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Military pilots and ground crews showing high rates of cancer, Pentagon study reveals

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Military pilots and ground crews showing high rates of cancer, Pentagon study reveals

Excessive charges of most cancers amongst army pilots have been found by a Pentagon examine.

And for the primary time, it has been proven that floor crews that gasoline, preserve and launch these plane are getting sick as nicely. 

The Pentagon launched the examine in early February, the Related Press reported.

Retired army aviators had lengthy sought the information, the AP mentioned on Sunday, March 19.

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The army aviators had raised alarms for years in regards to the variety of air and floor crew members they knew who had most cancers. 

They have been instructed that earlier army research had discovered they weren’t at better danger than the final U.S. inhabitants.

Navy A-6 Intruder pilot Jim Seaman died of most cancers at age 61. He’s one among a gaggle of pilots who have been recognized with most cancers, the Related Press reported. His widow Betty Seaman has been half of a big group of aviators and surviving spouses who’ve lobbied Congress and the Pentagon for years to look into the variety of cancers aviators and floor crew face. (Betty Seaman by way of AP)

However in a yearlong examine of just about 900,000 service members who flew on or labored on army plane between 1992 and 2017, the Pentagon discovered that air crew members had an 87% increased charge of melanoma and a 39% increased charge of thyroid most cancers, because the AP reported.

In the meantime, males had a 16% increased charge of prostate most cancers and ladies a 16% increased charge of breast most cancers. 

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Total, the air crews had a 24% increased charge of most cancers of every type, in response to the AP.

The examine confirmed floor crews had a 19% increased charge of mind and nervous system cancers, a 15% increased charge of thyroid most cancers and a 9% increased charge of kidney or renal cancers.

Total, the air crews had a 24% increased charge of most cancers of every type, the examine discovered.

Ladies, in the meantime, had a 7% increased charge of breast most cancers, the identical examine discovered. 

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The general charge for cancers of every type was 3% increased, the AP famous.

Navy A-6 Intruder pilot Jim Seaman was a kind of who died of most cancers at age 61. He handed away in 2018. 

Navy A-6 Intruder pilot Jim Seaman standing in front of his jet. He passed away from lung cancer at age 61 in 2018. 

Navy A-6 Intruder pilot Jim Seaman standing in entrance of his jet. He handed away from lung most cancers at age 61 in 2018.  (Betty Seaman by way of AP)

He’s amongst a gaggle of pilots who have been recognized with most cancers, the Related Press reported. 

His widow Betty Seaman has been half of a big group of aviators and surviving spouses who’ve lobbied Congress and the Pentagon for years to look into the variety of cancers aviators and floor crew face.

The Pentagon acknowledged that the examine had gaps that possible led to an undercount of most cancers instances.

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The army well being system database used within the examine didn’t have dependable most cancers information till 1990 — so it could not have included pilots who flew early-generation jets within the prior a long time.

Some excellent news, too

There was some excellent news, nonetheless, reported as nicely. 

Each floor and air crews had far decrease charges of lung most cancers, and air crews additionally had decrease charges of bladder and colon cancers.

Navy A-6 Intruder pilot Jim Seaman leaning on the wing of his jet. Seaman is one person from a group of pilots who died of cancer.

Navy A-6 Intruder pilot Jim Seaman leaning on the wing of his jet. Seaman is one individual from a gaggle of pilots who died of most cancers. (Betty Seaman by way of AP)

After adjusting for age, intercourse and race, the information in contrast the service members with the U.S. common inhabitants.

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The Pentagon mentioned the brand new examine was one of many largest and most complete achieved so far. 

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An earlier examine had checked out Air Power pilots solely — and had discovered some increased charges of most cancers, whereas this one appeared throughout all providers and at each air and floor crews.

The examine was required by Congress as a part of the 2021 protection invoice. 

Even with the broader method, the Pentagon cautioned that the precise variety of most cancers instances was prone to be even increased due to gaps within the information — which it mentioned it could work to treatment.

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The examine was required by Congress within the 2021 protection invoice, the AP famous.

Now, provided that increased charges have been discovered, the Pentagon should conduct an excellent greater overview to attempt to perceive why crews are getting sick.

The Pentagon is seen from Air Force One in this file photo as it flies over Washington in March 2022. Now, given the results of the new study on cancer, the Pentagon must conduct an even bigger review to try to understand why crews are getting sick.

