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Cancer Plan: Data and Cancer Surveillance
Timely, complete, and high quality cancer data are necessary in order to provide a solid foundation for developing goals and objectives that focus on areas of greatest need and have the greatest likelihood of succeeding. More specifically, cancer surveillance data are crucial for identifying areas where greater prevention efforts are needed, for identifying potential causes of cancer, and for monitoring progress toward reducing cancer mortality.
In Maine, the Maine Cancer Registry (MCR), a statewide population-based cancer surveillance system, is responsible for collecting information about all newly diagnosed and treated cancers in Maine residents (except basal and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin). This information is used to monitor and evaluate cancer incidence patterns in Maine, as well as to better understand cancer, identify areas in need of public health interventions, and improve cancer prevention, treatment and control.
Since 2004, MCR has achieved and maintained the gold standard for cancer data timeliness, completeness, and quality from the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries. This marked the first time since the inception of the Maine Cancer Registry that Maine cancer data could be compared to other states.
Race and ethnicity are under-reported to the Maine Cancer Registry and other surveillance systems. Because Maine has a small, non-white population, data analysis by race and ethnicity is difficult. Because of this, there is no reliable data on cancer incidence, treatment, and risk factors for racial and ethnic groups in Maine. This makes it difficult to adequately assess the cancer burden for these groups, as well as to develop appropriate interventions for cancer prevention, detection and treatment.
Goal: Improve data collection and cancer surveillance in Maine.
Objective 1: The Data Work Group will produce a surveillance document to facilitate an evidence-based approach to cancer prevention and control by 2010.
Strategies
- Identify existing data sources.
- Collaborate to secure analysis for the data source.
- Develop analysis and dissemination plans.
- Seek funding to support data analysis, document creation, and dissemination as needed.
- Ensure analysis of cancer data addresses disparities in age, gender, race/ethnicity, socio- economic status and geographic location in Maine.
Objective 2: The Data Work Group will continue to provide technical assistance on cancer data and surveillance-related issues to the Maine Cancer Consortium.
Strategies
- Provide consultation on analysis and interpretation of data to Work Groups.
- Review Maine Cancer Consortium five-year evaluation plan.
- Members of the Data Work Group will serve as liaisons to other Work Groups on data- related issues.
Objective 3: The Data Work Group will support maintenance of the Maine Cancer Registry’s North American Association of Certified Cancer Registries’ certification for data quality, timeliness, and completeness.
Strategies
- Provide advocacy for ongoing implementation of the Maine Cancer Registry.
- Advocate for continued funding for the Maine Cancer Registry.
Objective 4: Strengthen data and surveillance efforts as they relate to diverse populations by 2010.
Strategies
- Collaborate with the Maine Hospital Association and Office of Minority Health to improve valid recording of race and ethnicity on hospital admission records.
- Advocate for the Office of Data, Research and Vital Records to improve valid recording of race and ethnicity on death certificates.
- Support efforts to systematically over-sample disparate populations to increase understanding of cancer prevention and detection knowledge and behaviors.
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