Susan and Aimee Plant have welcomed the report

Fears were initially aroused after reports that up to six young adults in Helston had contracted a form of bone cancer over a period from 1998 to 2002.

But the inquiry has now found that there were fewer cases than originally thought.

The investigation was carried out by the South West Cancer Intelligence Service (SWCIS) into reports of cases of osteosarcoma in the Helston area.

The children who had this had come from all sorts of places and backgrounds Aimee Plant

Osteosarcoma occurs mainly in adolescence, when bones are growing fastest.

The investigation in summer 2003 by SWCIS director Dr Julia Verne followed investigations into reports of six cases of the disease affecting children between the ages of 14 and 17 at the time of diagnosis.

Her report said only four cases had been identified in the west Cornwall area between 1998 and 2002.

Of the four cases identified, only two patients lived in the Helston area.

One of the other suggested cases came from outside the West Cornwall Primary Care Trust area, and the other did not exist.

Dr Verne said: "This supports the evidence it is highly unlikely there are common environmental factors linking the cases.

"I understand people may feel four cases in five years is a high rate for a rare bone cancer.

"But short term increases in rates of specific cancers are not uncommon."

Different backgrounds

Aimee Plant, 15, from Helston, had to have her leg amputated last September after contracting the disease.

Aimee and her mother, Susan Plant, said the report was in line with what they expected.

Susan Plant said: "I think people will realise that it's nothing directly in our area.

"I didn't think for one minute Aimee got it because of something from the area. I think it's one of those things that sometimes happens to people occasionally and, unfortunately, it was Aimee."

Aimee Plant said: "To be honest, I didn't think it could be a cluster, because all of the children who had this had come from all sorts of places and backgrounds."

Dr Verne said incidences of the disease would continue to be monitored.