what is a cancer cluster?

Question

My sister got a mammogram result of "suspicious cluster microcalcifications". Is that a cancer sign?

Answer 1

More than expected: A cancer cluster is a term used by statisticians and epidemiologists to refer to a greater than expected incidence of cancer in a certain group of people in the same geographic area over a certain period of time, often suggesting an environemental link. A notable historical example is testicular cancer among chimney sweeps in 18th century london.

Answer 2

See below: When a number of cases of cancer of the same type occur in a small area. See this for more info on this topic. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/risk/clusters.

Answer 3

Cancer reporting: States have requirements for reporting cases of cancer. For additional information you may wish to consult the following website: http://www.Cancer.Gov/cancertopics/factsheet/risk/clusters.

Answer 4

Cancer reporting: States have requirements for reporting cases of cancer. For additional information you may wish to consult the following website: http://www.Cancer.Gov/cancertopics/factsheet/risk/clusters.

Answer 5

Name an Organ...: Cancer may develop in just about any organ in the body, with the most frequent sites including the skin, breast, prostate, lung, colon, uterus, thyroid, head and neck, kidney, bladder, brain, bone, blood cells, lymph nodes, stomach, pancreas, liver, esophagus to name but a few.

Answer 6

Many...: For a nice resource provided by the national cancer institute, see: for adults: http://www.Cancer.Gov/cancertopics/pdq/adulttreatment for children: http://www.Cancer.Gov/cancertopics/pdq/pediatrictreatment.

Answer 7

Too many to list: Thanks to love canal investigation, thousands of cancers were prevented by public awareness, vigilance by federal epidemiologists who were always watching, cleaning and preventing contamination, along with several agencies, like us agency for toxic substance and disease registry, cdc, epa, niehs and several local govt agencies. Look at their web sites for location and how you can help.

Answer 8

Chernobyl: One that comes to mind is chernobyl. Thyroid malignancies were particularly elevated because of this accident.

Answer 9

Woburn: Actually, these claims are largely about politics and tort law. Ask several statisticians whether there was really an increase in cancer at love canal despite the chemicals breaking free into living rooms. In the famous 333,000,000 dollar settlement case there was actually no increase in overall cancer. The real evils are pollution and dangerous working conditions in the developing world.

Answer 10

Registrars...: Most cancer centers employ a cancer registrar(s). These peole keep detailed records of all the patients seen in their geographic areas and compile statistics that are reported to state and federal agencies. You could contact your local cancer center to see who the registrar is there if you have a local concern. Hope that this helps.

what is a cancer cluster?

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