Possible cancer cluster emerges in Sydney

A potential cancer cluster is currently being investigated after five women who worked in the same Sydney office building developed thyroid cancer.

Liverpool City Council confirmed five staff members working at its Moore Street office building, in Sydney’s southwest, have developed cancer in the last three to five years.

Four of the five workers are taking part in an urgent investigation by the NSW Department of Health. A sixth worker who has reported a thyroid condition has also opted out.

The staff members were working on levels five and six of the office building.

Level six has since been shut down and workers have been relocated to level four while the investigation takes place.

Jenny Havilah, who works on level six and was recently diagnosed with thyroid cancer, told 9News she was concerned for her colleagues.

“It certainly sounds very sinister,” she told the outletwhen asked about how three of her workmates who sat five metres apart were experiencing the same health issue.

“I’m worried about my colleagues, not just on the sixth floor (but) that worked in that building.”

“I had my thyroid and some lymph nodes removed and I’ll get the results in a week or so.”

In a statement, Liverpool City Council said it was taking the matter “very seriously”. It has engaged a third-party environmental health consultant while the NSW Department of Health undertakes a separate epidemiological investigation.

“The decision to relocate staff is in response to the council’s high level of concern for the welfare of its staff,” the council said.

“Our thoughts are with those affected and we wish them a prompt recovery.”

The council’s acting CEO Jason Breton informed staff of the situation during a meeting this week, with the leaked audio recording obtained by 9News.

In the clip, Mr Breton can be heard telling staff three of the women were in different stages of the illness but were “well and working”.

“Yes, we’ll get some media about this – we’ll deal with that, we have a bit of a strategy for that,” he said.

However, Ms Havilah told 9News she was “far from well and working”.

The council told 9News in a separate statement the women have been informed it is “unlikely there is a causal connection between our workplace and the cancer diagnosis”.

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