This assignment focuses significant attention on the extremely important topic of market structure, including environmental surveillance. Among other things, you were introduced to Porter's Five Forces Model, via your readings, which serves as a useful reference for defining competition. Specifically, you are to place yourself in the role of Strategy Officer for a soon$-$to$-$be$-$established cancer treatment center based in the city of your choice. $($An actual city must be selected as this assignment calls for formal market research.$)$ This entity will be named, Salcombe Cancer Treatment Center and it will offer the usual and customary array of services provided by cancer treatment centers. $($If you are unfamiliar with this modality of care and the types of services offered, conduct associated research and perhaps even visit one to gain a proper understanding before completing the assignment.$)$

Salcombe Cancer Treatment Center's owners, new in their role as healthcare entrepreneurs, wish to gain a better understanding of competition in the market and enlist you to prepare an associated assessment. The owners are familiar with Porter's Five Forces Model and feel as though their knowledge of suppliers and buyers is sufficient. Noting the highly competitive market, however, they would like to bolster their knowledge of existing competitors, potential entrants, and substitutes and have requested your assistance and advice. $($As the owners indicate that the establishment is in a competitive market, the city you select must mirror this attribute. Smaller municipalities likely will not qualify. As such, moderately sized or larger municipalities should be selected.$)$ Your task is to perform a market assessment, identifying existing competitors, potential entrants, and substitutes in the city of focus for cancer treatment services.