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Ft. Chip cancer rate high

Unexpectedly high cancer rates uncovered in Fort Chipewyan are no cause for alarm but demand further study, say researchers.

A government study of the town downstream from the tarsands released yesterday found 30% more cancer cases than predicted by the Alberta Cancer Board.

The higher rate is cause for concern, but not panic, said Dr. Tony Fields, vice-president of the Cancer Corridor, Alberta Health Services - and not a carte blanche to lay blame on the tarsands.

'NO CAUSE FOR ALARM'

"The overall findings show there's no cause for alarm, but they do warrant further investigation," Fields said after unveiling the numbers. "This is 51 cases of cancer over 12 years. It's not huge."

He warned that the high rate could be a product of statistical oddity, not concrete causes.

"This is based on a small number of cases. It could be chance. Had we seen something more significant ... then we'd have your black and white answer."

But Fields said the study calls for ongoing observation of the community. Cancer in the community should be tracked over the next several years to see if more definitive trends emerge.

"You don't forget (about these numbers). You don't sweep them away," said Fields.

The study was intended to count cases, not assess causes of cancer. The report said further investigation is required to see if residents are at risk from other causes, including seemingly obvious environmental causes flowing downstream from the tarsands.

The study did not support local worries about cholangiocarcinoma cancer, which infects bile ducts between the liver, gallbladder and small intestine.

A local physician, Dr. John O'Connor, went public in 2006 with five alleged cholangiocarcinoma deaths in the town of 1,200 since 2000. He believed the normal rate was nine cases per 100,000 people, according to the report. He also reported concerning numbers of common cancers, too.

That move prompted the study, said Fields. "I think the community should be reassured the numbers are not as high as reported," he said.

BILE DUCT CANCER

Only two cases of the rare bile duct cancer were proven - still higher than the 0.4 cases predicted.

The 51 cases, including all kinds of cancer, ranged on the high end of what researchers guessed were possible case counts between 1995 and 2006.

Rates also ranked higher than neighbouring Fort McMurray, the Northern Lights Health Region and Alberta in general - given a wide margin of error due to the small case count.

Expected numbers were lowered to reflect that aboriginal Canadians, who make up a large part of the town's population, have lower cancer rates, said Fields.