CHERAW - People often go to the doctor thinking in their minds that they are a picture of health, and boom, it happens. However, there are times when a doctor hits a person with those dreaded words that something is “not just right” with our bodies. Hearing bad news about our health is never welcomed, especially when it involves the “C” word, cancer.

There are numerous factors that can cause cancer. A large portion of these are environmental. Because of that, organizations such as the South Carolina Cancer Registry Office and the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) research and trying to uncover cancer clusters. A cancer cluster is a location or period of time where in a greater-than-expected number of cancer cases occur.

According to the DHEC, in order for a true cancer cluster to exist, the number of cancers occurring must be significantly more than would be expected by chance. The report also states that additionally, a cancer cluster would more likely involve more rare types of cancer rather than more common types, such as lung, breast, prostate, or colon. A cancer cluster would usually occur with excess in one specific type of cancer rather than in several different types of cancer. Along with statistical testing, there are several other criteria that determine whether a true cancer cluster exists.

Research analyst Jonathan Savoy of the Cancer Registry Office and DHEC put together the information gathered from three towns: Cheraw, Society Hill and Chesterfield.

Data gathered between 2002- 2006 by the South Carolina Cancer Registry Office showed that in Cheraw there were lower numbers of new cancer cases observed than expected. A total of 354 new cases of cancer occurred in Cheraw, while 358 cases were expected. The most common types of cancer were prostate, lung, female breast and colon/rectum. These four types of cancer are also the most common cancers occurring across all of South Carolina. However, lung cancer cases were significantly higher by almost a three-fold increase. Though the number of new cases was lower, mortality from cancer was up. Over 170 people died of cancer during the observation and research period where only 146 were expected. The most common causes of death were the same four most common cancers.

According to the records of the DHEC, the data does not warrant further investigation.

The conclusion of the report for Cheraw, read “while any increase is disturbing, the ratio of observed to expected deaths for all cancer sites combined and lung cancer was less than three, which does not meet the criteria for a scientifically meaningful excess of cancer death (or suspected cancer cluster).”

Results for Society Hill show a different picture. Overall, there were a higher number of new cancer cases observed than expected. A total of 64 new cases of cancer occurred while 59 were expected. The analysis didn’t reveal a significantly higher rate of any specific cancer type, just an increase across the board. A total of 30 cancer deaths occurred while 23 were expected. The most mortalities in the area was a result of lung cancer, though there was no unusual spikes of mortality from any particular cancer.

Residents of zip code 29593, Society Hill, are encouraged to have regular check-ups with their physicians and to lead a healthy, active lifestyle.

Chesterfield also saw a higher than expected number of cancer cases. There were 175 new cases of cancer found where 162 cases were expected. The four main cancers were the same as Cheraw’s and Society Hill’s. More people also died of cancer in Chesterfield. There were 72 deaths - six more than expected. Again, the most common cancer in mortalities was lung cancer.

According to the Cancer Registry, current statistics reveal that one in two men and one in three women will develop cancer in their lifetime. For the most common cancer that causes death, lung cancer, there are risk factors that increase a person’s chance for being diagnosed. The most important factor for lung cancer is smoking. “More than 80 percent of lung cancers are thought to result from smoking,” said the DHEC’s Cheraw analysis summary page. “Exposure to second-hand smoke, asbestos, and radon increase risk. Also, exposure to cancer-causing agents in the workplace, such as uranium, arsenic, vinyl chloride, nickel chromates, coal products, fuels, and diesel exhaust can increase lung cancer risk.”

The data reveals that there are areas of South Carolina that show an increase of cancer cases but there is not enough data to confirm whether it can be considered a cluster or not. More studies are being conducted by the South Carolina Cancer Registry Office and the (DHEC) in Columbia. “We are currently collecting new data for new reports but they won’t be released until they are completed,” Savoy said.

To search more information on cancer clusters or to request a specific town or zip code cancer cluster search, call the S.C. Central Cancer Registry Department of Health and Environmental Control or write to: 810 Dutch Square Blvd., Ste. 220, Columbia, S.C. 29210. You can also call (800) 817-4774 or (803) 731-1419.