July 22, 2022
Accurate and reliable cancer data is essential for cancer care programs in Alberta and also helps assist other jurisdictions with their surveillance and research. Photo supplied.
Story by Jennifer Green
The Alberta Cancer Registry (ACR) has again met the gold standard for registry certification from the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR).
This status is based on having complete, accurate and timely data of all newly diagnosed cancers and cancer deaths within the province of Alberta. Since 2005, the ACR has maintained gold certification — the only Canadian province to have done so.
The ACR ensures national and international standard practices in classification, coding and staging are followed. This makes it easier for researchers around the globe to compare and make use of data in their work.
“The Alberta Cancer Registry is a population-based registry and the data collected is used to support the planning of prevention, treatment and research programs within Alberta,” says Angela Eckstrand, acting manager, Alberta Cancer Registry.
Within Alberta Health Services, registrars have highly specialized training to collect and interpret detailed cancer data to ensuring high quality, comparable and timely data.
“Accurate and reliable cancer data is essential for our cancer care programs in Alberta, and also helps assist other jurisdictions with their surveillance and research,” adds Eckstrand.
See more information on the NAACR. Review cancer statistics for Alberta.
