The cancer registry in cancer control--a review

The author reviews key elements in the contribution of the cancer registry to cancer control. A cancer registry always requires the direct or indirect cooperation of the medical profession in the reporting of new cancer cases and it must in return provide services which the physician can use in the care of cancer patients. Survival of patients can be assessed and treatment evaluated for the entire reporting area and not just for selected groups. Projections of the needs for future material and manpower resources can be made on the basis of data collected by the registry. The cancer registry is also in an ideal position to monitor the efficacy of screening programs. Data collected by the registry are the basis for epidemiologic investigations. The magnitude of the cancer problem can be measured and variation by time and place identified. The origin of cancer can be studied by a variety of epidemiologic approaches using data from the cancer registry. Should a suspected etiologic factor be altered in the environment the impact of the intervention may be followed using trend data from the registry. The linkage if individual records is essential if the registry is to function accurately and efficiently. Appropriate safeguards for the confidentiality of medical data must be insured. Adequate staffing with persons interested in and able to undertake the analysis and interpretation of the data collected is a must if the cancer registry is to live up to its potential.