Newly surfaced handwritten notes from the developer of a California community are fueling concerns among residents grappling with a cluster of rare childhood cancer cases. The notes, dating back to the early 2000s when the master-planned community of Ladera Ranch was under construction, mention "this well is not to be built over without further considerations."
These memos, discovered in the archives of DMB Development, have resurfaced as parents in Ladera Ranch, an affluent community of approximately 25,000 residents located east of Laguna Beach, seek answers for a disproportionately high number of Ewing sarcoma diagnoses. Between 2013 and 2024, at least six children and young adults in the area have been diagnosed with this aggressive bone and soft tissue cancer.
Ewing sarcoma is exceptionally rare, affecting only about 200 people annually in the United States and disproportionately impacting children and teenagers. The disease carries a grim prognosis, with a survival rate of only 30 percent if not detected early.
Ladera Ranch parents have long investigated potential environmental causes for the cancer cluster, with theories including heavy pesticide use and proximity to a landfill. The rediscovery of the developer's notes has added another layer of complexity to their search for answers.
The notes were found on a Department of Conservation permit related to the re-sealing of two abandoned oil wells by DMB Development in 2002 to meet contemporary safety standards. While these wells did not have a history of producing oil or gas, and no direct link has been established to the Ewing sarcoma cases, the presence of the cautionary notes has amplified resident anxieties.
The Department of Conservation suggested to the Los Angeles Times that the note's inclusion in the final report might have been a clerical error. However, another handwritten message stating "put on final letter" was not commented on by the department when questioned.
It remains unclear what "further consideration" was given to the wells, or why construction over them was advised against. The ambiguity surrounding these notes leaves parents demanding a thorough investigation into the environmental factors that might be contributing to the cancer diagnoses.
"There's something wrong here. I had never even heard of this kind of cancer before," said Bonnie Regan, whose son died from Ewing sarcoma. Brian Dalton, who lost his 23-year-old daughter Lily to the disease in January, echoed the call for a comprehensive inquiry. "When something this unusual happens, families deserve answers," Dalton told the California Post. "If there is even a possibility that environmental exposures, including pesticides or any other factor, could be contributing, then those possibilities deserve a thorough, transparent, independent investigation."
Dustin Matteson, whose 17-year-old son Brody died from the illness in March, stated, "It feels like where we live, and with the high number of cases, it’s a place where you should be able to find out what caused it."
Experts acknowledge the residents' concerns. Karen Lincoln, director of the Center for Environmental Health Disparities Research at UC Irvine, stated, "We don’t know that the well is causing harm. But residents are telling us they are concerned about a potential environmental health risk. They deserve a serious, transparent response."
Dr. Janet Yoon, a pediatric hematologist-oncologist specializing in Ewing sarcoma at City of Hope, noted that proving a direct link between the Ladera Ranch cases would be "incredibly challenging." However, she confirmed that the number of cases appears unusually high, adding, "There definitely is cause for concern for members of this community."