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New cases of thyroid cancer in young people, linked to Fukushima
Sixteen young people, found to have lived near the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, have been diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

‘Fukushima Prefecture’ has been conducting thyroid tests on around 385,000 residents, with 104 of those being 18 years or younger since the onset of the March 2011 nuclear disaster caused by the East Japan earthquake and tsunami.

The prefectural panel conducted a first round of tests, which concluded in March 2014, revealing that the ratio of those whom lived near Fukushima diagnosed or suspected of being diagnosed with the thyroid disease, was no different than the ratio of same age young people living elsewhere in Japan.

The rapid increase of thyroid cancer in this small region has many doubting the logistics of this ratio. Many researchers say that this increase of thyroid cancer needs to be further investigated, to take precautionary steps in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of young people affected, and who are at a high risk of developing the disease.

The sixteen new cases detected in February and March this year, contribute to the total of 104 young people, with the second study already confirming a further 15, bringing the overall total to 127 people, and expected to rise. Yoshio Hosoi, Professor of Radiation Biology at the suggests “in order to scientifically compare the results of the development rates of each region, we must first take into account age and other characteristics (of the 104 people) Hosoi says. “We must also continue to closely examine the people’s health in order to determine the impact of radiation exposure on causing thyroid tumours”.

The average age of those diagnosed is 14.8 years. Of these 104 patients, the number of conclusive cases is 57. The size and diameter of both the tumours found range from between 5 to 41 millimetres, with the average being 14 millimetres.

According to Hokuto Hoshi, the chairman of the Fukushima prefectural survey, says that the panels subcommittee will soon analyse the test results in order to determine the impact of the Fukushima accident on the growth of the thyroid cancer rate.

The prefecture is currently undertaking a second survey of test subjects, which will be concluded in March 2016.

The committee also plans to continue medical checkups on each of the patients and utilize the test results as a basis of comparison for future reference.