Thyroid Cancer Information

From the Health Director…

Welcome to our Thyroid Cancer page. I hope that you find the below information helpful.  Iredell County Health Department is committed to bringing you the most current information that we have related to the elevated thyroid cancer rates in the two Mooresville ZIP codes.  I encourage you to review the Summary of Activities document under the Timeline heading below for a brief overview of the reports, initiatives, meetings and research that has been or is currently being done to address this important public health concern.  

Our agency has been working collaboratively with the NC Department of Health & Human Services (NC DHHS), the NC Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ), local and state elected officials, Iredell County leaders and other research and academic institutions since this concern was identified.  I also want to acknowledge and thank Ms. Susan Wind for her community advocacy and fundraising work.   

Identifying threats to the health of the public and addressing them is a core part of the public health mission.  Iredell County Health Department will work with our community to provide all the answers that we can.  Preventing disease and protecting the health of our residents remains our highest priority. 

Sincerely,

Jane N. Hinson, MS BSN RN                                                                                                                                                            

Iredell County Health Director


 Community Meeting POSTPONED 

 Regarding Thyroid Cancer & Structural Coal Ash Facilities

Click Here to see the Press Release


Cancer Survey

North Carolina General Statute 130A-209 requires all healthcare facilities and health care providers that detect, diagnose or treat cancer to report each diagnosis of cancer to the North Carolina Central Cancer Registry.  The North Carolina Central Cancer Registry must have timely and comprehensive reporting of every cancer diagnosis in Iredell County to accurately determine if cancer rates are higher than expected.   Because of the heightened concern regarding cancer diagnosis in Iredell County, the health department has created a brief survey for residents to complete if they have been diagnosed with cancer within the last twenty years.  This survey will not replace the statutory requirement for health care provider reporting but will enhance compliance with the statute.  

When the health department receives a completed survey, it will be sent to the NC Central Cancer Registry.   The Central Cancer Registry will use information from completed surveys to check their own internal records to see if the provider appropriately reported the cancer diagnosis.  If the cancer diagnosis has not been reported, the Central Cancer Registry will contact the provider directly regarding this statutory requirement. 

Please print Cancer Survey and complete by hand

Completed surveys can be mailed, faxed or dropped off at any of the three health department locations that include the main location at 318 Turnersburg Highway, Statesville or the Environmental Health offices at Building Standards, 349 N. Center Street in Statesville or Government Center South, 610 East Center Avenue in Mooresville.  Surveys can also be faxed to 704-878-5357.  Please make sure the surveys are addressed to the health director.  Surveys cannot be completed or accepted electronically to ensure the security of this confidential protected health information.

The health department will be unable to collect this information verbally as currently all personnel resources are dedicated to COVID-19 pandemic response. 

Questions about the survey can be submitted to iredell.publicinfo@co.iredell.nc.us

Soil Analysis Findings for Mooresville, NC

Metals and Radionuclides Analyses in Soil Cores from Mooresville, NC

Cancelled March 2020 Event Q & A

Q&A answered by expert panelist  

Timeline

Thyroid Cancer Timeline (updated 5/4/2023)

Summary of Activities

Board of Health Presentations December 12, 2019

Zack Moore, MD, MPH, State Epidemiologist and Epidemiology Section Chief Division of Public Health North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

Andrew Olshan, Phd, Professor, Department of Epidemiology Gillings school of Global Public Health & Associate Director for population Science UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill  

NC Cancer Research Advisory Panel

NC Cancer Research Advisory Panel Recommendations April 28, 2020

Thyroid Cancer Advisory Panel

Summary of NC Thyroid Cancer Panel Report & Recommendations July 12, 2019

Get involved- share comments online from May 9- May 31 2019

NC Department of Health & Human Services Reports 

Assessment of the Occurrence of Thyroid Cancer in Iredell County May 29, 2018

NC DHHS /DEQ Thyroid Presentation for Providers Meeting 3.21.19

NC DHHS Report January 25, 2019

Iredell County Papillary Thyroid Cancer, Standard Incidence Rates Report January 12, 2022

Iredell County Papillary Thyroid Cancer Incidence Rates for five year time periods January 12, 2022

In the News

Thyroid Cancer Press Release June 20, 2018

State to study concentration of cancer cases in southern Iredell 

Thyroid Cancer Press Release July 2, 2018

Thyroid Cancer Press Release December 18, 2018

Iredell County News Release: Thyroid Cancer in Iredell County

Free Well Water Testing for Contaminants Offered in Mooresville

Worried about your well water? Scientist are offering free tests this month

Free water testing for neighbors of Duke Energy

Researchers test samples in Iredell County to ensure drinking water is safe

Iredell Co. officials respond to state report on thyroid cancer cases in area

Thyroid cancers near Lake Norman baffle researchers. But they might have clues.

Meeting set to discuss well-water testing results and well maintenance

Commissioners approve resolution supporting cancer cluster study bill

Researchers discuss water safety, test results in Iredell County

Encouraging results for most wells in Iredell County

In Iredell County, tests show high percentage of wells contain Chromium 6

Community meeting regarding thyroid cancer and coal ash facilities set

Thyroid cancer panel of experts collecting community comments

Deadline approaching to submit comments regarding thyroid cancer to statewide panel

Cooper signs into law Cancer Research Advisory Panel bill crafted by Vickie Sawyer

Thyroid cancer cluster: first steps taken in a long process

Iredell County Soil Testing October 28, 2020

Frequently Asked Questions 

Click here for more information on Thyroid Cancer

Well Water Testing with Virginia Tech and Results: click here

Resources

Cancer and the Environment: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

Click here for more information from the Central Cancer Registry

Center for Disease Control Thyroid Cancer information

Center for Disease Control Cancer Prevention information

National Cancer Institute information on Thyroid Cancer