![]() A confirmed cancer cluster could be the result of any of the following: The number of cases included in the cluster – and calculation of the expected number of cases – will depend on how we define the time period over which the cases occurred.Ĭonfirmation of a cancer cluster does not necessarily mean that there is any single, external cause or hazard that can be addressed. It is possible to “create” or “obscure” a cluster by selection of a specific area. The boundaries must be defined carefully. The population in which the cancers are occurring is carefully defined by factors such as race/ethnicity, age, and gender, for purposes of calculating cancer rates.īoth the number of cancer cases included in the cluster and calculation of the expected number of cases can depend on how we define the geographic area where the cluster occurred. This may involve comparison with rates for comparable groups of people over a much larger geographic area – e.g., an entire state.Īll of the cases must involve the same type of cancer, or types of cancer scientifically proven to have the same cause. Until all of these parameters are met, the group of cancer cases is often referred to as a suspected cancer cluster.Ī greater than expected number is when the observed number of cases is higher than one would typically observe in a similar setting (in a group with similar population, age, race, or gender). To be a cancer cluster, a group of cancer cases must meet the following criteria. A cancer cluster is defined as a greater-than-expected number of cancer cases that occurs within a group of people in a geographic area over a period of time.
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