The Fremont News-Messenger - Clyde Family Meets With Lawmaker About Cancer

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U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, met Wednesday with Warren and Wendy Brown of Clyde, whose daughter Alexa died of cancer in 2009.

The Ohio Department of Health has identified an area in eastern Sandusky County, including Clyde, as a cancer cluster, meaning a "greater-than-expected number of cancer cases that occurs within a group of people in a geographic area over a defined period of time."

"What's happened to Wendy, Warren and Alexa Brown -- and dozens of other families in Clyde and other cancer clusters across America -- is nothing short of a national tragedy," Brown said. "We need to do more to find out why so many young lives have been affected by cancer in these communities. Not only do we need to figure out why cancer is striking these communities, but we must increase federal funds for research and treatment for pediatric cancer. We cannot give up on this issue until we have answers -- for Alexa Brown, for the children of Clyde and so many others still waiting for an answer and a cure."

Last month, Brown wrote to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson and CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden requesting that their agencies provide increased federal assistance to the Ohio EPA, the Ohio Department of Health, and the Sandusky County Health Department.

Since 1996, at least 37 children within a 12-mile wide circle in eastern Sandusky County have been diagnosed with brain and central nervous system tumors, lymphoma, leukemia and other forms of cancer. Four of these children have died.

The Ohio EPA, Ohio Department of Health and Sandusky County Health Department have worked in cooperation to determine the cause for high rates of childhood cancer in Clyde by meeting with families of children affected by cancer, analyzing environmental conditions in the region, conducting air monitoring throughout the region, evaluating drinking water quality, evaluating area companies' compliance with environmental laws and scouring existing information looking for unusual environmental conditions in the region. Despite these considerable efforts, no cause has been determined.

Brown urged Congress to fund the Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act. The bill -- which passed in 2009 -- established a national patient registry for pediatric cancer patients at the CDC. It also authorized additional funding for pediatric cancer research at the National Institutes of Health. Although funding has yet to be allocated to the NIH, Brown continues to try to secure money for the program. In September 2009, Brown and Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, sent a letter urging Congressional colleagues to direct an additional $10 million for pediatric cancer research.

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