Meeting held regarding cancer concerns, water contamination

SATELLITE BEACH, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - There was standing room only during a community meeting in Satellite Beach Sunday, regarding cancer concerns and water contamination.  

A number of people in the crowd raised their hands when asked whether they are a cancer survivor, or the parent of one. 

“We’ve all been through it, we’re all going through it now. We’re all feeling the same thing. We’re asking, why?” said Stacey Lang, a Satellite High School graduate who was diagnosed with breast cancer. 

Right now, health officials are investigating a possible cancer cluster among Satellite High School alumni. 

People want to know if something in the water could be making them sick. 

Earlier this week, Satellite Beach and Cocoa Beach announced cancer-causing chemicals were found in the groundwater. 

School board officials say they found trace levels of a contaminant in the drinking water at nine schools in Brevard County. 

They say according to federal guidelines, the water is still safe. 

This all comes after a report on Patrick Air Force base showed the groundwater was contaminated with high levels of cancer-causing chemicals. 

The compounds are in a foam firefighters on the base have used. 

“I think all we found is more questions right now, which I know is frustrating to a lot of the residents,” said Dr. Julie Greenwalt, a radiation oncologist and cancer survivor who graduated from Satellite High School. 

She’s been spearheading the effort to investigate the possible cancer cluster. 

A number of residents lined up to voice their concerns at the meeting. 

But, officials say it’s too early to determine the exact impact of the chemicals detected in the water. 

They say they plan to do more testing. 

Those in the crowd say they’ll keep putting on the pressure. 

“We don’t want to grow up and have our children go through the same thing we did. It needs to stop,” said Victoria Sittig, a Satellite High School graduate diagnosed with breast cancer. 

City leaders say they anticipate holding more community meetings in the future.