Are You Ready for the Central Registry HL7 FHIR Implementation Guide?

By Ashley Knealing | November 24, 2025

Prior to official publication of the Central Cancer Registry Reporting HL7 FHIR Implementation Guide, the cancer registry community will have a chance to weigh in during a public comment period. Are YOU ready?  Join NAACCR on December 4, 2025, at 2:00 PM ET for an informational webinar on the Central Cancer Registry Reporting (CCRR) HL7…

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Privacy Preserving Record Linkage (PPRL): Coming Soon to the Virtual Pooled Registry

By Castine Clerkin, MS, CTR | November 10, 2025

The current Virtual Pooled Registry (VPR) workflow requires registries to download an encrypted study data file and perform a clear-text linkage using Personally Identifiable Information (PII). To broaden the scope, and enhance the security of the VPR, NCI has encouraged a transition to Privacy Preserving Record Linkage (PPRL). What is PPRL? PPRL is a technique…

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NCCR Fall Feature

By Fernanda Michels | November 3, 2025

The NCCR Fall Feature highlights key advancements and initiatives within the NCCR community, including highlights on the inaugural Data Jamboree, new study on clinical trial enrollment disparity using NCCR data, recent updates to NCCR*Explorer and SEER*Stat tools, and important upcoming deadline for NCCR registry participants Call for Data. Data Jamboree: Enhancing Childhood Cancer Data Sharing…

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Sharing NAACCR Pediatric Cancer Initiatives on Dr. Rick Greene’s Cancer Registry World Podcast

By Fernanda Michels | December 15, 2025

I am excited to share that I was recently interviewed by Dr. Rick Greene for his Cancer Registry World podcast. It was a great opportunity to share my path into cancer surveillance and to highlight the pediatric work we are advancing through NAACCR. In the episode, I discussed several initiatives within the National Childhood Cancer…

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The Importance of Professional Certification for Cancer Registrars

By Jim Hofferkamp, BA, CTR | December 8, 2025

Professional certification plays a vital role in strengthening the cancer registry workforce and ensuring the high-quality data that is essential for cancer surveillance, research, and public health planning. For cancer registrars, achieving certification demonstrates a thorough understanding of cancer registry operations, data standards, and coding principles. It reflects an individual’s commitment to excellence and provides…

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NAACCR Education and Training Upcoming Events

By Angela Martin | December 2, 2025

  NAACCR ODS Exam Prep and Review The NAACCR ODS Exam Prep and Review series is offered prior to each exam (Spring, Summer, Fall). The Spring 2026 ODS Exam Prep and Review series registration will open December 5, 2025.  Registration for the series is $260 per participant. For more information and to register for the…

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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.