NAACCR Education and Training Upcoming Events

By Angela Martin | July 7, 2025

NAACCR ODS Exam Prep and Review The Summer 2025 ODS Exam Prep series began on May 13, 2025.  You can still register if interested in participating. The NAACCR ODS Exam Prep and Review series is offered prior to each exam (Spring, Summer, Fall). Contact Angela Martin, if you wish to be notified when registration is…

Standardization and Registry Development Steering Committee: Modular Records Task Force

By Lori Havener, CTR | July 7, 2025

One of the NAACCR Board strategic initiatives in the Strategic Plan is Innovative Approaches to Data Collection (Minimal Datasets and Partial Records). The objective is to monitor national activities involving rapid reporting and partial record reporting to provide guidance on the operational implications of such developments for central cancer registries. This objective falls under the…

Secondary data sharing: What is it, why is it important, and how is NAACCR involved?

By Castine Clerkin, MS, CTR | June 30, 2025

Secondary data sharing (SDS) occurs when a primary researcher shares data with a secondary researcher to advance science. Sometimes the shared data may contain information obtained from the cancer registry (e.g., through approved linkage requests). The NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy, published in 2003 and updated in 2023, requires that NIH-funded studies participate in…

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:…

Looking to the Future: Changes Approved for 2027 NAACCR Data Standards

By Stephanie M. Hill, MPH, CTR, NAACCR | April 13, 2026

As we move into Spring, many cancer registries are preparing to begin 2026 abstracting, but registry standard setters are already looking ahead to 2027 – and beyond! The High-Level Strategic Group (HLSG) voted last month on changes to the NAACCR Data Standards and Data Dictionary (Standards) for use beginning with the 2027 diagnosis year (NAACCR v27). NAACCR…

NAACCR CPR Guidelines to be Incorporated into HL7 LRI Implementation Guide

By Ashley Knealing | April 6, 2026

The NAACCR Cancer Pathology Reporting (CPR) Guidelines – also known as Laboratory Electronic Pathology Reporting Guidelines Volume V – are being incorporated into HL7’s Laboratory Reporting Interface (LRI) Implementation Guide through the May 2026 HL7 ballot process. This effort is led by Sandy Jones (contractor) in collaboration with NAACCR’s CPR workgroup. HL7’s LRI is a…

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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.