Operations at the Brazilian Populational-Based Cancer Registry, São Paulo City: A Conversation with Fernanda Michels

By Fernanda Michels | September 15, 2025

NAACCR Associate Director, Stephanie Hill, sat down with NAACCR Program Manager for Data Quality and Integration, Dr. Fernanda Michels, to talk about how she became involved in the international cancer registry community and how it’s shaped her work in cancer surveillance. Stephanie Hill: In your role at NAACCR, you do a lot of work with…

Data Sharing Practices in U.S. Cancer Registry: Results of NAACCR Survey

By Castine Clerkin, MS, CTR | September 8, 2025

In May 2026, NAACCR conducted a survey of U.S. registries to better understand the variation in data release practices. Forty-one registries responded to the survey (76% response rate) and data was analyzed by Betsy Kohler, in her role as consultant to NAACCR. The survey included questions about the primary data release to studies approved by…

Helping Vendors Help You

By Jim Hofferkamp, BA, CTR | September 1, 2025

Timely implementation of hospital registry software is essential for seamless data transmission and high-quality cancer surveillance. When software delays occur at the hospital level, the effects ripple throughout the cancer surveillance system, creating unnecessary challenges for central registries. Effective collaboration between central registries and hospital software vendors can minimize disruptions and support a stronger data…

Launch of Automated Privacy Preserving Record Linkage (PPRL) Methodology for VPR Studies

By Castine Clerkin, MS, CTR | May 18, 2026

On April 2, 2026, the first Virtual Pooled Registry (VPR) Privacy Preserving Record Linkage (PPRL) was initiated between the U.S. Radiologic Technologist Study (USRT) and the 47 VPR registries. For some registries, this linkage was performed automatically by IMS, thereby minimizing the impact on registry resources. The remaining registries performed the PPRL linkage internally. Additional…

NAACCR Education and Training Upcoming Events

By Angela Martin | May 4, 2026

NAACCR ODS Exam Prep and Review Registration is open for the Summer 2026 ODS Exam Prep and Review series. The series begins May 12, 2026. If you or someone you know is eligible to sit for the exam and are looking to prepare, join us for the Summer 2026 ODS Exam Prep and Review series.…

National Childhood Cancer Registry (NCCR) Spring Feature

By Fernanda Michels | April 27, 2026

The NCCR Spring Feature highlights the SEER*Stat Tools Webinar, promotes an NCI Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS) funding opportunity, and presents usage statistics from the NCCR Data Platform. This edition also features upcoming CCDI webinars, the 2026 NAACCR Conference, and the 2026 NCI Data Jamboree. SEER*Stat Tools Webinar From Data to Discovery:…

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OUR MISSION

Actionable content that unites cancer registries.

The Narrative strives to provide you with information you can use to enhance and strengthen your cancer registry. Look to the Narrative for the latest cancer surveillance news, trends, advances in technology, and latest educational opportunities.

OUR VISION

Make every cancer count.

Cancer affects thousands of people across North America every year. Each cancer case must contribute to our knowledge and understanding so that we may reduce the burden of these diseases. Narrative provides a platform for the cancer surveillance community to collaborate and share data that will improve health outcomes.

CANCER REGISTRY SPOTLIGHT: MICHIGAN

Successful Linkage Between Registry Database and LexisNexis

In our ongoing commitment to enhance the quality and accessibility of data, we are thrilled to announce the successful linkage between our registry database and LexisNexis. This integration represents a significant step forward in streamlining our data processes and expanding our analytical capabilities.