Stop putting money into studies and use it to clean up the environment: that’s what residents told officials from the state Department of Health Tuesday night at a cancer study meeting in Buffalo.

The DOH presented its findings after investigating increased cancer rates on Buffalo’s East Side and the western part of Cheektowaga. Residents say they know people are dying, they understand the stats, but they are tired of the tests and no action.

“They’re victimizing us with these childish reports,” said Virginia Golden, who lives on the East Side.

The health department conducted a study on the East Side and western part of Cheektowaga because of higher numbers of colorectal, esophageal, kidney, lung, oral cavity, and prostate cancer cases than the rest of the county and the state between 2011 and 2015. The DOH concluded several factors are behind the spike including higher tobacco use, lack of physical activity, and less access to healthy food options.

“They did not focus on the environmental factors. They want us to live clean in a toxic environment and I’m not sure that that’s really possible," said Taniqua Simmons, Buffalo resident.

Health department officials say based on their evaluations, there were no unusual environmental exposures that could be to blame for the cancer rate. But residents believe they’re living on toxic land and that’s what officials need to look into.

“We don’t want anyone to come into the community saying, ‘OK, we’re going teach you how to live a healthy life.’ Clean up this toxic soil out of our yards," said Golden.

Officials issued recommendations for residents in the study area, including trying to live a healthier life. But those who call these areas home say they’re tired of studies and meetings — they want action.

“While these studies are very informational there’s really no teeth behind them for anybody to actually do anything measurable or tangible to impact the toxicity of the environment," said Simmons.

At Tuesday’s meeting, officials announced $675,000 is on the way to a local cancer prevention project. The study is expected to be available online on the state Department of Health’s website.