other areas of the country.

- NZPA