104 cases of thyroid cancer among Fukushima children

September 1, 2015

Fukushima Pref. to examine incidence of thyroid cancer in children

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20150901p2a00m0na002000c.html

The Fukushima Prefectural Government has established a research team at Fukushima Medical University to examine health data taken after the nuclear disaster to determine whether the prefecture's children have a higher rate of thyroid cancer than is natural, the prefectural government announced on Aug. 31.

The research will use health records collected since the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant accident on residents 18 and younger at the time of the disaster. As of April 30 this year, 300,476 of the 367,685 residents in the prefecture who are subject to the study had taken thyroid cancer examinations, and as of that time, 98 had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer and 14 had been diagnosed with possible thyroid cancer.

Researchers will compare such data to national data on thyroid cancer patients, also taking into account factors like the speed at which thyroid cancer develops. Later they intend to look into differences in thyroid cancer incidence based on age and location.

The prefectural government says the team will include researchers from Osaka University, Nagoya University and the Radiation Effects Research Foundation. The research results are to be compiled within this fiscal year.

The prefectural government also announced on Aug. 31 that in the second round of thyroid cancer tests being conducted from April last year, as of the end of June this year one child who had not been diagnosed with thyroid cancer in the first round of tests was diagnosed this time. A total of six children were diagnosed with thyroid cancer in this second round of tests, and nine children were diagnosed with possible thyroid cancer, making a new total of 19 children possibly having the disease.

New case of thyroid cancer diagnosed in Fukushima; brings number to 104

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201509010056

THE ASAHI SHIMBUN

FUKUSHIMA--An investigation into health problems triggered by the 2011 nuclear disaster here turned up a new case of thyroid cancer in a young person who lived near the stricken plant.

The latest diagnosis brings to 104 the number of people out of the 385,000 or so Fukushima Prefecture residents who were 18 years old or younger at the time of the accident that are confirmed to have thyroid cancer, prefectural authorities said Aug. 31.

However, the prefectural government committee investigating the issue of health problems said that "as of now, it is unlikely for the thyroid cancers found in Fukushima Prefecture to have been caused by the nuclear power plant accident."

The latest check was conducted between April and the end of June.