The California Cancer Registry (CCR) is a statewide population-based cancer registry that collects information about almost all cancers diagnosed in California. Cancer reporting has been required by state law since 1985. All cancer professionals and facilities responsible for treating or diagnosing cancer patients are required to report demographic, diagnostic and treatment data to the CCR. This includes hospitals, physicians and pathologists.
The CCR aggregates and analyzes this statewide data and performs many phases of quality control. The program is part of the California Department of Public Health’s Chronic Disease Surveillance and Research Branch. The California Cancer Reporting and Epidemiologic Surveillance (CalCARES) program, within the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, has partnered with the California Department of Public Health to manage the operations of the CCR.
“Data is key to driving advances in cancer research, which is why the California Cancer Registry is so critical,” said UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center Director Primo “Lucky” Lara Jr. “The registry helps California stand out internationally with regard to oncology science because it provides cancer researchers the information they need to do their jobs.”
Cancer researchers request and obtain data through CCR, which collects and aggregates statistical information.
“Analysis of CCR data is conducted by researchers and greatly expands our knowledge of various cancers, which improves cancer diagnosis and treatment practices as we work hard to find a cure,” Lara said.
The site also provides general information about CCR and about cancer, as well as resources to help the people who are most deeply impacted by cancer, including patients, caregivers and the general public. CCR monitors cancer statistics for California as a whole, statistics for specific regions of California and statistics for individual counties.
