She said it was something no parent should ever see.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is currently investigating whether possible environmental factors could be connected to multiple teachers being diagnosed with breast cancer, or precancerous conditions, in recent years, at Uxbridge High School.

Concerns were raised in a letter that was issued to families and staff on June 1, in which Principal Michael Rubin described the news as ‘sobering’.

As well as running numerous tests on the building and its surroundings, health officials have also contacted the affected teachers, and are reviewing factors including age, medical history, genetic history and specific diagnoses.

The school has issued a statement following the ‘sobering’ news. (Google Maps)
The school has issued a statement following the ‘sobering’ news. (Google Maps)
“It is, of course, possible that these multiple cases are not connected to one another, but out of abundance of caution, we are looking into any environmental factors at the school that may be a factor in their diagnoses,” the school principal wrote.

Rubin added: “Massachusetts DPH officials have indicated that there is no evidence of immediate danger in the building and no reason to limit access to or use of the facility at this time.”

The 123,000-square-foot school opened in 2012, and educates roughly 600 students.

“The health and safety of all of our students and staff remain our highest priority,” the letter continued.

“As the evaluation continues, we encourage community members not to engage in speculation or draw conclusions that are not supported by the facts.”

The health department’s Indoor Air Quality Unit is expected to conduct air quality testing tomorrow (June 4), which will looks at measurements of carbon monoxide, humidity, temperature, and airflow.

Every two minutes, a woman in the US receives a breast cancer diagnosis. (Getty Stock Images)
Every two minutes, a woman in the US receives a breast cancer diagnosis. (Getty Stock Images)
Investigators are also examining the building’s infrastructure, including electrics, plumbing, HVAC, and mechanical systems.

As well, water testing has already ruled out the school’s supply as a possible risk factor.

The district said it has since been working with epidemiologists, environmental experts, and scientists, to investigate a variety of possible environmental factors, but stated that there is no evidence as of yet to suggest the cases are connected.

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the American Cancer Society on 1-800-227-2345 or via their live chat feature, available 24/7 every day of the year.

Featured Image Credit: CBS News
Topics: Breast cancer, Cancer, School, US News, Massachusetts

Mia Williams
Mia Williams
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Utah Mom charged after allegedly kidnapping her autistic son’s bully
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Updated 16:43 24 Mar 2026 GMT
Published 15:12 24 Mar 2026 GMT
Utah Mom charged after allegedly kidnapping her autistic son’s bully
Shannon Tufuga has been charged with child kidnapping and aggravated child abuse
Callum Jones
Callum Jones

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A Utah mom has been charged with child kidnapping offences after allegedly taking her son’s bully and demanding that he apologize to her son.

Unfortunately, bullying is prevalent in many school across the US, with close to 20 percent of students aged 12-18 having experienced some kind of bullying.

There are of course various routes that can be taken to ensure the bullying stops, and you’d hope such action would be taken by the school if they were serious about the situation.

However, Shannon Tufuga, 40, is accused of going to shocking lengths to ensure the bullying of her autistic son stopped.

The mother was charged with child kidnapping and aggravated child abuse on Monday (March 23) after an incident on September 17, 2025, which allegedly saw Tufuga ‘driving around looking’ looking for an 11-year-old boy, as per charging documents seen by KSL.com.

Shannon Tufuga has been charged (Facebook)
Shannon Tufuga has been charged (Facebook)
The documents state she spotted the boy riding his bike and approached him for an explanation on the alleged bullying.

“She stopped her vehicle in front of [the boy’s] bike and made [him] get into her vehicle. [Tufuga] transported [the boy] to her home in Provo, without [the boy’s] parents’ knowledge or permission, to have [the boy] apologize to her child,” the charged document alleges.

The 11-year-old is said to have issued an apology to the Utah mother’s son, though Tufuga is alleged to have ‘threatened to have her husband beat the boy up’.