Fukushima Boys Proportion of Thyroid Cancer Exceeds Chernobyl’s By MAKO OSHIDORI
June 8, 2013
Mako Oshidori of Yoshimoto Creative Agency is a member of the Manzai Kyokai (The Association for Stand-up Comedians) and of the Board of Directors of the Free Press Association of Japan. She regularly attends press conferences given by public authorities and TEPCO since the outbreak of the Great East Japan Earthquake. She also relentlessly does reporting on Fukushima and other disaster-affected areas. She presently writes columns for “DAYS JAPAN” and “MAGAZINE 9”. For donations, please go to the link below:
http://oshidori-mako.laff.jp/blog/2011/07/post-ad67.html. Thank you for your support!
I wrote an article about the 11th Evaluation Meeting of the Fukushima Health Management Survey.
(Announcement) On the 11th Evaluation Meeting of the Fukushima Health Management Survey (By Mako Oshidori)
http://op-ed.jp/archives/9069
I would like to add important and intriguing information about the article.
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Boys & Girls Thyroid Cancer Incidence Proportion
At the 11th evaluation session of the Fukushima Survey, an interesting debate opposed the Chairman of the Thyroid Survey Committee, Professor Shinichi Suzuki to Professor Kazuo Shimizu, one of the members of the board (Chairman of the Japanese Society of Thyroid Surgery and Professor at the Nippon Medical School). I am going to introduce some of the key parts of the debate.
Kazuo Shimizu, member of the board (Japanese Society of Thyroid Surgery):
“The figures 1:7.7 and 1:8.8 respectively indicate the proportion of papillary thyroid cancer for boys and girls. The ratio of girls is bigger, but a glance at this table (Table indicating the results of thyroid incidence according to the Prefectural Health Management Survey) shows that the number of boys is important. The proportion for boy cases in Fukushima is higher than that of Chernobyl which is 1:3.3. It indicates that the boys’ proportion of thyroid cancer is considerable. How can you explain this fact, Mr. Professor?”
Shinichi Suzuki, Professor at Fukushima Medical University:
“It’s true that the proportion is 1:7 or 1:4 depending on data interpretations. However, generally speaking the proportion of females is usually higher, particularly for adult papillary thyroid cancer. Now, in the fiscal years 2011 and 2012, essentially in the year 2012 a relatively big male proportion has been recorded. However, as the survey is still ongoing, it is difficult to make a comprehensive evaluation. It is important to bear this point in mind and to continue observations. This means that it is out of the question to make any declaration for now. Also, men generally show worse clinical conditions when the male proportion increases. It is usually observed that while women show good signs, males present quite bad clinical conditions. So far, however, a glance at the data at our disposal does not at all indicate that the male group has increasingly shown bad clinical symptoms. Thus, regardless of the virtual impact of detailed examinations, the actual proportion might change throughout the process of the survey. That’s why it might be better to observe for a little while”.
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About Professor Kazuo Shimizu
Let me give a short introduction of Professor Shimizu. After the Chernobyl nuclear accident, the number of infant thyroid cancers increased and children were left with big scars on the neck after thyroid removal surgery. In 1998, Professor Shimizu succeeded in performing surgery with an endoscope. Endoscopic surgery requires expertise, but the scar after operation is very small. In 1999, Professor Shimizu travelled to Minsk, the capital city of Belarus, in order to engage in medical assistance activities, which he continues today.
[caption id="attachment_12035" align="alignleft" width="620"]
Holding the microphone is Professor Shimizu (Next to him, squeezing his mouth is Mr.Yasuo Kiryu, a bureaucrat of the Ministry of the Environment).[/caption]
The Possibility of Radiation Exposure “Under Investigation”
Professor Kazuo Shimizu’s point
Boys and Girls Proportion of Papillary Thyroid Cancer
1:7.7 & 1:8.8: the proportion of girls is higher.
After the Chernobyl Nuclear Accident
1:3.3: Boys proportion. It indicates that the proportion of boys in Fukushima is increasing.
Actual Figures of the Prefectural Health Management Survey
(Note: The following figures are not indicating confirmed cases of papillary thyroid cancer, but malignant or malignant suspected cases).
In the fiscal year 2011
5 males & 7 females = 1:1.4
In the fiscal year 2012
9 males & 7 females = 1:0.78
Professor Shimizu’s point is that the above figures indicate that the proportion of male cases is increasing in Fukushima, as has been observed after the Chernobyl nuclear accident.
The response given by Professor Shinichi Suzuki is as follows: “these are preliminary results of an ongoing survey, so nothing can be said without all data at our disposal”.
[caption id="attachment_12039" align="alignleft" width="620"]
At the press conference after the evaluation meeting. Professor Shinichi Suzuki is holding the microphone.[/caption]
a question mark here!
If the survey is ongoing, on which grounds should it be declared that “the nuclear accident has no influence on residents’ health?”
(I personally covered several conferences given by Professor Shinichi Suzuki, but he repeatedly says that).
(Please, refer to my following article about a conference given by Professor Shinichi Suzuki.)
An Unreliable Survey on Infant Thyroid Just after the Nuclear Accident (Mako Oshidori)
At this point, while radiation influence is being denied, the response to observations made by Professor Shimizu indicating that the proportion of thyroid cancer incidence among boys is increasing is “the survey is ongoing, so nothing can be declared”.
It’s just not fair that, on the one hand, the Chairman of the Thyroid Committee of the Prefectural Management Health Survey declares bluntly that there’s no radiation influence, and responds, on the other, that “the survey is ongoing” when asked about the possibility of radiation.
It seems to me that the nuclear accident influence should also be considered “under investigation”.
(NB Original)
(Translated from Japanese by Willy Lukebana Toko)
