FCDS Director, Gary Levin, Reflects on 35 Years in Cancer Surveillance

By Stephanie M. Hill, MPH, CTR, NAACCR | January 12, 2026

With his retirement date fast approaching, I asked Gary Levin, long-time director of the Florida Cancer Data System, to reflect on his 35 years in the cancer surveillance field. Gary was a 2025 recipient of the Calum S. Muir Memorial Award in recognition of his leadership and service to NAACCR and for the promotion of…

Advancing Global Collaboration in Childhood Cancer Research: Data Resource Mapping and Federated Network Matrix

By Fernanda Michels | January 5, 2026

In November 2023, the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) (with support from NAACCR) and the French National Cancer Institute (INCa) co-sponsored the Paris Conference for an International Childhood Cancer Data Partnership. Organized within the framework of the first working group of the G7 Cancer Initiative and supported by the European Commission, the meeting brought together…

An Interview with Our New RDU Chair

By Recinda Sherman, PhD, MPH, ODS-C | December 29, 2025

An Interview with our new Research and Date Use Committee Chair It was so much fun interviewing the RDU Co-Chairs last December that I decided to interview our newest Co-Chair, Angela Eckstrand, this December Angela replaced Jeff Dowden (our resident rock star) from the Newfoundland Cancer Registry when his tenure ended. Yes, this means both…

NAACCR Education and Training Upcoming Events

By Angela Martin | July 13, 2026

NAACCR ODS Exam Prep and Review The Fall 2026 Session of the NAACCR ODS Exam Prep and Review webinar series is tentatively scheduled to begin on November 1, 2026. Registration for the series will start July 22, 2026. The series is $260 per participant. For more information go to https://education.naaccr.org/CTR. Contact Angela Martin, if you…

Artificial Intelligence Resources for Central Registries

By Ashley Knealing | June 8, 2026

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly prevalent in the cancer data field, expanding rapidly and transforming how data collection is both managed and utilized. With the fast pace of technological advancements, it can be challenging to determine where to begin when exploring or implementing available AI tools related to cancer surveillance. To support this need,…

Looking in from the Outside – a Retiree’s View

By David O'Brien | June 1, 2026

It has been three years now since I retired as the data analyst of the Alaska Cancer Registry in Anchorage. It was a hard decision to make, having been in that position for nearly 25 years and totally loving my job. I had great coworkers and had the privilege of working with amazingly talented colleagues…

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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.