The California Cancer Registry is a collaborative effort composed of:

  • California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Cancer Surveillance Section (CSS)
  • The Public Health Institute (PHI)
  • The California Association of Regional Cancer Registries (CARCR);
  • The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) National Program for Cancer Registries
  • The National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program.
  • The Survey Research Group (SRG) Unit operates within the California Cancer Registry. SRG Unit research specializes in health behaviors and lifestyle patterns related to chronic disease.

Mission Statement & Purpose

The mission of the California Cancer Registry is to serve the public by collecting statewide data, and conducting surveillance and research into the causes, controls, and cures of cancer and communicating results to the public.

The California Cancer Registry

The California Cancer Registry (CCR) is California's statewide population-based cancer surveillance system. The CCR collects information about all cancers diagnosed in California (except basal and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and carcinoma in situ of the cervix). This information furthers our understanding of cancer and is used to develop strategies and policies for its prevention, treatment and control. Many cancers can be cured if detected early and treated promptly. Some can be prevented with behavioral or lifestyle changes. The availability of data on cancer in the state allows health researchers to analyze geographic, ethnic, occupational and other differences that provide clues that point to risk factors. The data also helps determine where early detection, educational or other programs should be directed.

In 1985, statewide, population-based cancer reporting was required with the enactment of sections 103875, 103885, and 100330 of the California Health and Safety Code. The CCR is now recognized as one of the leading cancer registries in the world. Due to the size and diversity of the California population, more is now known about the occurrence of cancer in diverse populations than ever before. The CCR has proven to be the cornerstone of a substantial amount of cancer research in the California population.

Today, the California Cancer Registry is a collaborative effort involving the California Department of Health Services, ten regional registries, hospitals, cancer researchers throughout the nation and the Public Health Institute. To date, the CCR has collected detailed information on over 2.5 million cases of cancer, with over 140,000 new cases added annually. The database includes information on demographics, cancer type, extent of disease at diagnosis, treatment, and survival. With this high quality data, leading cancer researchers are able to advance scientific knowledge about the causes, treatment, cures and prevention of cancer.

Request Information

If you would like any additional information regarding the California Cancer Registry please contact the Webmaster at webmaster@ccr.ca.gov

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