Community-Academic

Feasibility Study

Assessing Unusual Cancer Patterns in Flint, Michigan

FC3’s flagship initiative is a cancer feasibility study designed to assess whether a larger, community-driven epidemiological study can and should be conducted in Flint.

This study responds directly to residents’ concerns about unusual and aggressive cancer patterns – particularly in the wake of the Flint Water Crisis – and seeks to determine if those patterns may be linked to geography, environmental exposures, or occupation.

The study is guided by the following goals:

Determine Viability and Ethics: Assess whether a full-scale environmental epidemiology study can be conducted ethically, safely, and effectively.
Center Community Voice: Ensure Flint residents shape the study’s direction, priorities, and interpretation of findings.
Build Trust and Transparency: Promote open communication and community involvement at every stage.
Improve Access to Data: Identify gaps in publicly available cancer data and work toward greater transparency.
Support Prevention and Education: Begin sharing culturally relevant, accessible information about cancer and environmental health while long-term research is being planned.

MDHHS Cancer Incidence Reports

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) reviews cancer incidence trends to help communities, researchers, and public health agencies understand where cancer rates are higher, lower, or consistent with expectations. These reports summarize cancer cases over time, compare Flint and Genesee County to statewide data, and highlight key findings and limitations. Below you will find the MDHHS cancer incidence reports used by FC3 and community partners to inform research questions, feasibility assessments, and ongoing public health communication.

Genesee County, 1985–2015

This longer-term review provides ZIP-code level analysis and countywide trends over 30 years.
Genesee County’s overall cancer incidence was higher than Michigan for most of 1985–2015.
ZIP code 48505 had the greatest number of elevated cancer types (11 higher-than-expected) as well as several lower-than-expected cancer sites.
Some ZIP codes had higher-than-expected rates, others lower—showing variation across the county.
Like all MDHHS reviews, results are descriptive and cannot determine whether cancer is linked to environmental exposures.
Source: Genesee County, Michigan Cancer Incidence Review, 1985–2015

City of Flint, 2000–2018

Flint had a higher incidence of lung and bronchus, larynx, stomach, and prostate cancers than Michigan overall.
Flint had lower incidence of cancers such as ovary, testes, urinary bladder, and brain/CNS.
Limited cancer types could be analyzed annually due to small case numbers.
The report does not determine causes of cancer or link cancer rates to specific environmental exposures.This MDHHS report examines cancer sites associated with lead, PFAS, and trihalomethanes, based on what has been reported in scientific literature. Key findings include:
Source: Cancer Incidence Data Review, City of Flint, Michigan, 2000–2018

CDC Guidelines: Examining Unusual Patterns of Cancer & Environmental Concerns
These updated CDC guidelines outline how state and local health departments evaluate community cancer concerns, including stakeholder engagement, statistical methods, and environmental context. The guidelines clarify what counts as an “unusual pattern,” outline investigation steps, and highlight limitations such as latency, small numbers, and migration. Source: CDC Guidelines for Examining Unusual Patterns of Cancer and Environmental Concerns.

Feasibility Panel Members

This project is supported by the National Minority Quality Forum and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, with active contributions from our anchor partners the Greater Flint Health Coalition, Genesee Health Plan, Community Based Organization Partners (CBOP), the Flint Public Health Youth Academy, and community leaders and local residents.