Services We Provide
Data requests
Types of data
To support the state legal mandate for cancer registration, the GBACR facilitates cancer research by providing access to data needed by investigators to conduct research studies. Information is also available to citizens who have questions about cancer occurrence. Registry data are given out in two forms: (1) statistical (grouped) data and (2) individual data.
Statistical data:
Statistical data are often requested by the media, citizens, and health departments, and for inclusion in scientific research studies, proposals and publications.
Statistical data are also used to address reports of cancer concerns (or cancer "clusters") to determine if there is a significantly higher number of cancer cases likely to be occurring within a geographic location, or if this excess number of cases is occurring merely by chance.
The GBACR maintains strict standards of confidentiality and data quality. When statistical cancer data are released, it is only in summary form. Names of patients, practitioners, and care facilities are never revealed when results from cancer data analysis are shared on local, state, national, or global levels.
Individual data:
Individual patient data may be used to study cancer causes, prevention, care and treatment. Requirements are in place to protect the privacy and well-being of potential study participants. Individual patient data are released only after many strict requirements, set by state and federal law, are met.
Types of confidential data requests
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Case-listings include information about individual cancer patients for studies that test a specific hypothesis through collection of additional information.
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Early case ascertainment is conducted when patient contact is needed more quickly after diagnosis than is possible through regular reporting to the registry.
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Linkages are performed to match individuals listed on other databases (for example, occupational or health care) to the registry database to identify those who have developed cancer. Such information may be used to determine whether or not cancers occur in greater than expected numbers in the particular study group.
How to Request Data
To obtain confidential data, an investigator must:
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Demonstrate that the purpose of the research is consistent with the state mandate "... to determine the sources of malignant neoplasms or to evaluate measures designed to eliminate, alleviate, or ameliorate their effects" (California Assembly Bill 196, passed in 1987).
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Be from a nonprofit educational institution conducting scientific research.
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Provide compelling scientific justification for the research, with evidence of peer review.
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Have a study that has undergone examination by a federally approved Institutional Review Board, to ensure protection of human subjects.
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Show evidence of adequate procedures for protecting the confidentiality of patient information.
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Provide assurances that information on individuals will not be disclosed further.
To request data from the GBACR, please read the informational documents on the Data Release Information and Applications page, then contact:
Sheena Cresswell, MPH
Epidemiologist
Northern California Cancer Center
2201 Walnut Avenue, Suite 300
Fremont, CA 94538-2334
Phone: 510-608-5000
Fax: 510-608-5100
E-mail: scresswe@nccc.org
Data Release Information and Applications
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Community Cancer Concerns
Overview
There is considerable public concern that environmental hazards can cause excess cancers in communities. Although the occurrence of cancer may seem high, people are often unaware of how common cancer is in the United States. Current statistics show that 1 in 3 Americans will develop some form of cancer during his or her lifetime. In addition, cancer is not just one disease, but in fact, many different diseases caused by a wide variety of environmental and non-environmental factors.
Cancer clusters can and often do occur by chance alone. If a computer randomly assigns 100 dots to a grid with 100 squares - some squares will have several dots and some will have no dots. In the same way, many cancer clusters are groupings of cancer cases in time and geographic area, due to chance alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some common questions people have about cancer are:
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How common is cancer?
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Which types of cancer are most common?
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How common is skin cancer?
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Who gets cancer?
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How many people currently have cancer?
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What causes cancer?
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Does the environment cause cancer?
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A large number of people on my block have cancer; does there mean there is something wrong with this neighborhood?
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I've been told that the neighborhood I want to move to has a high cancer rate; should I be concerned?
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Why are the breast cancer rates in my county higher than in some other counties?
Click here to visit the California Cancer Registry Web site for answers to the above questions and for more information about cancer in California.
Role of the GBACR
The GBACR plays a significant role in community cancer concerns. As a public agency, it has the mandate to respond to health department and community concerns about cancer. It provides statistical data, which are vital to the reported concern, and educates the community about the occurrence of cancer. The GBACR may also use statistical data to determine if there is a significantly higher number of cancer cases likely to be occurring within a geographic location, or if this excess number of cases is occurring merely by chance
For more information about cancer concerns, please contact:
Sheena Cresswell, MPH
Epidemiologist
Surveillance Research Services
Northern California Cancer Center
2201 Walnut Avenue, Suite 300
Fremont, CA 94538-2334
510-608-5000
E-mail: scresswe@nccc.org
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Publications and Data
Annual Report Cancer Incidence and Mortality in the Greater Bay Area, 1988-2005
(Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties)
Posted April 23, 2008
This annual report presents information on all incident cases and cancer deaths occurring from 1988 through 2004 in the Greater Bay Area (regions 1 and 8 of the California Cancer Registry), which includes Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties.
This report describes the distribution of cancer occurrence and mortality among residents of this area by anatomical site, age, sex, race/ethnicity, year of diagnosis and county of residence. It aims to provide a useful resource to health care professionals, researchers and the general public.
Documents are in PDF form; you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to view them. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can download the application by clicking here.
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Special topic monographs
Special Report: Cancer Incidence Among Asians in the Greater Bay Area, 1990-2002
Cancer incidence in Chinese, Japanese and Filipinos in the United States and Asia, 1988-1992
Registry reports
To obtain hard copies of the reports please, contact:
Sheena Cresswell
Epidemiologist
Northern California Cancer Center
2201 Walnut Avenue, Suite 300
Fremont, CA 94538-2334
Phone: 510-608-5000
Fax: 510-608-5100
E-mail: scresswe@nccc.org
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Fact sheets
Updated Spring 2007
Fact sheets will be displayed in PDF format. If you do not have the required Adobe Acrobat Reader installed to view a PDF document, you can download it for free by clicking here.
The following are fact sheets offered by NCCC's Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry:
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Publications
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