Thyroid Cancer Support

Posts Tagged ‘Coverage’

On December 21, 2009, NBC Nightly News did a short piece on the unexplained rise in thyroid cancer in women. There was nothing earth-shattering in the report, but I was at least glad to see something thyroid-related at least making it into the national news, when
the national media typically go out of their way to deliberately ignore and overlook thyroid-related stories.

You can watch the NBC News piece online, as well as the additional web exclusive video piece.

And while you’re at it, read more about the rise in thyroid cancer rates for women. And don’t forget to do a Thyroid Neck Check yourself to check for thyroid cancer.

_{Image: Chris McGrath, Getty Images Entertainment}

NBC News Coverage: Thyroid Cancer on the Rise in Women originally appeared on About.com Thyroid Disease on Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009 at 15:11:49.

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My first three years of life I lived in Peekskill, New York, and I grew up in Westchester County, right outside of New York City. It’s always surprised me how many of my friends and neighbors from the “old neighborhoods” have thyroid cancer and other thyroid problems. I always suspected that there was something in the air or water back in the 60s and 70s that was damaging to our thyroid glands, but we haven’t seen any studies or specifics that explained the situation…until now.

An article just published in the International Journal of Health Services has found that thyroid cancer rates in the four counties surrounding the Indian Point nuclear power plant, which is located in Buchanan, New York (south of Peekskill, and 24 miles north of New York City) – Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester — are the highest in New York State. The thyroid cancer rates in those four counties around Indian Point are also among the highest in the U.S., with a rate of thyroid cancer that is 66% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The accidental release of radioactive iodine into the atmosphere from the nuclear plant, which started operations in 1962 (when I was just a baby) is thought to be the potential cause of this increased risk.

Some media coverage of the issue:

• WPIX Television News, NY – Nov 17, 2009
  
• WPIX Television News, NY – Nov 16, 2009
  
• 1010 WINS Radio, NY

For what it’s worth, I’ll add that I received a copy of a rebuttal statement from Paul Steidler, Director of Communications for the New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance. Read more…

Link Found Between Thyroid Cancer and NY Area Residents’ Proximity to Indian Point Nuclear Plant originally appeared on About.com Thyroid Disease on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 17:09:09.

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