CT Tumor Registry Helps Track Cancers

HARTFORD — The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) is celebrating the Connecticut Tumor Registry in conjunction with National Cancer Registrars Week, which is recognized during the week of April 4–8. The theme of this year’s celebration is Cancer Registrars Working Today for a Healthier Tomorrow.

The Connecticut Tumor Registry (CTR), a part of the Connecticut Department of Public Health has been responsible for collecting data on cancers diagnosed in all Connecticut residents since 1941. CTR’s database contains statistical information on cancers diagnosed since 1935, making it the oldest and most widely used cancer registry in the country.

“Cancer is one of the top public health challenges of today,” said DPH Commissioner J. Robert Galvin, MD. “The Connecticut Tumor Registry provides us with a tremendous resource to monitor cancer incidence and trends, identify priorities, and target prevention and control activities in the state, educate the public and health professionals about specific cancer risks, trends, and treatments, and aid research studies.”

The majority of the CTR’s information is collected from hospitals and pathology laboratories in Connecticut, which are required by state regulation to report all cases of cancer to the CTR. The CTR also has agreements with other states to receive information on Connecticut residents who are diagnosed or treated in those states.

The CTR participates in a National Cancer Institute program that collects cancer data from selected cancer registries, providing a statistically valid sample for the entire United States. Trends in cancer incidence, mortality, and patient survival are derived from this database. The ultimate goal of these efforts is to help prevent and control cancer.

“Quality cancer data is central to cancer prevention and treatment efforts,” said Dr Galvin. “Cancer registrars are the professionals responsible for the collection and management of accurate and timely cancer patient information as part of the war on cancer. They serve as the primary link between patients and researchers and health professionals who need access to quality cancer data in order to provide for a healthier tomorrow.”