The State : Child Cancer Cluster Grows

Another childhood cancer case has been discovered in the tiny Kern County farming town of McFarland. The latest victim is a 5-year-old boy who state health officials said has lymphoma. He is the 13th confirmed childhood cancer victim in the town of 6,200 in the last 14 years. Dr. Lynn Goldman, the epidemiologist in charge of the state investigation into the McFarland cancer cluster, said: “I think it’s an indication that the above-normal cancer rate is continuing to occur since you don’t expect even half of a case a year to occur in a community of that size. New childhood cancer cases were found in the community in 1987, 1988 and now in 1989.” State and county officials still have not found a clear cause for the McFarland cancer cluster and the investigation is continuing. Goldman said nine types of cancer have been involved among the 13 confirmed cases in McFarland.