Six Ladera Ranch Children Diagnosed With Rare Cancer, Prompting State and Federal Investigations
LADERA RANCH, Calif. — A growing health concern in the Orange County community of Ladera Ranch has drawn attention from local, state, and federal officials after at least six children were diagnosed with a rare form of cancer known as Ewing sarcoma.
The cluster of reported cases has raised concerns among residents about whether environmental factors may have played a role. Officials stress that no direct cause has been identified, but calls are growing for a thorough, science-based investigation.
On Wednesday evening, Bill Essayli, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Central District of California, announced that he had sent a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requesting a review of the cases.
In the letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, Essayli said his office had been made aware of multiple pediatric Ewing sarcoma cases in Ladera Ranch and that residents were concerned about a possible cancer cluster and potential environmental exposures.
“At least six children have been diagnosed with this rare bone and soft-tissue cancer,” Essayli wrote, noting that 17-year-old Brody Matteson died after complications during treatment.
Essayli said federal health agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), recognize that unusual patterns of cancer and community concerns about environmental exposure should be evaluated through a systematic and scientific process.
He requested that the EPA determine whether any environmental factors may be linked to the reported cases and whether any federal environmental laws could be involved.
The federal request comes as Orange County officials are also pushing for answers.
Orange County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Katrina Foley recently sent a letter to the California Department of Public Health urging the state to accelerate its review and provide residents with timely, transparent updates.
“Families in Ladera Ranch deserve answers, transparency, and urgency,” Foley said. “We do not yet know what caused these cancers, but that uncertainty requires a comprehensive review of every credible factor, including possible environmental exposures.”
The Orange County Health Care Agency first asked the California Cancer Registry to review concerns about cancer cases in Ladera Ranch in 2024. At that time, the registry found no clear pattern suggesting a cancer cluster.
Following renewed concerns from residents, the Health Care Agency has asked the California Cancer Registry, the UCI Cancer Center, and the Orange County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office to conduct a renewed assessment. The review is currently ongoing.
While officials have not found evidence directly linking the cases to environmental contamination, some residents have raised concerns about the long-term use of herbicides in the community.
Foley has advocated for reducing the use of harmful herbicides on county property and expanding safer vegetation management practices. Orange County Public Works has already shifted to steam-based weed control methods instead of herbicides along residential streets in Ladera Ranch.
However, much of the community’s landscaping and common-area maintenance is managed by the Ladera Ranch Maintenance Corporation (LARMAC). Foley has urged the homeowners association to consider safer, non-toxic approaches as it reviews its maintenance practices.
As multiple agencies continue their reviews, Ladera Ranch families are waiting for answers — hoping investigators can determine whether the cases are a tragic coincidence or connected to a larger environmental concern.
Ewing sarcoma is a rare cancer that develops in the bones or soft tissues around bones, most commonly affecting children, teenagers, and young adults. About 200 cases are diagnosed each year in the United States. Symptoms may include persistent bone pain, swelling, fever, limping, or unexplained fractures. Treatment typically involves chemotherapy, surgery, and sometimes radiation therapy. When diagnosed before the cancer spreads, the long-term survival rate can be around 70%.
