Given the Poe Hall PCB contamination scandal, I’ve been doing a deep dive to try and figure out what the health consequences are for me. Unfortunately, the science is quite murky, because it is difficult to determine what is going on for people who have faced years of exposure to uncertain levels of PCBs. Besides skin disease, cancer seems to be the big concern. So I’ve done three tests so far:
1. Labcorp PCB bood test
I had this done before I discovered that this test is probably meaningless for those us of facing long-term exposure. As far as I can tell, there isn’t really any type of blood test for our situation. (I came up negative, which nevertheless was comforting.)
You find out more about the test here. I sent the link to my primary care physician and he ordered the test.
2. Galleri blood test for cancer
This test is pretty amazing. The idea is that tumors leak DNA into the bloodstream, and that different types of cancers have unique DNA signatures. So a simple blood draw at a local clinic can detect over 50 types of cancer, often in the early stages.
The downside is that insurance will typically not pay for it. The genetic consultant I met with (you get a free consultation to review your test results) said it’s because the test is so new they don’t have enough data demonstrating that outcomes will change enough given the cost, which is a hefty $950. However, for those us who worked in Poe for many years, I think the test is worth it. I plan to get it done annually for the rest of my life. $950 seems like a pretty cheap investment in my health, given that many cancers are detected too late to meaningfully treat them.
Here are my results, if you are curious about what you get. Page 6 is useful.
2. Invitae test for cancer genes
My genetic consultant recommended this test. They test for 65 genes linked to cancer, including BRCA2, the gene related to breast cancer. She told me not to bother with the heart disease screening test, but it was only an extra $50, so I figured what the hell. My test thankfully came back negative across the board.
It may seem odd to get genetic testing given my PCB exposure, but evidence is increasing that cancer is a result not just of environmental exposure, but how the environment interacts with your genes. So I believe this is an important test for those of us exposed to PCBs.
