Toxic Home???

[Maryanne]

This all may be like closing the barn door after the horse is out, but I was wondering if anyone knew of a company that that might test your home for possible toxins.

As many of you know my son was diagnosed in 04 with Hodgkins, I in 05 with Breast Cancer, and now this week my daughter with what appears to be some sort of lymphoma....she has been sick on and off for some time, one of the reasons I haven't been as active on this site these past few months. In the interim the dog died as well from cancer.

This has all become one big nightmare as you might know and I am trying to stay focused and calm...well trying. There really has been no cancer in my family other than a distant relative who smoked for years and my mother's first cousin with uterine cancer. We have all been relatively healthy up until this point and so now wonder if it is something in the house that has caused this, and if there is anything I can do at this point other than diet and supplements to stop a reoccurance.

Maryanne

[al from Canada]

Maryanne,
What's happening to you and your family seems unbelievable. and my heart goes out to all of you and I wish your daughter the best in testing results.
I found this link for you and I think this maybe what your looking for.
http://www.ters.com/
I don't know if there are any state programs but you may want to also get in touch with the EPA.
As well, here is a related article: http://medicine.plosjournals.org/per...l.pmed.0020061
Good luck,
Al

[Becky]

Oh Maryanne - I am so sorry that you have been dealt another blow. This explains why I have not heard from you in so long.


Besides "toxic" house - another explanation may lie into what you and your children were exposed to about 8-12 years ago. Where were you living? Were you near a power plant, a farm or golf course (where pesticides are used - was there a pest where there were alot of aerial sprayings)? Ground water contamination that you know of. The three of you may have been exposed to something that set this into motion. What about your ex husband? Is he okay or did he come down with prostate cancer or any other abnormality? I am just thinking out loud here but will continue to think. I will get in touch with you privately soon.

Love, Becky

[CLTann]

The first thing occurs in my mind is Radon gas. It is easy to check. How about smoke, asbesto, secondary smoke and other obvious carcinogens?

I am indeed sorry to learn all your problems. My heart goes out for all of you.

Ann

[karenann]

I was thinking Radon, too. So very sorry Maryann.

Hugs and prayers,

Karen

[heblaj01]

Maryanne,
Very sorry about your multiple troubles. May be on your own or with the help of your onc you can get the Public Health Service (whatever is its actual name) of your state investigate if your situation is a sign of a cluster of cases related to some environment conditions (water, air, building materials, ground conditions, power lines, microwave radiation from nearby sources......).
Such a service would have the ressources to do a thorough check

[Ora]

Maryanne,

I am so sorry to learn about your family and will certainly keep all of you in my prayers.

I am a radiation safety specialist and know that there is much study regarding radon exposure in the home. Houses are built much tighter now than years ago and studies suggest that radon gas is more prevalent in homes nowadays. Radon is a radioactive gas and is a decay daughter from naturally occurring radiation - thoriums, uraniums and radiums in soil, brick, rock and other building materials. A buildup of these gases can indeed be toxic. Homes with basements are also suspect because it can build up substantially there. I have not done this but I understand that you can obtain do-it-yourself test kits or contact your local health department for testing. I'm certainly not an expert on this but it is another potential source to explore.

We know that radiation can cause cancer as well as cure it. I've worked around this stuff for 30 years so I wonder if my cancer may have come from these sources too. I have lost a lot of good friends to cancer that I have worked with over the years, but really can't tell if it's out of the normal range or not. Good luck and God Bless.

[Sandy H]

This can be very complicated at least you want to start somewhere. I think its the whole invironment from all the chemicals put in our food and water, plastic containers, teflon frying pans, aluminun cookwear, plastic wrap, foil wrap, soaps, skin care, hair dyes, sprays, cleaning agents such as bleach, dry cleaning, air freshners, floor wax and the list goes on and on. No way of getting away from it only do the best we can because everything we touch has chemicals in it. I almost hate to take a shower or put anything on my body or even eat food. Our homes with all the treated wood, wallpaper paste, paint, shingles again on and on. I think you have some good resouces here. Let us know how you make out. I am sorry to hear that each one of you are struggling with health issues but it seems to be a way of life for many these days. hugs, Sandy

[RhondaH]

NOOOO!!!! I TOO had noticed that you hadn't been active on the board, but knew that you were checking your email regularly as you forwarded me some emails. I agree with all to contact the EPA. Wasn't there a situation w/ Long Island recently regarding incidence w/ cancer? I know the town I grew up in is going through something like this at the elementary school I attended. Where's Erin Brokovich when you need her. Is there ANY thing I can do (even from Grand Rapids). I will do some research and email you my findings (though, knowing you, you are franticly doing the same). Take care and God bless. Hugs to you and the kids.

