HAPPENING AND WHETHER IT COULD
BE A CANCER CLUSTER.
KEVIN: YOUR THYROID IS RIGHT
HERE.
IT FIRST ATTACKS THE GLAND AND
THEN
SPREADS TO OTHER AREAS.
IN PARTS OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA,
DOCTORS ARE NOT DISCOVERING IT
UNTIL IT HAS ALREADY SPREAD AND
THAT COULD HAVE DEVASTATING
CONSEQUENCES.
WHEN SUSAN IS NOT MANAGI
HER
CLOTHING STORE, SHE IS MANAGING
HER THYROID MEDICATION.
SHE HAS HAD THYROI
CANCER TWICE
NOW.
SHE HAD TO HAVE HER GLAND
REMOVED, LEAVING A SCAR AND
CONSTANT REMINDER.
>> I LOOK IT AS A BATTLE
SCARRED.
I TAKE A PRIMARY HELL WHICH IS
GREAT.
IT IS AWESOME THERE IS A PILL
--
A THYROID PILL WHICH IS GREAT.
IT IS AWESOME THERE IS A PILL.
>> LIFE DEFINITELY CHANGED.
REPORTER: WE TALKED TO HER IN
HER NEW HOME.
SHE HAS HAD TO HAVE HER LYMPH
NODES TAKEN OUT A INDOOR
IODINE TREATMENTS.
>> I WORRY.
THAT THEY MIGHT NOT
HAVE GOTTEN
IT ALL OR IT WILL SPREAD AGAIN.
REPORTER: HER HUSBAND HAS BEEN
DIAGNOSED, TOO.
THE ONE THING ALL THREE HAVE
IN COMMON, THEY HAVE LIVED FOR
YEARS IN GOLD COUNTRY.
HE USED TO BE POLICE CHIEF IN
SUTTER CREEK.
RESEARCHERS FOUND THE TRICOUNTY
AREA HAS A HIGHER RATE OF
ADVANCED THYROID CANCER THAN
ANYWHERE ELSE IN CALIFORNIA.
>> I TEND
TO THINK SOMETHING IS
GOING ON BUT I DO NOT KNOW WHAT.
REPORTER:
THEY WONDER IF IT IS
TIED TO THIS SPOT IN FRONT OF
THEIR OLD HOME.
THERE USED TO BE A MINE ACCESS.
THEY LANDSCAPED TO PROTECT KIDS
AND PETS.
>> THEN
SOMEONE BROUGHT UP,
MAYBE RADON GAS.
WHICH IS ONE OF THOSE
RADIOACTIVE RISK FACTORS.
MAYBE THAT IS WHAT CAUSED IT.
REPORTER: THE
DOCTOR TREATS
PATIENTS.
SHE STARTED RESEARCHING.
>> IF WE CAN CATCH IT EARLIER
,
THAT IS BETTER.
THAT IS PROMPTING ME TO LOOK
INTO THIS.
REPORTER:
SHE USED DATA FROM THE
CANCER REGISTRY.
SHE DISCOVERED'S EIGH WHITE,
35% OF PEOPLE WERE ALREADY IN
THE ADVANCED STAGE.
THAT IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER
THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
AND THE ALPINE AND CALAVERAS
COUNTY AREA, MORE THAN
HALF WERE
ADVANCED, THE HIGHEST IN THE
STATE.
SUTTER COUNTY WAS ALSO AT THE
TOP OF THE LIST.
THE ONLY KNOWN ENVIRONMENTAL
RISK FACTOR IS RADIATION.
RESEARCHERS SAY THAT DOES NOT
FULLY EXPLAIN WHAT IS HAPPENING.
WHERE THE RATES ARE SO HIGH.
THE DATA RAISES OTHER QUESTIONS.
>> ARE THEY PROGRESSING MORE
QUICKLY?
WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IS WHEN THE
CANCER STARTED.
REPORTER: SHE SAYS WHAT MAY HAVE
CAUSED IT MIGHT
HAVE HAPPENED
LONG AGO.
>> IT MAY BE 20 YEARS TO DEVELOP
THE CANCER.
YOU NEED TO SEE WHAT THE
RESIDENTIAL HISTORY IS GOING
BACKWARDS.
REPORTER: SHE
SAID SHE WANTS TO
LOOK AT OTHER FACTORS INCLUDING
PESTICIDES.
SHE SAYS THE DATA SHOULD SERVE
AS A WAKE-UP CALL.
>> SEE YOUR DOCTOR REGULARLY.
I THICKET IT IS IMPORTANT, JUST
IN GENERAL.
REPORTER: IT IS SOMETHING THAT
CANCER SURVIVORS
URGE OTHERS TO
DO.
>> MAKE SURE YOUR DOCTOR IS
LISTENING TO YOU.
IT IS IMPORTANT.
REPORTER: IT COULD MEAN THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE OR DE
ATH.
SHE SAYS THE NEXT ROUND OF
RESEARCH WILL INCLUDE REACHING
OUT TO MORE PATIENTS.