New Mexico Cancer Concerns Work Group
Most people know of someone who has been diagnosed with cancer. In fact, often in New Mexico more
people die from cancer than any other cause. There are many different types of cancer, which are
classified as numerous different diseases. A common concern people have is the existence of a
potential cancer cluster. The term "cancer cluster" is most often used to describe a greater than
expected number of cancers occurring within a group of people, in a geographic area, over a
specified period of time (CDC 2003). Most identified cancer excesses are not related to known
environmental causes, but instead appear to be due to personal risk factors, genetic causes,
normal random variation in cancer occurrence, or unknown factors.

The Cancer Concerns Work Group includes epidemiologists and health promotion staff members from complementary fields such as cancer, environmental health, occupational health, toxicology, and/or occupational medicine. As a multi-agency collaborative, the Cancer Concerns Work Group is comprised of New Mexico Department of Health staff from the Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Bureau's Cancer Section, the Environmental Health Epidemiology Bureau, and Tribal Epidemiology staff from the Community Health Assessment Program, as well as staff from the New Mexico Tumor Registry at the University of New Mexico Cancer Center and Health Sciences Center. The Tumor Registry is part of the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program.

What We Look For
Simply put, when a cancer concern is presented we look at:
Relevant New Mexico county cancer incidence rates to determine if there are any statistically significant differences. Next, if warranted, we will examine:
What is the geographic areaof concern (i.e., where did the cancer cases occur)? How many people lived and/or worked in the area? What is the time frame of concern? When were the cancers diagnosed?
Are the diagnoses within the time frame of concern the same type(s) of cancer(s)? Are the diagnoses rare cancers? Is the length of residency or employment in the area of concern consistent with the known latency of the cancer(s)? Did the people diagnosed with cancer live or work in the place of concern during the time it takes for the cancer(s) to develop? Within the time frame and geographic area of concern, were there are key known risk factors present for the type(s) of cancer(s) diagnosed (such as lifestyle, genetic, or exposure to occupational and/or environmental carcinogens)?
Having many cancer diagnoses in one community may be causing you some concern.
To learn more about inquiry submissions, please call 1-800-303-4503.
Things to consider as you explore this concern:
Are the diagnoses in the population of concern the same type of cancer?
What are the common lifestyles and habits of those diagnosed with the same type of cancer?
When submitting an inquiry to the CCWG it is helpful if you provide the following:
The capacity of the Cancer Concerns Work Group is limited to examining the available cancer data from the New Mexico Tumor Registry. By providing information resulting from an initial examination, the work group is able to empower the inquirer to look for clues in a more strategic manner (such as exploring personal risk factors), and encourage the inquirer and community of concern to pursue suitable preventive measures for specific cancers. It is important to note that the Cancer Concerns Work Group realizes that it is possible that a cancer concern inquiry may result in the identification of a true cancer cluster. However, finding a clear environmental cause is difficult. Most identified cancer excesses are not related to known environmental causes, but instead appear to be due to personal risk factors, genetic causes, normal random variation in cancer occurrence, or unknown factors.
Where and how to submit an inquiry:
Inquires may be submitted to nmtr-ccw@salud.unm.edu. To learn more about inquiry submission, please call 1-800-303-4503.
Things to consider as you explore this concern:
Are the diagnoses in the population of concern the same type of cancer?
What are the common lifestyles and habits of those diagnosed with the same type of cancer?
When submitting an inquiry to the CCWG it is helpful if you provide the following:
- The specific geographic area of concern (e.g., county)
- The type(s) of cancers diagnosed in the geographic area
- The time frame of the cancer(s) diagnoses
- Family history of specific cancers within the geographic area's population
- Lifestyle information such as health habits and occupations of the population
- Specific carcinogen of concern
The capacity of the Cancer Concerns Work Group is limited to examining the available cancer data from the New Mexico Tumor Registry. By providing information resulting from an initial examination, the work group is able to empower the inquirer to look for clues in a more strategic manner (such as exploring personal risk factors), and encourage the inquirer and community of concern to pursue suitable preventive measures for specific cancers. It is important to note that the Cancer Concerns Work Group realizes that it is possible that a cancer concern inquiry may result in the identification of a true cancer cluster. However, finding a clear environmental cause is difficult. Most identified cancer excesses are not related to known environmental causes, but instead appear to be due to personal risk factors, genetic causes, normal random variation in cancer occurrence, or unknown factors.
Where and how to submit an inquiry:
Inquires may be submitted to nmtr-ccw@salud.unm.edu. To learn more about inquiry submission, please call 1-800-303-4503.
In addition to the services listed above, the various entities that comprise the work group provide information and resources on their websites:
New Mexico Department of Health New Mexico Environmental Public Health Tracking
New Mexico Tumor Registry
NM Department of Health Comprehensive Cancer Program
NM Department of Health Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
NM Department of Health Tobacco Use Prevention and Control (TUPAC) Program
TUPAC's Quitline Cessation Services
New Mexico Department of Health Indicator Based Information System (IBIS DOH)
New Mexico Department of Health
Radon and Cancer Information
New Mexico Department of Health New Mexico Environmental Public Health Tracking
New Mexico Tumor Registry
NM Department of Health Comprehensive Cancer Program
NM Department of Health Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
NM Department of Health Tobacco Use Prevention and Control (TUPAC) Program
TUPAC's Quitline Cessation Services
New Mexico Department of Health Indicator Based Information System (IBIS DOH)
New Mexico Department of Health
Radon and Cancer Information