State lawmakers and health leaders heard from experts about unusually high rates of thyroid cancer in the neighboring counties of Northeast Georgia: Union, Lumpkin, Hall, White, Habersham, and Rabun, in a first-of-its-kind House committee meeting.
In late May, unusually high thyroid cancer rates in Northeast Georgia brought a House committee, state lawmakers, and health leaders to meet with experts at the University of North Georgia to discuss future action.
According to a report from 11Alive in 2024, Habersham, White, Hall, Rabun, and Lumpkin hold thyroid cancer rates that are double the national average. This has led experts at UNG to ask, “Why?” in a recent study.
“While radiation is the number one cause, there are other things in the environment that need to be investigated,” said Dr. Parker Hyde. “The University of North Georgia is committed to figuring out what is happening. This is happening in our backyard. These are our neighbors who are suffering with this increase in thyroid disease and thyroid cancers.”
A recent partnership between NGHS and UNG marks the state’s first steps toward answers that can help keep the Northeast region of Georgia safe.
“It does take money. We'll just have to look at the state funding and see what we can do,” said Representative Lee Hawkins (R-Gainesville). “The governor of this state cares, and I look forward to working with his team more in the future, especially on this subject.”
