Cancer feasibility study launches in Flint to explore environmental and health links

FLINT, Michigan — Michigan State University (MSU), the University of Michigan, and Flint residents have launched a cancer feasibility study in response to ongoing concerns about elevated cancer rates in Flint, particularly following the city’s water crisis.

The Flint Community Cancer Consortium (FC3), a collaborative group of residents, researchers, health professionals, and community organizations, is leading the study. The project is funded by a $400,000 grant through the National Minority Quality Forum and supported by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).

According to recent MDHHS analyses, Flint has higher-than-expected rates of several types of cancer, including lung, prostate, larynx, and stomach cancer. Residents have also raised questions about multiple myeloma and other less common cancers.

“The goal of the feasibility study is to determine whether a full-scale cancer investigation in Flint is possible, needed, and wanted by the community,” the research team shared with Flintside. “We’re laying the groundwork by examining local cancer trends, environmental exposures, and how future research can be community-led, ethical, and scientifically sound.”

Researchers are reviewing available cancer data, identifying types with elevated local incidence, and assessing known environmental exposures such as lead and PFAS. The study is also considering how social and economic conditions may interact with environmental risks.

“We’re taking a layered approach,” the team said. “While data on some rare cancers may be limited, we’re incorporating resident input to guide which cancer patterns and exposures are most important to investigate.”

The FC3 includes local health advocates, youth, clinicians, researchers, and partner organizations such as Community-Based Organization Partners, Genesee Health Plan, Greater Flint Health Coalition, and the Flint Public Health Youth Academy.

The study includes plans for town halls and public listening sessions to gather resident perspectives and share information. The partnership emphasizes shared leadership, with researchers and community members working together throughout the process.

Researchers acknowledged challenges in studying environmental causes of cancer in underserved areas, including limited data availability, community distrust stemming from historical harm, and difficulties in tracking health outcomes over time due to population changes.

The project seeks to address these issues by building local partnerships and identifying gaps in data and resources. “We’re not just reviewing existing information,” the team said. “We’re also working to establish the systems, relationships, and data tools needed for future research and monitoring.”

The findings of the feasibility study will determine whether a more comprehensive cancer epidemiology project should proceed in Flint. The research team aims to inform future cancer prevention, detection, and care strategies based on the study’s results.

More information about the study, upcoming events, and community involvement opportunities is available at: Flintcancer.org