Nurses Sound Alarm Over Brain Tumor Cluster—10 Cases on One Hospital Unit

Nurses at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, a division of Mass General Brigham in Massachusetts, have raised concerns over a growing number of brain tumor cases among staff working on the fifth-floor maternal care ward. Reports indicate that as many as ten nurses have been diagnosed with varying types of brain tumors over the past few years, some malignant and others benign. The situation has caused significant anxiety among staff, who are seeking reassurance and safety in their workplace

What's Being Done?

The hospital kicked off an investigation in December 2024, following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and included the Department of Occupational Health and Safety, the hospital’s Safety Officer, and some external environmental consultants to help investigate. Their conclusion was that there are "no environmental risks which could be linked to the development of a brain tumor." But that answer hasn’t put the nurses' minds at ease.

"We want to feel safe, the same way we want to make our patients feel safe," one nurse confided to CBS Boston, echoing the growing unease among staff. Despite continuing to care for their patients, these nurses can't help but wonder if something in their work environment is putting them at risk. Hospital officials confirmed six cases after interviewing ten nurses, with three having undergone surgery.

Even occupational health experts admit that pinpointing environmental causes for cancer clusters is like finding a needle in a haystack. You’ve got to consider all sorts of exposures—radiation, chemicals, or maybe something in the building materials. The complexity often leaves you with more questions than answers, which isn't comforting when your health feels like it's on the line.

Newton-Wellesley Hospital’s Full Response

The hospital provided the following statement to WBZ-TV:

After we became aware of reported brain tumors in individuals who currently or previously had worked in the same area of the hospital, we conducted an extensive investigation in collaboration with the Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Newton-Wellesley Safety Officer, radiation and pharmaceutical safety offices, and external environmental consultants.

Every staff member who came forward was given the opportunity to be interviewed by the Occupational Health and Safety team to evaluate each diagnosis in the context of their individual medical history and risk factors. To evaluate for any possible environmental exposures in that area of the hospital, comprehensive environmental assessments following CDC guidelines began in December.

The investigation found no environmental risks which could be linked to the development of a brain tumor. We presented these findings to relevant stakeholder groups, including the staff on the unit and the Massachusetts Nursing Association, and have held forums to meet with clinical and Occupational Health leaders to answer their questions. The hospital is providing the MNA with the test results from the investigation, including those of several external environmental firms.

Based on these results, we can confidently reassure our dedicated team members at Mass General Brigham/Newton-Wellesley Hospital and all our patients that there is no environmental risk at our facility. As always, the health and wellbeing of our staff, clinicians, and patients is our absolute top priority," - Jonathan Sonis, Associate Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Medical Affairs and Sandy Muse, Chief Nursing Officer and Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services. 

The Nurses Speak Up: "This can't just be a coincidence."

Despite the reported findings, nurses are calling for an independent investigation, expressing skepticism about the hospital's conclusions. They argue that the statistical occurrence of such cases in a single unit seems unusual and warrants further scrutiny. The Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) continues to support affected staff members, urging others who may have been impacted to come forward; their involvement shows how crucial it is to have an outside perspective to verify internal findings. Furthermore, the involvement of the state health department brings some extra scrutiny and expertise, hopefully shedding light on any overlooked factors.

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But there's another twist. Some nurses are worried about retaliation for voicing their concerns. It's a tough spot to be in—juggling your duty to care for patients with the need to advocate for your own health. Fear of retaliation hurts open discussions, making it tough to effectively address safety concerns.

Beyond the Hospital Walls

For the nurses at Newton-Wellesley, the focus remains on their immediate health and safety. While it’s true that statistical anomalies can happen, the unusual concentration of serious health conditions among colleagues sharing the same workspace raises valid concerns. Their call for more thorough testing and analysis is a plea for peace of mind that their workplace is safe.

As this situation unfolds, we’re reminded of the importance of keeping our workplaces safe, maintaining open lines of communication, and having solid protocols for investigating potential hazards. After all, a safe environment isn't just about protecting healthcare workers—it’s also about ensuring they can provide the best care possible to their patients. This case might just serve as a valuable lesson for other healthcare institutions navigating similar concerns.

Nurse.org will continue to update this article as new findings are announced.

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