Cancer registry: A boon for world

Cancer registry is a database comprising of data of people with cancer which can be retrieved for management of cancer. The two broad types of Cancer registry are population-based registries and hospital-based registries. The Skilled personnel who systematically analyse the cancer data are known as Cancer registrars. The cancer registrar carry-out their work by computing the data of cancer patients based on hospital registry and by population surveillance which helps in decision making while tackling the cancer.1 The burden and mortality rate is of concern among developing countries as due emphasis is not given about maintaining the cancer registry. The data on cancers will be available only from healthcare systems in most of the developing countries and it will not reflect the actual cancer burden as we get from Population-based cancer registries. The population-based data is very useful in successfully implementing cancer prevention and control programs.2 The burden of Cancer in community can only be analyzed by cancer registries developed after collecting the data systematically and that can be source for a longtime.3 Cancer Registry can be used to differentiate cancer burden not only within the population and also between populations over a period of time.4 The cancer burden varies and it depends upon the culture, ethnicity and geographical locations. The control and prevention programs of every country should be based on the cancer registry of their own. The cancer registry of one country cannot be used universally.5 A methodical analysis of the stored data on cancers in a cancer registry remains an essential component in understanding the epidemiology of cancers in limited resources setting. Routine data of cancer registry can be used for retrospective studies.6 One should be very careful in registering the cancer as they have to keep in mind about the matching, coding, data entry and standardization of population with world population.7

Cancer is the second largest non-communicable disease that contributes to significant psychological morbidity and mortality.8 Cancer is an important health problem at international, national and local levels. Changing trends of cancer incidence and its burden in different parts of India has been assessed by various studies.9 An enormous effort should be undertaken to register the cancers in healthcare system as well as in population across nation. Only, this can help in controlling the cancer in the community.

Conclusion

A good data collection system like cancer registry is very important for executing cancer control activities. It can also be used to assess the burden of cancer in society which later helps in evaluating the cancer control programs. A cancer registry remains an essential component in understanding the epidemiology of cancers in limited resources setting.