Rhonda

[al from Canada]

Here is a map of a radon gas survey by the EPA and geological surey. Here is the link to there site:http://www.radon.com/radon/radon_map.html
Al

The U.S. EPA and the U.S. Geological Survey have evaluated the radon potential in the U.S. and have developed this map is to assist National, State, and local organizations to target their resources and to assist building code officials in deciding whether radon-resistant features are applicable in new construction. This map is not intended to be used to determine if a home in a given zone should be tested for radon. Homes with elevated levels of radon have been found in all three zones. All homes should be tested regardless of geographic location. The map assigns each of the 3,141 counties in the U.S. to one of three zones based on radon potential. Each zone designation reflects the average short-term radon measurement that can be expected to be measured in a building without the implementation of radon control methods. The radon zone designation of the highest priority is Zone 1.

Zone 1Highest PotentialZone 2Moderate PotentialZone 3Low Potential

[koolbreeze]

Maryanne, so sorry to hear of more difficulty on the way. I wish you and your family all the best. My heart goes out to you. Hugs Linda

[VaMoonRise]

Maryanne,

I am so very sorry to hear about what you and your children are going through. I agree with what others have said about having your home tested. I too used to live in Huntington, NY along with my family and my Mother had breast cancer too which I know it can be hereditary but I remember other families on our street having a lot of health problems with cancer being the biggest one. I remember there being a lot of discussion about having the area tested and if I remember correctly there was some testing done back then but I can't recall what the results were as I was just a kid back then. I will be sure to ask my sister what she remembers about it and get back to you. In the mean time I will be sending good thoughts your way along with lots of well wishes and prayers.

Love, Hugs & Prayers,
Nicola

[Cathya]

Maryanne;

I am so sorry to hear about what you and your children are going through. I live in an area that also has a very high cancer rate. In our little town of 3500 we had 2 active case of inflammatory bc at the same time as I was diagnosed, and on one street there were 3 active cases of bc as well. No one knows why but it an old area, lots of farming, water source is the St. Lawrence and lots of chemicals feed into it. Consider all possible options but check with your local doctors as they will know if others are going through similar circumstances to yours. That information will tell you whether there is something going on beyond your actual home. I pray your daughter doesn't have lymphoma. God bless.

Cathy

[Liz J.]

Hi Maryann,

I am so sorry to hear about your situation. We are not that far away from eachother as I am in Brooklyn, N.Y. There have been many investigations into many areas of L.I. over the years as I am sure you know. But recently I have seen more and more of this in the Daily News and New York Post.

I do believe that many of these cancers are from toxins that we are exposed to. I can't help but believe my bc came from 9/11. I work about 4 blocks from there and was there on that horrible day and then called back to work the following week. After all the lies about how everything was good to go. Many of my co-workers have come down with cancer since then, mostly bc.

I will say extra prayers for you and your family. If you need to talk or if I can help you with anything, please give me a shout.

Also, I am sorry about your dog. I know that hurts so much.

Sincerely,

Liz J.

[janet/FL]

Don't know if this will help but there is a free CD for enviornmental risks and BC in your home.
http://erbc.vassar.edu/
Janet

[anne]

Maryanne,

Do you live near a high tension wire by any chance. My husband and I were looking into it when we were in the market for a new house. Sounds like some environmental factors also.
Anne

[R.B.]

What other common factors do you share

1. As a family
2. With neighbours
3. With wider community

Water Airconditioning building etc.

Have you thought about diet / dietary intake/ particular factors - this is a commonly ignored linking factor between families.

Diet alters the way you express your genes.

RB

[StephN]

RADIATION AND RISK FACTS
The alpha radiation emitted by radon is the exact same alpha radiation that is emitted by any other alpha generating radiation source, like plutonium.

A family whose home has radon levels of 4 pCi/l is exposed to approximately 35 times as much radiation as the NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION allows if they were standing next to the fence of a radioactive waste site. (25 mrem limit, 800 mrem exposure)

An elementary school student that spends 8 hours per day and 180 days per year in a classroom with 4 pCi/l of radon will receive nearly 10 times as much radiation as the NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION allows at the edge of a nuclear power plant.(25 mrem limit, 200 mrem exposure)

Most United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lifetime safety standards for carcinogens are established based on a 1 in 100,000 risk of death. Most scientists agree that the risk of death for radon at 4 pCi/l is approximately 1 in 100. At the 4 pCi/l EPA action guideline level radon carries approximately 1000 times the risk of death as any other EPA carcinogen.

Radon induced lung cancer costs the United States over $2 Billion dollars per year in both direct and indirect health care costs.

Maryanne - most sorry to learn of more serious health problem that you are facing. But, most likely the cause is NOT Radon as Lung Cancer is the main result of this exposure.
Thanks to AL for the link. I see that I live in a lower risk area, but that does not mean we don't have a problem.

How long have you lived in your current home?? What was that site before homes were built?? What building materials were used??
I know you are researching your head off.
Let us know what you come up with, OK?

[VaMoonRise]

Hi Maryanne,

I found this study being done on increased cancer incidents in the Huntington area, it is scary stuff but I hope that the information will be of some help to you.

Hugs,
Nicola

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/PHA/huntington/hun_p3.html

[Jean]

Maryann,

My heart goes out to you. Please know you and the chrildren are in my prayers,
and whatever I can do to help you - just reach out!

With Love,
Jean