 |
Saskatchewan Cancer Registry |
The Saskatchewan Cancer Commission Act of 1930 provided authorization for the establishment of a cancer control programme in Saskatchewan. In 1932, comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services for cancer for all residents of the province were initiated. A population-based registration dates from this time.
In 1979, the Saskatchewan Cancer Foundation Act was passed establishing a Foundation to replace the Cancer Commission. The Foundation maintains two service outlets- the Allan Blair Memorial Clinic in Regina and the Saskatoon Cancer Clinic. The clinics provide diagnosis, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and follow-up services. Registry services are an integral part of each clinic. In accordance with the Cancer Foundation Act, the Saskatchewan Cancer Foundation collects information on cases of cancer and records data relating to these cases; participates or provides assistance for research projects in conjunction with the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer; and collects information and records data on residents eligible for provincial cancer screening programs.
In the 1986 Census, the Saskatchewan population consisted of 504,365 males and 505,250 females. About one-third of the population were under 20 years of age. The vast majority of the population, 91%, used English as a main language. About 2% used Indian languages and 1% used French. In 1981 approximately 61% of the population resided in urban areas, with 35% living in the two largest cities (Regina and Saskatoon). Of the total population, 36% lived in rural areas and 3% on reservations. Agriculture is a primary occupation with approximately 24% of the male work force involved; sales, service and construction account for a further 27% of the work force. A majority of women, 57%, are employed in clerical and sales and service occupations.
The province is covered by a universal comprehensive health insurance plan. To be eligible for cancer payments under this plan, the physicians are required to report all new cancer diagnoses to the Registry. To complement this, copies of all malignant pathology reports are sent to the appropriate cancer clinic. These two notifications cover approximately 98% of all new cases diagnosed within the province. Further cases (1-2%) are discovered through death certificate notifications which are received on a bi-weekly basis from the Vital Statistics Branch of Saskatchewan Health.
The Saskatchewan Cancer Registry is an active registry. Each case diagnosed (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers) is reviewed at least once a year either through a clinic examination or by letter to the referring/family physician. In situ cancers are followed for a disease-free period of three years and are then discontinued from the follow-up programme. Information on deaths within Saskatchewan is received directly from Vital Statistics every two weeks and matched against the active file. The rate of follow-up (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers) is currently 98.5% of all active cases.
The Registry is patient oriented. Data are coded to ICD-O. Complete computerized information is available on all cancers diagnosed since 1967. For some major cancer sites (breast) conversion has been done back to 1950. Earlier data exist as manual records and annual reports. In total there are currently about 150,000 patients on the data base and about 200,000 case records. The growth rate of the file is about 7,000 cases per year including all non-melanoma skin cancers. The numbers of cases and incidence rates per 100,000 population are available for skin cancer annually from 1970 to 1995, broken down by gender. In 1995 the total incidence rates by skin cancer categories were as follows: squamous cell, 43.1; basal cell, 170.4; melanoma, 10.5; and, other skin cancers, 0.4.
Data requests should be directed to the contact listed below. The Saskatchewan Cancer Foundation has a detailed policy to regulate the manner in which cancer registry information is released, taking into consideration the individual's right to privacy, the doctor-patient relationship, and the cost of providing such information. Statistical information will be released without restriction provided there are not sufficient data to identify an individual. The Foundation is in the process of establishing a home page for the World Wide Web which should be available sometime during the fall of `96.
Available Reports
Contact Information
Phone: (306) 585-1831
Fax: (306) 584-2733
Home |
UV data |
Search |
Health |
Links |
Guides |