Letter: Balancing leukaemia figures

From Dr Amanda Burls and

Dr Jill Meara

Sir: Northamptonshire Health Authority has this month published a 68- page report, Investigation into Childhood Leukaemia in Northampton. Analysis shows that, despite high levels of public anxiety, the rate of childhood leukaemia in Northampton is no higher than the national rate (38 cases per million children under 15 per annum).

In your article " 'Pylon cancer' report boosts parents' battle" (14 February), you state: "In one street in Northampton there have been three cases of leukaemia (there are about 600 cases nationally each year)."

While there have been three cases in one street, these have occurred over a seven-year period and, therefore, it is misleading to compare this with annual incidence rates. Moreover, there were no cases previously recorded in this area and if the rate were calculated over an appropriate time period, say 10 years, it would appear even smaller.

Yours faithfully,

Amanda Burls

Senior Registrar in

Public Health Medicine

Jill Meara

Director of Public Health

Northamptonshire Health

Authority

Northampton

14 February