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.
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.