Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CDC
The U.S. federal public health agency that tracks disease and is the body that officially evaluates and designates cancer clusters.
Related terms
Environmental Protection Agency The U.S. federal agency responsible for setting and enforcing pollution standards for air, water, and soil, and for regulating hazardous chemicals. Public Health The science and practice of protecting and improving the health of whole communities through education, policy, disease surveillance, and environmental regulation. CDC PLACES A CDC dataset providing local-level estimates of chronic disease, health risk behaviors, and prevention measures down to the census-tract level. Cancer Cluster A greater-than-expected number of cancer cases occurring within a specific group of people in a defined geographic area over a certain period. The CDC's official designation requires intense, long-term statistical analysis. State Cancer Registry A government-maintained database that tracks every newly diagnosed cancer case in a state, including type and location—essential for spotting cancer clusters.