|
Children in a small Nevada town are stricken with leukemia.  It was a leukemia epidemic  16 children got cancer in one small town CASE DETAILS For many who lived in Fallon, Nevada, it seemed like the perfect place to raise a family. But there was something terrible happening to the children of Fallon. It all began with Dustin Gross. According to his mother, Brenda, she was giving her son a bath when she noticed bruises on his back and arms:
 Was it solvents from the nearby air base? Brenda took Dustin to the local hospital and he was immediately transferred to the UC Davis Medical Center. Blood was drawn and according to Brenda, a diagnosis was made:
Brenda soon learned the seriousness of Dustin’s condition. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia strikes children, usually between the ages of two and nine. It causes the production of millions of defective white blood cells, destroying the immune system, and can be fatal. Dustin underwent aggressive chemotherapy:
 … Radiation in the soil? Within weeks of Dustin Gross’s diagnosis, two more local children were also found to have leukemia. The cancer treatment facility at the local hospital, run by Barbara deBraga, was overwhelmed:
Barbara deBraga feared she was looking at an epidemic. It appeared to be what experts call a “cancer cluster.” She contacted the state assemblyperson for the Fallon area and an official investigation was launched. As the disease struck victims number five and six, state epidemiologist, Dr. Randall Todd prepared an all-out inquiry:
An alarmed Dr. Todd immediately sought a common denominator shared by all the victims that might explain the epidemic. However, interviews with parents produced no answers. And Dr. Todd watched helplessly as new cases continued to appear. Zach Beardsley was the ninth child diagnosed with childhood leukemia. Zach’s mother, Tammi Beardsley, was shocked when she heard the news:
 … arsenic in the water? The search for the common denominator continued. What did all these children share that might explain their illness? Tammi Beardsley opened her house to scientific investigators to help augment the investigation:
But these tests were inconclusive. Perhaps the problem was not in the children’s homes but in the surrounding environment. Was there something unique about Fallon that could explain why a cancer cluster appeared there? According to Dr. Todd, researchers began with the water:
Researchers also found mercury in a nearby lake and several canals—places where children were known to play. There were other possibilities, as well. Pesticides had contaminated nearby farms and underground atomic testing during the sixties had left traces of radiation. But according to Dr. Todd, scientists failed to link any of these factors to the cancer cluster:
There was one other possibility. Fallon is located ten miles from a naval air station used to train fighter pilots. According to Dr. Todd, the jet fuel contains benzene, which is known to cause cancer:
While authorities searched for answers, the parents of the children tried to remain optimistic. After two years of intensive chemotherapy, Dustin Gross celebrated his “end of treatment” party. According to his mother, Brenda, her son’s cancer was finally in remission:
A total of 16 children developed leukemia in a span of five years. Experts now believe that ground deposits of cobalt and tungsten may have caused the outbreak in Fallon. External Link: The Nevada Department of Health Watch this case now on Amazon Prime in season twelve with Robert Stack and in season five with Dennis Farina. Also available on YouTube with Dennis Farina. Various seasons available now on Hulu. |
wilturn3006
As a long time resident of Fallon, I remembered when this cluster happened. It went on for only a short time but there were a number of cases and they caused quiet a stir. I knew a boy who passed away from leukemia in Fallon. They may have removed the substance that caused the cluster as we haven’t had another since then. They ruled out the water arsenic and the underground nuclear testing site I believe although they still haven’t officially established what caused it. I think it may have been from the jet fuel mentioned in the case. It was very sad all these children got it. I knew at least one boy who passed away which wasn’t mentioned in the case when broadcasted. The cluster is a part of our small town’s history that nobody locally likes to or does talk about, even to this day. The museum doesn’t even mention it. Now, Fallon doesn’t have much violent crime and is a small, quiet community though it has grown since the clusters. It’s a good place to settle down in and put down roots.
Dr Michael Chase
Recently new studies have linked Monsanto’s Roundup to an increased risk of developing NHL and ALL . Glyphosate causes cancer according to WHO. I hope the families can finally get some closure by investigating this possible cause of these clusters.
Linda latham
I was raised in indianapolis Indiana and on DEC 1995 my father was diagnosed with renel cell carececoma and fought q fought battle this camcer came in for revenge he fpught it off in 89 and became ill in 95 so threw out the time he was ill in nov 96 my father lost his life and i started to relize tgat 28 people have came down wotg same kind cancer within a 10 miles of our house some was as close as a stret away anf yrs later my mother has to go in and have her kidney taken put because she had renal cell carcecoma tge same cabcef my father pased with she is currently doimg ok thabk god but now my brother gas started seeing a camcer dr they havent said what limd he has but it has me scared vonsidering my fathe passed at 45 and my brother is 45 so im really worried o believe tgefe is a lroblem qitg either the air the water or the soil because gow can so many have same kind cancer and not be related the only ones wgo was blood related is my brother and my mother but my mom and dad are not blood related but she had same konda camcef my niece died of brain cancer at 16 and found out afyer warss the water line was so old that ot was what caused her tp geg brain camcer and 3 kods afyer her moved in same apartment and they also passes from brain camcef so sometgong need done to figire out what is happenong we all deserve to live long and helthy lifes i pray for all of u qho have had cancer or still has camcer and ur familys my heart gpes put tp u all
Lori Parry
Several children in Marietta, OH were diagnosed with leukemia after being born in the same hospital about three and a half years. They have been searching for a cause without luck.
