A Practical Guide for Central Registries Updating to a V25B Metafile

By Matthew Mayfield, MS, ODS | August 4, 2025

Abstract The NAACCR V25B metafile brings new standards and logic for cancer data validation. As central registries prepare to implement this version, it is critical to understand the best practices for adopting and customizing the metafile to meet both internal and external needs. This article outlines three primary updates ranging from simple renaming and cleanup…

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Welcome from the incoming NAACCR President, Eric Durbin

By Eric Durbin, DrPH, MS | July 28, 2025

Dear NAACCR members, It is a great honor to serve you and the cancer surveillance community as the incoming NAACCR President. First, heartfelt thanks to our outgoing President, Wendy Aldinger. Through her thoughtful and steady leadership, we have remained true to our mission. I also wish to express my gratitude to NAACCR Executive Director Karen…

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Key Informatics Sessions from NAACCR 2025 Annual Conference

By Ashley Knealing | July 28, 2025

The NAACCR 2025 Annual Conference featured a lineup of dynamic, thought-provoking speakers who set the tone for the future of cancer registries. A key theme throughout the event was the expanding role of informatics in cancer registry operations, reflecting a growing emphasis on data integration, interoperability, and real-time analytics to enhance cancer reporting, research, and…

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Central Registry User Data Dictionary and Edits Metafile

By Lori Havener, CTR | August 18, 2025

The Mid-Level Tactical Group (MLTG) manages the cancer surveillance change control process to ensure an efficient and timely change management process. There are many steps in this process including monitoring the timing of products released. One of the products is the timely release of central registries’ user-defined data dictionaries and registry-specific edits metafiles. Central registries…

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Now Available! CiNA Statistics Update

By Recinda Sherman, PhD, MPH, ODS-C | August 11, 2025

NAACCR is pleased to announce that all CiNA data products have been updated with data from the 2024 Call for Data. CiNA Data Products CiNA*Explorer, our on-line query system, focuses on the most recent five years of data and was updated in June. For a quick overview of how to use the system, please refer…

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NCCR Feature: Highlights of the 2025 NAACCR Annual Conference

By Fernanda Michels | August 11, 2025

The 2025 NAACCR Annual Conference was held in Hartford, CT from June 3-5, 2025. Our theme for this year was, “Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future” as we celebrated the Connecticut Tumor Registry’s 90th anniversary. Two hundred and eighty-eight people attended the conference, and of those, 53 were attending a NAACCR Conference for the first…

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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.