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A rare disease is haunting the children of an idyllic Calif. suburb
SFGATE • • health
Key Points:
- Since 2013, about a dozen rare cancer cases, including Ewing sarcoma and synovial sarcoma, have been reported in Orange County’s Ladera Ranch community, raising concerns among residents and officials.
- Brody Matteson, a local teenager, was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare bone cancer, and died at 17 after treatment complications; his case has highlighted fears about environmental factors in the area.
- Residents suspect that pesticides and herbicides used on Ladera Ranch’s 4,000 acres, including the herbicide Specticle G containing indaziflam, may be linked to the cancer cluster, prompting the homeowners association to pause their use.
- The California Department of Public Health is conducting an assessment to identify potential causes, while abandoned oil wells in the community are also under scrutiny as possible environmental hazards.
- Despite investigations, the exact cause of the cancer cluster remains unknown, with officials acknowledging that identifying causes in unusual cancer patterns is difficult; families continue to seek transparency and answers.
