In Scott County, Virginia, despite assurances from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) that there is no cancer cluster in the area, families remain deeply concerned about potential health risks. The state reaffirmed its findings this January even after new data emerged last week.
Among the concerned parents is Amanda Taylor, who expressed her frustration to News Channel 11. “I was really upset because they didn’t include data from the last two years, which are critical for confirming a cancer cluster,” Taylor explained. “There are so many children diagnosed in those years that are being overlooked. We need more knowledge circulating, perhaps an environmental study, until they can update their data.”
Taylor’s worries are personal, as her 12-year-old son, Gage Pierson, has faced cancer diagnoses three times. Her call for action reflects a broader community desire for thorough investigations and transparent communication regarding the health and safety of their children.
“It upset me really bad because they didn’t use the last two years, and that was the most critical to it being a cancer cluster. You’re missing on so many kids that got diagnosed in those last two years,” Taylor said. “Get some more knowledge to go around, maybe get an environmental study going on until they can get their data log caught up.”
Taylor is Gage Pierson’s mother. Gage is 12 years old and has been diagnosed with cancer three times.
“On January 15th, he was told he no longer had cancer. This was the third time he has had to go through this, but he is still active on treatment, though, just to make sure it doesn’t come back. But he’s been doing really good. Going to school and everything,” Taylor told News Channel 11.
Gage gave a thumbs-up regarding how he’s been since then.
Trevor Schaefer, the Trevor’s Trek Foundation executive director and brain cancer survivor, has worked with other families in Scott County impacted by pediatric cancer.
He told News Channel 11 that his foundation has done similar studies and that all the signs are there for a cancer cluster.
“We have mapped quite a few cases from Scott County, and we’re over 25 cases right now,” Schaefer said. “And that is certainly a cluster. And it’s certainly reason for concern.”
Schaefer said that as they get more funding, they would like to do more testing in Scott County.
“Now, we’re looking at our options and seeing how we can get into Scott County and really do some legitimate, honest testing to collect data. And then from there, as I said earlier, we can look at further mitigation or remediation efforts,” Schaefer told News Channel 11.
When News Channel 11 spoke to the VDH previously, the agency said it would continue to monitor the county as the 2025 data is released.