The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2013) defines cancer clusters as a larger than expected number of similar cancer cases occurring at one time among members of a defined community. Cancer clusters present many challenges due to the complexity of the analytical process and the abundance of demands and concerns. Because research and studies of cancer clusters in the United States have uncovered few conclusive determinants, many states are reluctant to devote excess resources and funds to meticulous processes. Viewing the issue of uncovering potential environmental hazards as a priority, Maryland employs a specially appointed task force to address all community concerns to force serious deliberations and thorough investigation of surveyed cluster sites throughout (Department of Legislative Services, Office of Information Systems [DLSOIS], 2013). With cancer rates increasing in communities across the United States, the CDC has announced guidelines for review of health incident clusters in the 1990s (Kingsley, Schmeichel, & Rubin, 2007). These guidelines were not disease specific or heavily enforced, but served as a model for state, local, and community health departments to expand and improve inspection protocols for suspected cancer sites (CDC, 2013). According to the 1990 CDC guidelines, a four-step approach was adapted to observe questionable clusters: “initial response, assessment, major feasibility study, and etiological investigation” (2013). Across the United States, community concern about potential cancer clusters is relatively high. high, with more than 1,100 requests annually to each state's health department (Trumbo, McComas, & Besley, 2008). Acco...... middle of article ......about cancer clusters. Retrieved from Maryland Cancer Registry website: http://phpa.dhmh.maryland.gov/cancer/Documents/Questions and Answers About Cancer Clusters.pdf Penberthy, L., Gillam, C., Ginde, G., Mcclish , D., Peace, S., Gray, L., . . . Radhakrishnan, S. (2012). Hematologic malignancies: an opportunity to fill a gap in cancer surveillance. Cancer Causes and Control, 23(8), 1253-1264. doi:10.1007/s10552-012-0003-1Trumbo, CW, McComas, KA, & Besley, JC (2008). Individual and community level effects on risk perception in cancer cluster surveys. Risk Analysis, 28(1), 161-178. doi:10.1111/j.1539-6924.2008.01007.xYang, M. (2011). A current global vision of environmental and occupational cancers. Journal of Environmental and Health Sciences. Part C, Reviews of Environmental Carcinogenesis and Ecotoxicology, 29(3), 223-249. do I:10.1080/10590501.2011.601848