The Pentagon is seen from Air Power One on this file photograph because it flies over Washington in March 2022. Now, given the outcomes of the brand new examine on most cancers, the Pentagon should conduct an excellent greater overview to attempt to perceive why crews are getting sick. (AP Photograph/Patrick Semansky, File)

The Pentagon took pains to level out that the brand new examine “doesn’t suggest that army service in air crew or floor crew occupations causes most cancers, as a result of there are a number of potential confounding components that would not be managed for on this evaluation,” equivalent to household histories of most cancers, smoking conduct or alcohol use.

Localized prostate most cancers

In the meantime, a wholly completely different examine discovered that males recognized with localized prostate most cancers who wish to keep away from speedy surgical procedure or radiation can safely select to actively monitor the illness as a remedy methodology.

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That is in response to a latest examine launched final week within the New England Journal of Medication.

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Researchers within the examine decided that the majority males should not panic or rush to remedy choices following a analysis, because the mortality charge from the most cancers 15 years later was comparatively low no matter remedy method.

The examine started in the UK in 1999.

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It concerned 2,664 males between the ages of fifty and 69 who have been recognized with localized prostate most cancers. 

Of these males, 1,643 have been enrolled in a trial finding out three completely different remedy strategies — surgical procedure to take away tumors (553), radiation (545), and lively monitoring (545).

Elizabeth Pritchett of Fox Information Digital, in addition to The Related Press, contributed reporting.

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How Yvette Nicole Brown Lost Weight and Got Her Diabetes Under Control

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How Yvette Nicole Brown Lost Weight and Got Her Diabetes Under Control


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As bird flu spreads, CDC recommends faster 'subtyping' to catch more cases

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As bird flu spreads, CDC recommends faster 'subtyping' to catch more cases

As cases of H5N1, also known as avian flu or bird flu, continue to surface across the U.S., safety precautions are ramping up.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Thursday its recommendation to test hospitalized influenza A patients more quickly and thoroughly to distinguish between seasonal flu and bird flu.

The accelerated “subtyping” of flu A in hospitalized patients is in response to “sporadic human infections” of avian flu, the CDC wrote in a press release.

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“CDC is recommending a shortened timeline for subtyping all influenza A specimens among hospitalized patients and increasing efforts at clinical laboratories to identify non-seasonal influenza,” the agency wrote.

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The CDC now recommends accelerated subtyping of influenza A in response to “sporadic human infections” in the U.S. (iStock)

“Clinicians and laboratorians are reminded to test for influenza in patients with suspected influenza and, going forward, to now expedite the subtyping of influenza A-positive specimens from hospitalized patients, particularly those in an intensive care unit (ICU).”

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The goal is to prevent delays in identifying bird flu infections and promote better patient care, “timely infection control” and case investigation, the agency stated.

These delays are more likely to occur during the flu season due to high patient volumes, according to the CDC.

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Health care systems are expected to use tests that identify seasonal influenza A as a subtype – so if a test comes back positive for influenza A but negative for seasonal influenza, that is an indicator that the detected virus might be novel.

Patient on hospital bed

Identifying bird flu infections will support better patient care and infection control, the CDC says. (iStock)

“Subtyping is especially important in people who have a history of relevant exposure to wild or domestic animals [that are] infected or possibly infected with avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses,” the CDC wrote.

In an HHS media briefing on Thursday, the CDC confirmed that the public risk for avian flu is still low, but is being closely monitored.

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The agency spokesperson clarified that this accelerated testing is not due to bird flu cases being missed, as the CDC noted in its press release that those hospitalized with influenza A “probably have seasonal influenza.”

Niels Riedemann, MD, PhD, CEO and founder of InflaRx, a German biotechnology company, said that understanding these subtypes is an “important step” in better preparing for “any potential outbreak of concerning variants.”

Blood collection tubes H5N1 in front of chicken

The CDC recommends avoiding direct contact with wild birds or other animals that may be infected. (iStock)

“It will also be important to foster research and development of therapeutics, including those addressing the patient’s inflammatory immune response to these types of viruses – as this has been shown to cause organ injury and death during the COVID pandemic,” he told Fox News Digital. 

Since 2022, there have been 67 total human cases of bird flu, according to the CDC, with 66 of those occurring in 2024.

