Cancer Registry

A Cancer Registry is a program that collects information on people diagnosed and/or treated with cancer, certain blood disorders and benign tumors at CHI Health.  The Cancer Registry gathers this data from the patient’s health records.  The information collected includes demographic, medical history, diagnosis and treatment therapies.  Patient confidentiality is strictly maintained and participation in the cancer registry is required under governmental law.

Why do we have a Cancer Registry?

  • Information from the Cancer Registry helps members of the cancer team plan the most effective prevention, treatment and rehabilitation programs possible.
  • The Cancer Registry data assists with cancer program management and provides valuable information for cancer research studies, ongoing medical education and publications.
  • To improve the care of cancer patients, data collection continues after a patient’s diagnosis and treatment.  Lifetime follow-up on patients allows cancer registries to analyze and assess patient’s treatment and outcomes.
  • The Cancer Registry provides benchmarking services, monitors quality of care and clinical practice guidelines, assess patterns of care and referrals and monitors adverse outcomes including mortality and co-morbidities.

What is a Cancer Registrar?

  • The Cancer Registry is staffed by Certified Tumor Registrars who are specially trained in data collection, evaluation and current trends in cancer care. They provide the data management and report statistics for various health care agencies.

National and State Programs

  • Since the National Cancer Act of 1971 was passed, the National Cancer Institute has budgeted billions of dollars for research, detection, and treatment of cancer.
  • In October 1992, Congress established a National Program of Cancer Registries, this law permits the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide funds to states and territories. These funds are used to enhance existing cancer registry programs.
  • Nebraska State Law passed by Nebraska Legislature in 1987 made all primary malignancies and benign brain and CNS tumors reportable to the Nebraska Cancer Registry.  The CHI Health Cancer Registry complies with this law and reporting standards set by the Director of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
  • In 1982 cancer became a reportable disease in Iowa by an amendment to the Iowa Administrative Code.  The CHI Health Cancer Registry is responsible for the collection and reporting to the State Health Registry of Iowa. The state of Iowa has been a member of the National Cancer Institute SEER program since 1973.

How Can You Help the Cancer Registry?

  • Schedule clinic appointments as often as your physician recommends.
  • Inform the Cancer Registry of changes in address or physicians. 
  • Respond to letters from the Cancer Registry to assist in lifetime follow-up.

For further information about the CHI Health Cancer Registry please contact the Cancer Registry nearest you: