A CHMM Called to Action: Could Environmental Factors in Palestine Contribute to Teenage Breast Cancers?

The reported international average incidence of all cancers is 20%; in Palestine, it is 70%. A startling 2013 study by nursing students at Bethlehem University reported that 14 and 15-year old girls in West Bank Bedouin villages had been diagnosed with advanced stage of breast cancer. The restrictive medical care for this population results in the girls being sent home without treatment. Under the protection of a commercial Holy Land Tour, a medical discovery team traveled to the area in Spring 2014 to verify the Bethlehem University report and identify what medical equipment would be needed to offer early detection breast cancer screening and what human resources are available to train to use the screening equipment. The presenter joined the team to survey the possible environmental causes of such a tragedy. This presentation will summarize the findings of the ten-day reconnaissance of teenage breast cancer victims in Palestine, present an index of possible sources of environmental contamination and offer some ideas on the next steps in the investigation. The audience will be invited to evaluate the data presented to offer ideas on cancer triggers, response, and next steps.