Ladera Ranch residents are looking for answers following an unusual number of diagnoses of a rare bone cancer. Brody Matteson, 17, died in March after a 20-month battle with Ewing sarcoma, a cancer so uncommon that only about 200 children and teens are diagnosed annually nationwide. Following his death, his parents learned of other families in the Orange County community whose children also suffered from the disease. Community members have tallied at least six cases of Ewing sarcoma diagnosed among children and young adults in Ladera Ranch between 2013 and 2024.
Dr. Janet Yoon, a pediatric hematologist-oncologist at City of Hope specializing in Ewing sarcoma, stated these numbers "strike her as unusual and merit further investigation," though proving a causal link would be extremely challenging. No known environmental causes exist for Ewing sarcoma, and research into risk factors is limited due to its rarity. In response to residents' concerns, the California Cancer Registry is reviewing data for Ladera Ranch, a community of about 26,000. Their analysis, expected this fall, will determine if a regional cluster of Ewing sarcoma or other cancers exists.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines a cancer cluster as a higher-than-expected number of cases in a specific area over a defined period. However, epidemiologists Logan Spector and Joseph Wiemels warn that even if a cluster is identified, a discernible cause may not be found, noting "coincidence can, in fact, be the reason for an apparent cluster." This offers little comfort to parents like Bonnie Regan, whose son Ryan died from Ewing sarcoma in October 2025. Dustin Matteson, Brody's father, expressed that residents believe they "should be able to find out what caused it."
A coalition of residents formed Ladera Health Watch to collect health data, review local environmental and pesticide records, and advocate for investigations. The group also tracks anecdotal reports of other cancers and chronic illnesses. DeAnn Kling, whose daughter died from a blood clot and is one of three on her street with breast cancer, believes "There is something going on." Both the Ladera Ranch Maintenance Corp. and Capistrano Unified School District have temporarily halted certain pesticide use. Ladera Health Watch members are also investigating old oil and gas wells beneath the community and the nearby Prima Deshecha Landfill as possible contamination sources.
Two abandoned oil wells under Ladera Ranch were "re-abandoned" by DMB Development in the early 2000s. Residents are concerned about a note in one well's files (15 Citrus Lane) that reads, "This well is not to be built over without further consideration," appearing multiple times without explanation. Jill Johnston, a UC Irvine environmental health professor, had never encountered such a warning. Kenneth Henderson, who signed off on the final report, did not recall the note's purpose. CalGEM has been asked to reevaluate the well's integrity. Though wells can spread carcinogens, a January study found no statistically significant correlation between their proximity and childhood Ewing sarcoma in California.
