High School Alumni Blame Alma Mater For Rare Cancers
Thursday, September 13, 2007
State representative Bill Galvano is looking into alumni claims their old high school caused their cancer.
MANATEE COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- Bayshore High School in Bradenton was torn down in the late 90s.
But a state lawmaker is checking into claims from dozens of alumni that say their alma mater could be the cause of their cancers.
Carolyn Christian lost her husband Bill to a rare cancer. Bill was a teacher at Bayshore High School in the 80s.
"We have known each other since kindergarten," Christian said. "I thought we'd be that couple in the 80s holding hands."
Christian wonders if something in that old building killed her husband.
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"He always felt there was something," Christian said.
Dozens of other Bayshore alumni have started a website that states 63 alumni have been diagnosed with cancer, 27 have died.
State representative Bill Galvano is looking into the claims.
"It's something that is definitely worthy of investigation," Galvano said.
Galvano said its critical to get clarification whether it's coincidence or a cancer cluster.
"It just seems odd to me to have this many people and more seem to come out every day on this issue to just ignore it, Galvano said. "It can't be ignored."
Carolyn Christian lost her husband Bill to a rare cancer. Bill was a teacher at Bayshore High School in the 80s.Many of the alumni say mold and asbestos at the old school are to blame. Others say a fuel spill near the old school site is the cause of their cancers. But so far their theories have not been proven true.
"From all the documents we're able to obtain and look at through our files we have not found any evidence that there's been exposure at the school possibly related to some cancers," said School Risk Manager Forrest Branscomb.
Branscomb will meet with Galvano next week. Galvano may call for an independent study.
"We have to make a determination that there isn't a negative situation that exists, then determine if there is a cancer cluster," said Galvano.
Galvano already had a conference call with the Department of Health, The Division of Environmental Health and the Manatee County Health Department.
He also wants to find if students or staff from the new Bayshore High School have any of the same concerns.