About Trent Cancer Registry
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Trent Cancer Registry is one of eight regional cancer registries in England and eleven registries across the UK. The Registry is also a member of the United Kingdom Association of Cancer Registries (UKACR) and the National Cancer Information Network (NCIN).
Our main role is to collect, process and analyse information on newly diagnosed cases of cancer and some pre-cancerous and non-malignant conditions in the populations of South Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Rutland (a total of approximately 4.8 million people). We also provide a cancer intelligence service for the whole of the East Midlands, working with our colleagues in the Oxford Cancer Intelligence Unit (OCIU), which covers Northamptonshire.
Trent Cancer Registry has taken on the national lead role for gynaecological cancers as part of the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN). In England in 2007, there were just over 15,000 cases of gynaecological cancer, including around 5,500 new cases of cancer of the ovary, over 6,200 cases of cancer of the uterus, and over 2,200 cases of cancer of the cervix. Current developments by the Registry in this area include the compilation of a national gynaecological cancer database, and talking with national experts about useful gynaecological project work for the future. We have also pulled together potentially useful sources of national information on gynaecological cancers.
In 2005, Trent Cancer Registry merged with EMPHO to create an integrated public health intelligence service for the East Midlands, including information on cancer incidence, survival and treatment. The merger has enabled the sharing of expertise in areas such as Geographical Information Systems and Statistical Analysis. It also provides a more secure basis for the continuing provision of Cancer Registration and Intelligence services to the various stakeholders and health communities covering the population of South Yorkshire.
The map shows the geographical area for which we collect cancer registration information, with cancer network analytical boundaries.
The registration area we cover has:
Trent is also the lead Cancer Registry for providing information and analysis to the whole of the East Midlands and to the East Midlands Cancer Network (formed in October 2008 following amalgamation of the Mid Trent, Derby-Burton and Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland (LNR) Cancer Networks) and the North Trent Cancer Network. We work with our colleagues in three other regional Cancer Registries to provide this service:
Trent Cancer Registry currently collects a common Minimum Dataset of information on cancer (although we are also working to put systems in place to receive and process the extended set of data items for the cancer registration section of the National Cancer Dataset). The information comes from a variety of sources (download diagram showing current and developing incoming data sources, 120 KB, pdf). Cases diagnosed in hospitals (inpatient and outpatient) are notified to the Registry electronically, through the Patient Administration System (PAS). We receive information from Acute Trust pathology laboratories, other Cancer Registries notify the Registry of Trent residents treated outside the area and the Office for National Statistics supply us with death notifications for all cases where cancer is mentioned as a cause of death. We also have access to Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) and Cancer Waiting Time (CWT) data and are developing links with Multi-disciplinary Teams (MDTs).
In line with the Cancer Reform Strategy, MDTs will become an increasingly significant data source for cancer registries. The UKACR has produced an Information Pack for MDT Co-ordinators. This provides an overview of the cancer registration process and also gives information about cancer and its classification, diagnosis and treatment.
The Registry started to collect cancer registration information in 1966 and our database currently holds records for more than 1 million individual registrations. Approximately 40,000 new registrations (malignant, non-malignant and some pre-cancerous conditions) are made in Trent each year. At intervals, new registrations are abstracted and sent to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for the collation of national cancer incidence data and to the NCIN central repository.
As the only available source of reliable, population-based information on cancer incidence and survival, cancer registries have an essential role in the implementation and monitoring of key national initiatives, such as the NHS Cancer Plan, Cancer Reform Strategy and the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN). The NCIN, within which registries are a key partner, was launched in June 2008 in line with the commitments of the Cancer Reform Strategy. The Cancer theme pages have further information on national cancer policy.
Cancer registries also undertake a range of public health surveillance and health protection functions, with cancer registration information being used to:
- monitor trends in cancer incidence, treatment, survival and mortality over time and between different geographical areas
- evaluate the effectiveness of cancer prevention and screening programmes
- contribute to the planning of cancer services
- evaluate the quality and outcomes of cancer care
- monitor the effect of environmental and social factors on cancer risk and support other investigations into the potential causes of cancer
- support the work of cancer genetic counselling services by providing confirmation of past cancer diagnoses in relatives of individuals and families who may be at higher risk of developing cancer
- contribute to programmes aimed at reducing health inequalities by investigating the differences in cancer incidence and survival between different social groups
- support PCTs in the initial evaluation of potential cancer clusters in their areas and advise and collaborate in more detailed investigations where justified.