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Summary

1. The incidence of "All Cancers" in NDC among young people 0-24 was 1.21** times the national average, with the greatest excesses in the 0-4 age group (1.4** x). The excess in the 0-4 group was even higher in the rest of West Berkshire (1.7**x).
   
2. The incidence of Leukaemias in NDC among young people 0-24 was 1.22* times national average, with the greatest excesses in the 0-4 group (1.33*x). The incidences were even higher in the rest of West Berkshire (0-24 1.34**x , 0-4 1.9**x).
   
3. Brain and CNS Cancers were significantly raised in NDC in the whole age group 0-64, especially in the 0-24 group at 1.38** times national average. This latter excess was not evident in the rest of West Berkshire.
   
4. The incidence of Lymphomas was significantly raised in NDC among the 25-64 group (1.20**x) and this was also evident in the rest of West Berkshire.
   
5. The incidence of Leukaemias in Ward 2 (St Johns and part of Craven) among young people 0-24 was very raised at 3.85** times national rates. The level among the 25-64 group was also high, at 1.83* times national.
   
6. Leukaemia incidence in Ward 3 (Falkland and part Craven) was raised in the 25-64 group (1.60*x national average).

The attached map reveals that the Leukaemia cases run in a distinct band from Greenham Common in the south-east to the River Kennet in the north-west.

There is a remarkable contrast between the large number of cases in the band across south Newbury, and the very small number of cases in the highly populated areas of north Newbury, Thatcham and Wash Common.

Overall 1971-1994 the rate of Leukaemia in south Newbury was 1.6 times the national average.

All the above statistics adopt the very strict rules for inclusion used by the Health Authority. There were in addition a further 7 cases known to us, all in the area of the band of cases running across south Newbury, which have not been included:-

• Young adult whose medical records have disappeared.
• Two children just before the BHA study period (1968 and 1969)
• One young adult diagnosed since the BHA study period ended.
• One young adult classified as a recurrence of a previous case, but which may well be a new case.
• One young adult diagnosed within weeks of moving away from Craven.
• One young adult who worked but did not live in St Johns.

Note: Incidence rates marked** achieve statistical significance; those marked * are far more likely than not to be significant, but there is a greater possibility that they could be due to chance.

R.R.Capewell 24 Oct 1997

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Revised 23 March 1998 NJB