NSW Central Cancer Registry

Who uses the Registry?

The NSW Central Cancer Registry maintains records of people with cancer and reports on the impact of cancer in the community.

The Cancer Registry is a vital resource in the fight against cancer. With more than one-in-four people developing cancer during their lifetime, the registry is able to provide important information on the prevention, control and treatment of cancer.

When a hospital, health facility or pathology laboratory diagnoses or treats someone with cancer they are required by law to notify the NSW Central Cancer Registry.

All information in the Registry is kept confidential, held under tight security and protected by the Public Health Act.

Information collected about patients with cancer includes:

• Name, address, date of birth and sex
• Country of birth and Aboriginal status
• Clinical details about the Cancer
• Information about the notifying institution and doctor.

Personal details, such as name and address, are needed to ensure that accurate information is recorded for each person (as people are often treated in multiple locations) and that each new cancer is only counted once.

Information on the Registry is used to:

• Monitor new cases, deaths and survival from cancer in the NSW population
• Compare local, national and international trends in cancer
• Plan cancer services, such as the location of radiotherapy units or palliative care services
• Evaluate the quality and outcomes of cancer treatment and the performance of cancer control programs e.g. breast screening
• Create education programs to prevent or minimise cancer e.g. skin protection for schools and outside workers
• Assist with studies to determine the causes of cancer or identify groups at increased risk.

The Registry publishes yearly statistical reports showing numbers and rates of new cases and deaths from cancer in NSW. These reports are widely available to the public and used by clinicians, health planners and researchers. Health and medical researchers can apply to obtain more detailed information about cancer patients under strict conditions:

• Research must be scientifically sound and contribute to cancer control or improvements in cancer patients’ care
• With approval from an Ethics Committee
• Doctor and patient consent is obtained
• Researchers sign a confidentiality undertaking to protect information.

Identified information may also be released to the health facility that originally provided it and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. The Registry contributes to regular national and international statistical reports and research on cancer.

• For more information on the NSW Central Cancer Registry and the way it operates, please call us on (02) 8374 5600 or email ccr@cancerinstitute.org.au
• If you would like a copy of the latest statistical report using Cancer Registry data, go to www.cancerinstitute.org.au/publications
• For statistics on line: www.statistics.cancerinstitute.org.au
• If you would like more general information about cancer, you can call the Cancer Helpline on freecall 13 11 20.

NSW Central Cancer Registry
Locked Bag 1
Woolloomooloo NSW 2011
Email: ccr@cancerinstitute.org.au
Phone: (02) 8374 5749
Fax: (02) 8374 5744