Concord Hospital Cancer Cell

What could be causing the unusually high occurrence of breast cancer amongst staff at Concord Hospital?

A report released today uncovered that 5 female staff were diagnosed during 2001 and 2007. Investigations are continuing into whether there is anything in common with the diagnoses. Staff of the hospital have been advised of the findings and are asked to contact the hospital if they have also been diagnosed while working at the hospital between 1998 and 2007.

This is not the only occurrence of disease clusters in recent years.

In Brisbane, 15 women working at the ABC's Toowong studios were diagnosed with breast cancer between 1994 and 2006.

This year, the Queensland Government ordered an investigation at a Brisbane high school after nine cases of cancer were reported among present and past teachers.

In May, the University of NSW announced a study into a high incidence of various cancers among staff in one of its faculty buildings.

Mike Biggs