One of the primary roles of the CCR is to inform the public, health care providers, policy makers, and cancer researchers about the status of cancer in California. The CCR Surveillance Spotlight is one way to do this. In addition, our annual report, Cancer in California, includes a section on breast cancer, and is found on our web site (www.ccrcal.org). CCR reports on breast cancer that are already available are Breast Cancer in California and Targeting Breast Cancer Interventions. Epidemiologists at the CCR are currently examining changes in breast cancer treatment, socioeconomic differences in breast cancer rates, and trends in stage at diagnosis in California. The CCR collaborates closely with the American Cancer Society in producing California Cancer Facts and Figures, which is widely distributed to cancer patients and their families and health care providers.
The CCR recently initiated the California Teacher’s Study, a cohort study of risk factors for breast cancer involving more than 130,000 current or retired teachers statewide. This major project will provide much needed information on the relation of diet, exercise, and other factors to breast cancer risk.
Since its implementation in 1988, the CCR has become recognized as one of the leading cancer registries in the world. Cancer researchers throughout the United States request information from the CCR to conduct studies into the causes of and cures for cancer; of the more than 200 research projects initiated with CCR data since 1988, about 35 percent relate specifically to breast cancer. A list of ongoing projects is also available on our web site.