FORT PIERCE — A woman is seeking two paths to get answers about whether there's a common cause for the illness afflicting her husband and several other people in the same corner of the city.

Stephanie Cunningham, a former public health nurse, said she is meeting with U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, R-Palm City, on Wednesday to determine whether federal authorities can conduct a water survey to determine if anything in the water could be the cause of what she and others consider a cancer cluster for glioblastoma in the 34982 ZIP code.

That area includes Fort Pierce from Virginia Avenue south to Southeast Walton Road along U.S. 1, extending west to South 25th Street. Nearly 25,000 people live within the ZIP code, according to the U.S. Postal Service.

More:18-year-old man latest diagnosis of aggressive brain cancer in Fort Pierce

She's also starting up a non-profit organization that could raise money for testing if no government entity will do a test. The organization would be called BRAIN Cancer for the Treasure Coast with BRAIN standing for Bringing Resources And Information Now.

Stephanie Cunningham's husband, Mark, and 13 others in Fort Pierce were diagnosed with glioblastoma in the past two years. Some of them live on the same street.

Glioblastoma is a type of cancer that can occur in the brain or spinal cord. For Mark Cunningham, it has resulted in the loss of muscle control.

The hurdle at the moment is state and health authorities don't agree there's a cancer cluster in her area. According to the Florida Department of Health in St. Lucie County, the incidence rate for glioblastoma is not significantly higher than other parts of Florida.

"A cancer cluster is a greater-than-expected number of cancer cases that occurs within a group of people or a geographic area over a defined period of time," health officials said.

Column:Local families cautious about brain cancer 'breakthrough'

More:Attendees disappointed at special meeting on Fort Pierce cancer cases | Anthony Westbury

The numbers of diagnoses in the 34982 ZIP area, for example, would have to be higher than numbers in other parts of the state with similar populations within the same time frame being studied by the authorities.

Research is being conducted now by the Florida Cancer Registry — part of the Department of Health — to identify all glioblastoma cases in St. Lucie. The state also is reviewing historical data. The study has taken several months, and the release of the final findings has been postponed from the expected date in November. State officials said on Feb. 13 there's no estimated time for when the report will be complete.

On average, state officials said the 20-year trend through 2015 was about 10 cases of glioblastoma each year in St. Lucie.

The majority of the cases in St. Lucie have been for people older than 60, male and Caucasian. But some people much younger have been diagnosed with glioblastoma. A well-known Fort Pierce angler, 33-year-old Lenny Schelin, died from the cancer in July.

And for the two most recent cases, one was a Hispanic man and the other a woman in her 50s, Cunningham said.

Cunningham said the number of cases, even if they fall short of a defined cluster, should prompt a water study. Whether that's done by the federal government or an independently funded group, a study needs to be done, she said.

Public water already is required to undergo extensive testing for contamination, health officials said. The data being collected by the Florida Cancer Registry could prompt the additional testing Cunningham is seeking.

Cunningham also runs GBM of St. Lucie, a support group for survivors of glioblastoma and other brain cancers.

Stancil is a breaking news reporter for FLORIDA TODAY and TCPalm.

Contact Stancil at 321-242-3662 or 321-987-7179

or lamaur.stancil@tcpalm.com.

Twitter: @TCPalmLStancil



