Background and Overview
The Massachusetts Cancer Registry (MACR) is a program in the Office of Health Data, Strategy, and Innovation at the Department of Public Health. The MACR monitors cancer cases and trends statewide. The registry oversees reporting facility compliance with state and federal regulations, helping to ensure that all data are being collected. Using these data, the registry also monitors potential cancer clusters.
What is a Cancer Registry
A cancer registry is a central repository of cancer data for a region. The registry collects and compiles detailed cancer case information. The registry and their partners use these data to assess patterns, monitor trends and identify cancer clusters. Cancer control groups use the registry data to inform policy, systems, and environmental change.
What Data are Included?
The registry includes all reportable cancer cases starting in 1982. These data include residents and individuals travelling from other states or countries. Deaths from cancer are also included. Data for Massachusetts residents diagnosed or treated outside of Massachusetts are incorporated.
Data are submitted to the registry from:
- Hospitals and medical facilities providing cancer care
- The Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records & Statistics
- Third-party laboratories
There are approximately 70,000 records submitted to the registry every year. These represent about 44,000 cancer cases (2020 data).
Regulatory Authority
The Massachusetts legislature created the registry in 1980. The Public Health Council created the regulations in compliance with this law. The MACR is responsible for the enforcement of these regulations. The specific law can be found in Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 111, Section 111B. The specific regulation is part of the Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR):105 CMR 301.000.
Reporting Standards
The MACR is a member of the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR).
The MACR follows standards set by:
What we do
There are two branches of the MACR. The epidemiology team handles data analysis and regular reporting on trends. The operations team manages the inflow of cancer incidence data, data quality, and record consolidation. More specifically, the MACR:
- Conducts data acquisition and processing (i.e., case-finding, abstracting, and error disposition) of cancer case data from hospitals and other facilities that are required to report information on individuals with a diagnosis of, or treatment for, cancer (cancer cases)
- Conducts data quality assurance and completeness activities on reported cases
- Conducts education and training for the MACR staff and reporting facilities
- Prepares annual data files of cancer cases among Massachusetts residents
- Conducts data linkages to gather additional information about cancer cases reported to the MACR or to identify cases not reported to the MACR, primarily through the death clearance process
- Works closely with the states’ technology offices to maintain, enhance, and troubleshoot issues related to the technology supporting registry operations