Samantha M
I have Leukemia. I was diagnosed in 1994 at 4 years old. I was one of 3 children in my small town of Gadsden, Alabama to get this in the exact same year. We all lived within a 5 mile radius of each other. One of the other kids actually lived a mile from me on the exact same road!! I hope to find out any information regarding why this happened!!!
Samantha M
Correction: I was one of 6 children in a 5 mile radius. I just realized it said 3!
Frank Sayer
Everyone here has forgotten a new attachment on everyone house called Smart Meters that releases RF Radiation daily especially around the meter itself. Many of these meters are mounted on the bedroom walls outside. The radiation will cover and extend up to ten feet into the bedroom. While children are sleeping at night and the bed is next to the wall where their head lays they absorb RF into their bodies. PLC- Power Line Carrier Systems that monitor your daily usage and read the meter are turned on most of the time. Take a AM Radio and get near the meter and you can hear the rushing sound of energy being expelled. This system has been banned in Europe because of the increase of childhood Leukemia rates were so high after they were installed. Not all homes would be affected, if they are not mounted near bedrooms. They have to be located where people are exposed long periods of time. Check your home and see where the meter is located. This system also affects all the wiring in your home when the system is turned on to monitor loads. Even your refrigerator will throw off radiation or anything that is metal and hooked to the system.
Lynda Cowart
Small town Ocilla Georgia is believed to have something in the water, arsenic maybe. There is a lady here that is investigating it. Her name is Janet McMahan aka the Water Lady. Her husband is a doctor here. There is an air force base about 40 to 50 miles south of Ocilla in Valdosta Georgia. The McMahan’s lost there youngest son a couple of years ago due to cancer. Several more children in surrounding counties have been diagnosed with cancer.
Anonymous
St Francis County, in Mo, has a lot of children with cancer lately. Bonne Terre, Mo has contamination in the drinking water. We get reports all the time. Erin Brockovich came to our area, closed down two swimming lakes in one of our state parks. As soon as she left, they opened them. We need an investigation, and a remedy
Bonnie Rogers
They are spraying the air with coal ash waste and other metals. The rain in the US is sometimes radioactive. It’s called geoengineering and they have been doing it for a long time but now it’s admitted by Harvard University. They call it the solar shield. Calcium carbonate is one toxic ingredient and it’s a waste from the fly ash. Then there is the GWEN towers with high frequencies.
C. Johnson
Cancer clusters are not the only kind of clusters we have in the U.S. There are all kinds of them. a-z. Autism Lung ailments, stomach issues, severe allergies. Years ago (early 2000) I tried to get people to map their family ailments but it didn’t catch on.
Fred Overcashier
I came down with leukemia in my 60ty and my doctor said that the cause of my illness was from the jet fuel getting into the drinking water system (1967-1971 Vietnam). Now I wait over 10 years for the VA to pay for the damage. I lost my home and everything I own for the military related illness
Anonymous
I remember years back Vince Neil of Motley Crue had a young daughter that was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. He discovered there had been numerous cases of cancer in the community and complaints had been made against a nearby company that had been dumping toxic waste. He sued and got a huge settlement, not that he needed it, but it sure sent a message. It’s a shame you have to be a rich celebrity to get anything done about things like this. RIP Skylar Neil
Marjorie Smith
There was a child cancer cluster in Rochester, N.Y.A@A
I do not live there but was told about it. Sorry, I do not remember the date or the year it happened.
Thomas
it could be a new epidemic
I hope it doesn’t continue
Mary Jaskolski
I live in a small town in northern WI. Most people with cancer in the area go to the local clinic up here. and there are a lot. Sometimes we need to go to Marshfield. which is a bigger facility. They have a place called hope lodge where you can stay for free if you are there for some kind of cancer care or tests. I was there once and they have a map on the office wall so you can put a stick pen in the area in which you live. I was astounded by how many stick pins were in the area in which I live. Literaly thousands. I couldn’t even find a place to put mine. This is a very small area. I don’t know if there is something wrong with our water or air or dirt or something. Something is going on here. I was diagnosed with breast cancer 4 yrs ago, and has reoccurred three times. I just can’t get rid of it. Almost all the placed up here have separate wells and septics. So I really don’t know whats going on. but if you or someone would look into it, you would think there is something going on too. Years ago there was also mining going on. maybe that has something to do with it. a lot of people have died up here from different types of cancer. and many are going through chemo and radiation their second and third times. My name is Mary Jaskolski, 2607 Len Ellen Cir. ,. Sayner, WI 54560
Bonnie Rogers
Is there any coal ash dump sites or coal factories there. Or maybe fracking. The factory chicken farms take the chicken manure and spray it in the air. My friend’s wife of 42 years died of cancer and they lived near a perdu farm.