Sixth Nurse Diagnosed With Brain Tumor in Possible Cluster at Massachusetts Hospital

Something strange could be happening at a Massachusetts hospital. At least six employees working on the same floor of the Newton-Wellesley Hospital have recently developed benign brain tumors.

The latest brain tumor case was disclosed this week by the Department of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) at Mass General Brigham, the parent system of Newton-Wellesley. The affected employees are nurses who have worked on the fifth floor maternity unit. The hospital says its investigation has not yet identified any “environmental risk” linking the cases, though the Massachusetts Nurses Association is still looking into the matter.

The potential tumor cluster was first reported by local media outlet WBZ in early April, while the hospital’s investigation had begun in December. Prior to this week, five employees at Newton-Wellesley were known to have developed brain tumors. On Monday, the Boston Herald reported that the OHS sent a letter to patients and families revealing a sixth case.

“To date, through their employee interview process, OHS has identified six staff members who have worked for varying durations on the fifth floor and report developing benign (non-cancerous) brain tumors,” Ellen Moloney, president and COO of Mass General Brigham/Newton-Wellesley Hospital, wrote in the letter, according to the Herald.

Cancer or tumor clusters are sometimes caused by environmental contaminants, such as carcinogenic toxins that end up in the same drinking water. But the OHS says it has yet to find any potential shared cause at the hospital for these cases.

“While the OHS investigation is ongoing, we have found no evidence that these medical conditions were caused by the work environment,” Moloney said in the letter.

The employees themselves aren’t convinced, however. And at least some believe that other recent illnesses among their staff could be connected to the workplace.

“We want reassurance, because this has not been a reassuring past few months for a lot of the staff members,” one nurse diagnosed with a tumor, who was granted anonymity, told WBZ. “We want to feel safe, the same way we want to make our patients feel safe.”

The Massachusetts Nurse Association, a union representing nurses at MGH, is also conducting its own investigation. The Association previously told the Herald in early April that the hospital’s investigation was “not comprehensive.” And for now, it’s still not closing the book on something being wrong at Newton-Wellesley Hospital.

“We are glad to see the hospital is continuing to look into this situation,” a Massachusetts Nurses Association spokesperson said in a statement to the Herald. “Our investigation is ongoing, and we will share the results when our health and safety division completes its review of the diagnoses reported to the MNA.”

The union’s findings are expected to be released to the public by the end of the month.