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The CDC recommends that people avoid direct contact with wild birds or other animals that are suspected to be infected. Those who work closely with animals should also wear the proper personal protective equipment (PPE).

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Sick Prisoners in New York Were Granted Parole but Remain Behind Bars

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Sick Prisoners in New York Were Granted Parole but Remain Behind Bars

When the letter arrived at Westil Gonzalez’s prison cell saying that he had been granted parole, he couldn’t read it. Over the 33 years he had been locked up for murder, multiple sclerosis had taken much of his vision and left him reliant on a wheelchair.

He had a clear sense of what he would do once freed. “I want to give my testimony to a couple of young people who are out there, picking up guns,” Mr. Gonzalez, 57, said in a recent interview. “I want to save one person from what I’ve been through.”

But six months have passed, and Mr. Gonzalez is still incarcerated outside Buffalo, because the Department of Corrections has not found a nursing home that will accept him. Another New York inmate has been in the same limbo for 20 months. Others were released only after suing the state.

America’s elderly prison population is rising, partly because of more people serving long sentences for violent crimes. Nearly 16 percent of prisoners were over 55 in 2022, up from 5 percent in 2007. The share of prisoners over 65 quadrupled over the same time period, to about 4 percent.

Complex and costly medical conditions require more nursing care, both in prison and after an inmate’s release. Across the country, prison systems attempting to discharge inmates convicted of serious crimes often find themselves with few options. Nursing home beds can be hard to find even for those without criminal records.

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Spending on inmates’ medical care is increasing — in New York, it has grown to just over $7,500 in 2021 from about $6,000 per person in 2012. Even so, those who work with the incarcerated say the money is often not enough to keep up with the growing share of older inmates who have chronic health problems.

“We see a lot of unfortunate gaps in care,” said Dr. William Weber, an emergency physician in Chicago and medical director of the Medical Justice Alliance, a nonprofit that trains doctors to work as expert witnesses in cases involving prison inmates. With inmates often struggling to get specialty care or even copies of their own medical records, “things fall through the cracks,” he said.

Dr. Weber said he was recently involved in two cases of seriously ill prisoners, one in Pennsylvania and the other in Illinois, who could not be released without a nursing home placement. The Pennsylvania inmate died in prison and the Illinois man remains incarcerated, he said.

Almost all states have programs that allow early release for inmates with serious or life-threatening medical conditions. New York’s program is one of the more expansive: While other states often limit the policy to those with less than six months to live, New York’s is open to anyone with a terminal or debilitating illness. Nearly 90 people were granted medical parole in New York between 2020 and 2023.

But the state’s nursing home occupancy rate hovers around 90 percent, one of the highest in the nation, making it especially hard to find spots for prisoners.

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The prison system is “competing with hospital patients, rehabilitation patients and the general public that require skilled nursing for the limited number of beds available,” said Thomas Mailey, a spokesman for the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. He declined to comment on Mr. Gonzalez’s case or on any other inmate’s medical conditions.

Parolees remain in the state’s custody until their original imprisonment term has expired. Courts have previously upheld the state’s right to place conditions on prisoner releases to safeguard the public, such as barring paroled sex offenders from living near schools.

But lawyers and medical ethicists contend that paroled patients should be allowed to choose how to get their care. And some noted that these prisoners’ medical needs are not necessarily met in prison. Mr. Gonzalez, for example, said he had not received glasses, despite repeated requests. His disease has made one of his hands curl inward, leaving his unclipped nails to dig into his palm.

“Although I’m sympathetic to the difficulty of finding placements, the default solution cannot be continued incarceration,” said Steven Zeidman, director of the criminal defense clinic at CUNY School of Law. In 2019, one of his clients died in prison weeks after being granted medical parole.

New York does not publish data on how many inmates are waiting for nursing home placements. One 2018 study found that, between 2013 and 2015, six of the 36 inmates granted medical parole died before a placement could be found. The medical parole process moves slowly, the study showed, sometimes taking years for a prisoner to even get an interview about their possible release.

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Finding a nursing home can prove difficult even for a patient with no criminal record. Facilities have struggled to recruit staff, especially since the coronavirus pandemic. Nursing homes may also worry about the safety risk of someone with a prior conviction, or about the financial risk of losing residents who do not want to live in a facility that accepts former inmates.

