OEM: Occupational cancer

["Patricia Edgerton" <HW1.PEDGERTO@HW1.CAHWNET.GOV>]

I am suprised at the tone of this question.  Here in the states we have no
control over who applies for what job.  Example:  the "declared pregnancy"
was formulated in response to a law suit from women who were being reassigned
to other duties without their consent due to being pregnant.  Each person
has a right to their own destiny and it would be inappropriate to prohibit
them from performing a job due to prior anything.  The only exemption is
our lifetime dose limitations on planned special exposures.

I was a nuclear medicine technologist for 13 years, then I got into medical
physics by going back to school and getting an MS.  During the time I was
getting my masters, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  And, in my case,
I can tell you, anyone who prohibited me, without my consent, from working
around radiation would have a legal fight on their hands.  It is my choice
and I have made it knowledgeably.

The opinions above are mine alone and do not represent my employer's or anyone
else for that matter.

Trisha Edgerton
pedgerto@hw1.cahwnet.gov

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Subject: OEM: Occupational cancer

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Please direct/include response to the requestor.

Regards, Jim Muckerheide
-------------
Date: Wed, 08 Nov 1995 12:34:14 +0200 (IST)
 From: Dr Yosi Riback <occup01@post.tau.ac.il>
Subject: OEM: Occupational cancer
Sender: owner-occ-env-med-l@list.mc.duke.edu

We have a patient who was treated for Hodgkin's disease and now one year
after treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy and remains in
complete remission. She is applying for a job as a radiology technision.
We have a few questions.
1. Can a patient with a cancer without evidence of an exposure to known
or suspected carcinogens be employed in a job with exposure to known
carcinogens?, suspected carcinogens?, probable carcinogens?
2. Can a patient with a cancer with evidence of a prior exposure to known
or suspected carcinogens be employed in a job as in question 1? Also
please consider if the exposure to to the same or different carcinogens.
3. Can a patient with a cancer be allowed to work with exposure to a
substance which may cause immune suppression? (lead?, biological engineering
workers?)
Thank you for your responses,

Judith Shaham MD
Head of the Occupational Cancer Unit
Occupational Health Institute
Raanana, Israel