Health officials say local leukemia cases are not consistent

Officials with the North Dakota Department of Health came to Grand Forks in August to interview families of seven children who were diagnosed in or around 2007 with leukemia, but they have not been able to identify any factors or potential causes consistent to all the cases.

Alice Musumba, an epidemiologist leading the study, said that she has written to four other Grand Forks area families with children who were diagnosed with leukemia and is waiting to hear whether they would be willing to be interviewed.

“With the seven families we visited, there was lots of concern about what might be causing this, but we didn’t really come up with any one thing,” she said.

“They were very gracious about letting us in their homes and sharing their vulnerabilities. We’re hoping now to talk with more families. And if there are more cases we haven’t heard about yet, we would love to talk with them, too.”

Musumba said that she and the other Health Department investigators were not able to talk with the Ali Borgen family, as Ali was in Rochester, Minn., for treatment.

“We do hope to visit with them,” she said.

To contact Musumba about participating in the “cancer cluster” study, call (800) 280-5512, toll free, and ask for the cancer registry.

An “Ali Borgen Fund” to help with the family’s medical, travel and other expenses has been established at Citizens Community Credit Union, 1215 42nd St. N., Grand Forks ND 58203.

Tags: gf and egf, cancer clusters, north dakota department of health, ali borgen, news, leukemia