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Pacific Regional Central Cancer Registry

BACKGROUND:

In response to the lack of systematic and accurate collection of cancer data in the region, the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Island (USAPI) Pacific Regional Central Cancer Registry (PRCCR) was conceived and initiated through the Cancer Council of the Pacific Islands (CCPI) in 2003.

PRIMARY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • To develop the systems and policies which ensure proper identification, reporting, and recording of all cancers in each USAPI
  • Develop the capacity and infrastructure for each of the USAPI to manage the rigorous data collection and entry required of a cancer registry
  • Develop a cancer registry where the data is controlled and owned by each individual jurisdiction and to ensure the data are useful for local program planning and evaluation as well as tracking local cancer trends over time
  • To develop a cancer registry system that is sophisticated, flexible and sustainable, i.e. takes into account the relative caseload of cancers in each USAPI, the availability of trained personnel, and the local ability to finance such a system
  • To link the individual USAPI cancer registries in a synergistic system which allows for economies of scale to make the regional registry project sustainable

The University of Hawai'i, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health was designated the bonafide agent on behalf of the ten USAPI jurisdictions to plan and implement the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) planning program. The CDC cooperative agreement was awarded in July 2007. Most of the USAPI jurisdictions began reporting 2007 data to the CDC NPCR in December 2009 via the Pacific Regional Central Cancer Registry.

The CCPI, as the Advisory Board to the PRCCR, has included data items within the cancer registry database to capture selected variables on non-communicable diseases (NCDs). By so doing the regional registry system is able to identify cancer patients with co‐existing NCDs as well as interface with the public health programs. This ensures that the NCD needs are properly identified and incorporated into care plans and that individuals with cancer and other NCD co-morbidities are included in all NCD and cancer “registries” or databases.