Springfield,
Ill. – Cancer surveillance is the cornerstone of cancer control and for the
past 25 years the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries
(NAACCR) has been a leader in enhancing the quality and use of cancer registry
data.
Cancer
registries gather and record information that is vital to preventing and
treating cancer.Advances in technology
over years have given registries the ability to capture much more data and to
do it more effectively.In 1987, many
registries were still using paper abstracts. Today,
registries are submitting electronic abstracts that contain well over 100
pieces of information compared to the 30 entries available 25 years ago.
“Cancer registry data is the first link in
advancing cancer research, treatment and prevention initiatives,” said Betsy
Kohler, NAACCR’s executive director. “Over the last 25 years we truly have been
building bridges for cancer surveillance and our efforts have helped transform
data into the information-rich powerhouse it is today.”
To
celebrate these accomplishments, recognize the pioneers of the first gathering
in 1987 and plan for a future to meet the increasing demands for data, hospital
and central cancer registrars, cancer registrar directors, epidemiologists and
other health care professionals will be gathering in Portland, Oregon on June
2-8, 2012 for the annual conference.
Conference
speakers include NAACCR’s first president, Dr. Donald Austin who will look back
at the origins of the organization as well as providing a summary of
population-based cancer surveillance activities that have brought the industry
to where it is today. Dr. David Forman, Head
of the Cancer Information Sections, International Agency for Research on Cancer,
will share a global perspective on cancer surveillance.
Initially
a small group of interested participants, NAACCR has grown to become a major
player in international cancer surveillance activities. Established in 1987,
NAACCR is a collaborative umbrella organization for cancer registries,
governmental agencies, professional organizations and private groups in North
America interested in enhancing the quality and use of cancer registry data.
Its goal is to set standards and build consensus for the collection of uniform
cancer data across the continent. All state and provincial central cancer
registries in the United States and Canada are members.
NAACCR works closely with its sponsoring
organizations: American Cancer Society, America College of Surgeons, American
Joint Committee on Cancer, Canadian Association of Provincial Cancer Agencies,
Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, National Cancer Institute, National Cancer Registrars Association,
Public Health Agency of Canada and SNOMED Terminology Solutions (College of
American Pathologists).