NSW Health confirm investigation into cancer cluster at Sydney’s Blakehurst High School

Government health officials have confirmed a major investigation is underway amid concerning reports of a cancer cluster cover-up at a Sydney high school.

NSW Premier Chris Minns has been enraged about the alleged situation involving a group of teachers falling victim to the supposed cancer cluster and pressure for them to remain silent.

7NEWS uncovered the story of the female teachers at Blakehurst High School in Sydney’s South, that were all diagnosed with cancer within a short space of time.

Minns vowed to “leave no stone unturned” after the teachers were told not to speak out while battling tumours.

Former science teacher at the school, Deb Fabrizio, is fighting breast cancer and says she is “haunted” by her time at Blakehurst High after resigning in February after raising concerns about staff falling ill.

The head science teacher before her, Linda O’Brien, passed away in 2023.

“We had, I don’t know if I’m allowed to say this, but three head teachers in a row with breast cancer,” Ms Fabrizio said after being asked about the number of teachers that had fallen ill.

“It’s either a cluster or it’s extraordinarily bad luck. Like, you know, that’s a curse level there.”

Initial testing of the science facilities, including the storeroom, prep room, break rooms and science labs all came back clear but NSW Health has confirmed to The Nightly that an investigation is now underway.

“The South Eastern Sydney Local Health District is working with the NSW Department of Education to assess potential cancer risk associated with Blakehurst High School,” a spokesperson for the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District said.

“Following a request for assistance from the Education department, SESLHD will undertake an assessment, which includes interviewing affected staff members and gathering information about their illness to determine if there is an unexpected cancer incidence associated with the school warranting further investigation.

“Once this assessment is completed, the district’s Public Health Unit will advise the Department of Education and the school community if there is any need for further investigation.

“Cancer is common in Australia. In most cases, an increase in cancer within a location reflects the variable incidence of cancer in the community, and no risk is associated with that location.”

What is a cancer cluster?

Cancer clusters have been defined as a genuine source of concern for local and state governments across Australia.

The term ‘cancer cluster’ refers to the occurrence of a specific cancer where the observed number of cases is more than the expected number of cases within a group of people in a geographic location over a period time, according to the official circular from Queensland Health.

“Suspected clusters are often reported by members of the general public who are concerned when a high number of cancer cases is diagnosed in their family, friends, neighbours or co-workers,” the report states.

Certain cancer’s can be included or excluded from consideration when health officials assess whether or not to do declare concerns of a concentration of a particular cancer developing in a community or workplace.

Suspected clusters of any malignant cancers can trigger a public health assessment according to the Queensland Health Non-Communicable Disease Cluster Assessment Guidelines of 2019.

Cancers that are non-malignant such as non-melanoma skin cancers and ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS) of the breast are not included, because of the lack of reliable population data for these conditions according to the circular.

When assessing to determine if an area may be deemed as a cancer cluster, various considerations must be factored in.

“Information is gathered about the number of cases, age, sex, address, occupation, period of work or residence, age at diagnosis of cancer, type of cancer, the population potentially at risk (for example, all employees in the workplace) and any suspected exposure to potentially cancer-causing hazards,” the advice states.

“This information is evaluated based on the current knowledge of the cancer risk factors. The next step is to estimate the number of cancer cases that could be expected if the population within the suspected cluster had the same risk profile as the population, a process called epidemiological assessment.

“In most cases, assessments are resolved upon evaluation of the initial information gathered.”

When is a suspected cancer cluster likely to be a confirmed cancer cluster?

Queensland Health experts have outlined the criteria to declare a cancer cluster, stating that at first impression the may not be confirmed as a cluster even if “an assessment shows that the reported number of cases is greater than the expected range for the population”.

A suspected cancer cluster is more likely to be a confirmed cluster if:

• The cases are all one type of cancer, rather than different types
• It is a rare type of cancer
• It is a type of cancer that is not usually found in a certain age group
• There is a significant exposure to a known carcinogen (cancer-causing agent)

Cancer cluster’s, like the disease, “may have occurred simply by chance as a pattern of random distribution” according to the report.

“School and office environments generally do not contain significant carcinogenic hazards but asbestos can be a concern in older buildings and exposure to asbestos is known to cause lung cancer and mesothelioma.

“It is not known to cause breast cancer, colorectal cancer or brain cancer which are the types of cancer more likely to be reported by people in these environments,” the Queensland Health statement says.