[frisco]

Personally knowing four people with GBM and not being an oncologist is exceptional and worrying. That feels like it should be raised to… someone. It is very possible something bad is happening and a commonality needs to be tracked down urgently.

[d--b]

It is indeed very strange, none of these people lived in the same place or got diagnosed at the same time (some 20 years ago). Most are fairly remote to me though... Like : a good friend's mom, or my wife's cousin's husband, etc.

[selcuka]

I knew two people (one adult, one child) who lived in the same building and got diagnosed with leukemia (~14 per 100,000) shortly after each other, maybe within a few weeks.

It's anecdotal, of course, but I've always thought that there could have been a connection.

[hinkley]

It could be birthday paradox, but it could potentially be enough to get someone to come check for contaminants.

Looks like benzene, some pesticides, and formaldehyde are the common workplace exposures that can trigger leukemia. But some of those can turn up near housing.

[selcuka]

> benzene, some pesticides, and formaldehyde are the common workplace exposures that can trigger leukemia.

That rings a bell. I remember that someone mentioned a recent repainting of the building. The incident happened at least a decade ago, so I can't remember all details.

[hinkley]

I just finished Silent Spring last fall and was shocked to learn they already knew DDT and other pesticides were causing leukemia back in 1960. I guess PR from the chemical companies is working, because I would have guessed 1979-1985.