The Greater Poland Cancer Registry (GPCR) is the only active population-based registry that collects detailed data on cancer morbidity and mortality in the Greater Poland region. It has operated since 1975 as part of the Greater Poland Cancer Centre co-financed by the Centre’s own resources and funds from the National Cancer Strategy with the mission of “improving the cancer data collection and registration system”.
Historically, the Registry has covered different areas. Until 1998, Polish registries were divided into provincial and regional units (the latter comprising several provinces). Thus, the Greater Poland Cancer Registry covered the following provinces: Kalisz, Konin, Leszno, Piła, Ponań, Zielona Góra. In 1999 (when, due to the administrative reform, 16 provinces were established in lieu of previous 49, the number of registries was increased to 16); hence, the Greater Poland Cancer Registry now encompasses 31 rural districts and four urban districts (Kalisz, Konin, Leszno, Poznań). The Registry has been used for keeping data in a hard copy and electronic form for the city of Poznań since 1980 and for the whole province since 1985.
The Registry’s role is to collect data on cancer incidence, update its database, enter new cancer cases, calculate morbidity and mortality ratios, and analyse collected data.
The Greater Poland Cancer Registry collects data on cancer incidence in a specific area, with population clearly defined in terms of structure and size. Data collected by the Registry allow to develop a ministerial health care strategy for the Greater Poland Province and define future demand for beds, medical staff and necessary equipment in oncology care. Its most significant task is to gather information for use in scientific research, publications, patient follow-up and cancer control programmes. The security of personal data processing in the Greater Poland Cancer Registry, as part of the Greater Poland Cancer Centre, is ensured by the Information Safety Administrator and IT Network and Systems Safety Administrator. All members of the GPCR’s staff are properly trained and authorised to progress personal data in a electronic and hard copy form.
The GPCR actively supervises the cancer registry system in Greater Poland, prepares bulletins on cancer incidence and mortality in the region and cooperates in epidemiological studies with scientific centres, regional consultants and international organisations. Owing to the high quality of data, the Registry takes part in international projects, such as:
Member of IACR and ENCR.