Six Cases of Rare Ewing Sarcoma Reported in Ladera Ranch, Residents Seek Investigation

Families in the Ladera Ranch area of Orange County have reported at least six diagnoses of Ewing sarcoma, a rare bone and soft-tissue cancer that affects roughly 200 to 240 children nationwide each year, according to the American Cancer Society. One of the cases involved 17-year-old Brody Matteson, who died after a year of treatment for a tumor on his spine.

"He was an outdoor kid. There was a time to be outside, that was Brody," his mother, Megan Matteson, told NBC Los Angeles.

After Brody's death, other families in the community contacted the Mattesons, noting similar diagnoses. The families have asked local officials to examine whether pesticide applications in the neighborhood could be a factor, although research has not established a direct causal link.

"We cannot say that this is what’s causing it," attorney Jackie French said. "We feel like there’s a larger number of cancer cases in Ladera than normal, and in looking at the pesticide use, it does seem like it’s more than normal in Ladera."

Residents attended a homeowners-association meeting where they advocated for changes to landscaping and pest-control practices, including the creation of an advisory board to promote integrated pest management and reduce synthetic pesticide use.

"We felt like we got some positive feedback that they’re going to be willing to work with us," Brody’s father, Dustin Matteson, said after the meeting.

Orange County health officials reported that an initial review of cancer data has not revealed a clear pattern among the cases, but a further review is planned in response to community concerns. The investigation will consider environmental factors while acknowledging that Ewing sarcoma remains a rare and aggressive disease with no established environmental cause.