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Governor proclaims Cancer Registry Week Gov. Jim Hodges has proclaimed April 8-12, Cancer Registrars’ Week in South Carolina in accordance with National Cancer Registrars Week. This week is set aside to recognize the contributions that professional cancer registrars make to the field of allied health.  Cancer data collected by cancer registrars is used by physicians to monitor treatment and continuing care of patients and by epidemiologists to monitor the cancer burden in South Carolina and the United States.  At MUSC's Hollings Cancer Center, the Cancer Registry is the data collection component of the Cancer Program. This cancer program is accredited by the Commission on Cancer as a teaching hospital cancer program. According to the commission, only programs offering the best in cancer care receive this approval.  The registry maintains data on more than 18,000 cancer patients diagnosed and/or treated at MUSC/HCC since Jan. 1, 1985. Utilizing special oncology software, the registry provides information on demographics, cancer identification, stage, treatment and diagnosis. Data is not only utilized by HCC but is also reported to the South Carolina Central Cancer Registry and the National Cancer DataBase.  Through the Cancer Registry, HCC has an active part in cancer surveillance locally, statewide and nationally.  Cancer registrars use knowledge that is specialized and very technical. Many registrars have passed a National Certification exam and are certified tumor registrars, or CTR’s.  The profession requires continuing education as medical advances in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer impact the registrar’s data collection. Four full time employees staff the MUSC's HCC Registry and abstract necessary data on all new cancer cases within six months after diagnosis. Collectively the four registrars have 39 years of registry experience. Lifetime follow-up of patients is one of the unique services of the registry. It directly benefits patients by annually reminding attending physicians and patients that routine medical examinations are encouraged. More than 5,000 patients are currently being followed.  The Cancer Registry assists research efforts by responding to requests for data that monitor, improve, and evaluate patient care and survival trends for physicians, administrators, and other health care professionals. Utilization of this data contributes to the effectiveness of overall care.  As health care becomes more data driven, the Cancer Registry information and activities will optimize program planning, development and research and ensure the high level of care provided by the MUSC's Hollings Cancer Center Cancer Program.