“Nursing homes have concerns and, whether they are rational or not, it’s pretty easy not to pick up or return that phone call,” said Ruth Finkelstein, a professor at Hunter College who specializes in policies for older adults and reviewed legal filings at The Times’s request.

Some people involved in such cases said that New York prisons often perform little more than a cursory search for nursing care.

Jose Saldana, the director of a nonprofit called the Release Aging People in Prison Campaign, said that when he was incarcerated at Sullivan Correctional Facility from 2010 through 2016, he worked in a department that helped coordinate parolees’ releases. He said he often reminded his supervisor to call nursing homes that hadn’t picked up the first time.

“They would say they had too many other responsibilities to stay on the phone calling,” Mr. Saldana said.

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Mr. Mailey, the spokesman for the New York corrections department, said that the agency had multiple discharge teams seeking placement options.

In 2023, Arthur Green, a 73-year-old patient on kidney dialysis, sued the state for release four months after being granted medical parole. In his lawsuit, Mr. Green’s attorneys said that they had secured a nursing home placement for him, but that it lapsed because the Department of Corrections submitted an incomplete application to a nearby dialysis center.

The state found a placement for Mr. Green a year after his parole date, according to Martha Rayner, an attorney who specializes in prisoner release cases.

John Teixeira was granted medical parole in 2020, at age 56, but remained incarcerated for two and a half years, as the state searched for a nursing home. He had a history of heart attacks and took daily medications, including one delivered through an intravenous port. But an assessment from an independent cardiologist concluded that Mr. Teixeira did not need nursing care.

Lawyers with the Legal Aid Society in New York sued the state for his release, noting that during his wait, his port repeatedly became infected and his diagnosis progressed from “advanced” to “end-stage” heart failure.

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The Department of Corrections responded that 16 nursing homes had declined to accept Mr. Teixeira because they could not manage his medical needs. The case resolved three months after the suit was filed, when “the judge put significant pressure” on the state to find an appropriate placement, according to Stefen Short, one of Mr. Teixeira’s lawyers.

Some sick prisoners awaiting release have found it difficult to get medical care on the inside.

Steve Coleman, 67, has trouble walking and spends most of the day sitting down. After 43 years locked up for murder, he was granted parole in April 2023 and has remained incarcerated, as the state looks for a nursing home that could coordinate with a kidney dialysis center three times each week.

But Mr. Coleman has not had dialysis treatment since March, when the state ended a contract with its provider. The prison has offered to take Mr. Coleman to a nearby clinic for treatment, but he has declined because he finds the transportation protocol — which involves a strip search and shackles — painful and invasive.

“They say you’ve got to go through a strip search,” he said in a recent interview. “If I’m being paroled, I can’t walk and I’m going to a hospital, who could I be hurting?”

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Volunteers at the nonprofit Parole Prep Project, which assisted Mr. Coleman with his parole application, obtained a letter from Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City in June offering to give him medical care and help him transition back into the community.

Still incarcerated two months later, Mr. Coleman sued for his release.

In court filings, the state argued that it would be “unsafe and irresponsible” to release Mr. Coleman without plans to meet his medical needs. The state also said that it had contacted Mount Sinai, as well as hundreds of nursing homes, about Mr. Coleman’s placement and had never heard back.

In October, a court ruled in the prison system’s favor. Describing Mr. Coleman’s situation as “very sad and frustrating,” Justice Debra Givens of New York State Supreme Court concluded that the state had a rational reason to hold Mr. Coleman past his parole date. Ms. Rayner, Mr. Coleman’s lawyer, and the New York Civil Liberties Union appealed the ruling on Wednesday.

Fourteen medical ethicists have sent a letter to the prison supporting Mr. Coleman’s release. “Forcing continued incarceration under the guise of ‘best interests,’ even if doing so is well-intentioned, disregards his autonomy,” they wrote.

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Several other states have come up with a different solution for people on medical parole: soliciting the business of nursing homes that specialize in housing patients rejected elsewhere.

A private company called iCare in 2013 opened the first such facility in Connecticut, which now houses 95 residents. The company runs similar nursing homes in Vermont and Massachusetts.

David Skoczulek, iCare’s vice president of business development, said that these facilities tend to save states money because the federal government covers some of the costs through Medicaid.

“It’s more humane, less restrictive and cost-effective,” he said. “There is no reason for these people to remain in a corrections environment.”

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