Illinois State Cancer Registry Receives Highest Award for Excellence in Cancer Data Collection

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck today announced the Illinois State Cancer Registry has received gold certification from the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries for its 2010 data. This marks the 15th consecutive year Illinois has received this honor. Only those registries meeting the highest standards are awarded gold certification.

“Illinois State Cancer Registry data allows us to understand the cancer burden and trend in our state and to target our prevention and control efforts,” said Dr. Hasbrouck. “I would like to thank and congratulate the cancer registrars from hospitals throughout the state and Illinois State Cancer Registry staff for their contributions toward achieving gold certification.”

The North American Association of Central Cancer Registries annually reviews all state cancer registries in North America for their performance in collecting complete, accurate, and timely cancer data.

The Illinois State Cancer Registry, maintained by the Illinois Department of Public Health, is the only source for population-based cancer incidence for the state. The information collected by the registry is important for cancer surveillance and research efforts both statewide and nationally. The registry provides information about population-based cancer incidence, cancer by site numbers, morbidity and mortality data, and statistics broken down into cancer type, sex, race, age and geographical area.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one of four deaths in the United States is attributable to cancer. Cancer is the second most common cause of death in Illinois and the United States, and the leading cause of death for Illinois citizens aged 45-64. Cancer affects all racial and ethnic groups and kills more Illinoisans annually than AIDS, injuries and homicides combined. It is projected more than 67,180 people in Illinois will be diagnosed with cancer this year and more than 25,450 people with cancer will die from the disease.

To access information from the Illinois State Cancer Registry log onto http://www.idph.state.il.us/cancer/index.htm.