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Pushing for more information on glioblastoma cases

Posted at 11:22 PM, Dec 06, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-06 23:22:57-05

There is a new push from Congressman Brian Mast to get more information about the local number of glioblastoma in St. Lucie County.

Glioblastoma is a rare and deadly form of brain cancer. Dozens of people have been diagnosed within the county in recent years. 

Last month, the state's cancer registry was expected to release more recent numbers of glioblastoma diagnoses in St. Lucie County, but it did not happen. 

For now, the state has only released the number of cases up to 2015. 

Brian Mast sent a letter to the state's cancer registry and local health department officials, asking them to expedite the numbers for 2016 and 2017. 

Mast says delaying the release of the numbers delays letting families know whether or not there is a cancer cluster. 

The Congressman says the federal government is willing to provide technical assistance for researching local glioblastoma concerns, but he says the state health department has not requested help.