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Research Projects at the Utah Cancer Registry

Patterns of Care Study - Patients Diagnosed with Cancer in 2006
September 20, 2007 - September 29, 2008

Over the past decade, the National Cancer Institute has examined issues relating to quality of care through a series of projects, collectively referred to as the Patterns of Care (POC) Studies. POC studies have been conducted by selected registries in NCI's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. These studies were designed to verify the use of radiation, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy in the treatment of cancer patients.

The goal of this study was to characterize patters of cancer-related care in selected geographic regions within the United States for adult (aged 20 years and older) thyroid cancer and glioblastoma, as well as breast cancer, germ cell, lymphoma, or sarcoma among adolescents and young adults (aged 15-29) diagnosed from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2006.

Funding Source: National Cancer Institute

Patterns of Care Study - Patients Diagnosed with Cancer in 2005
September 30, 2006 - September 29, 2007

The goal of this study was to characterize patterns of cancer-related care in selected geographic regions within the United States for adult (aged 20 years and older) cancers of the breast (in situ and early stage) among females, stage II and III colorectal cancer and non-small cell lung cancer in men and women diagnosed from January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2005.

Funding Source: National Cancer Institute

Monticello Cancer Study
July 1, 2006 - July 31, 2007

In the early part of 2006, researchers at the Utah Department of Health (UDOH), Environmental Epidemiology Program (EEP), conducted an investigation of cancer incidence in Monticello, Utah, after a number of citizens expressed concern regarding substantially elevated cancer rates. Monticello, Utah, is a relatively small city located in southeastern Utah (San Juan County) with a population of 1,958. From 1943 through 1960 a uranium and vanadium-processing mill operated immediately south of the town. The mill site and surrounding properties were considered public health hazards and were both National Priorities List (NPL) sites. Remediation of contaminated soils from the mill site and affected areas beyond mill property was completed in 2001. Although the contamination at the former mill site and surrounding vicinity posed a public health hazard prior to remediation, the site is no longer considered a public health hazard.

Data from the Utah Cancer Registry (UCR) were used in the initial investigation, which revealed no elevated risk for cancer among residents of Monticello. This finding directly went against the general perception of the Monticello community since a 2005 community-lead (Monticello Victims of Mill Tailings Exposure (VMTE) committee) survey revealed more cancer diagnoses compared to documented cases at the UCR. Unfortunately, the data obtained from the community survey did not have the necessary information to determine if the cancers reported in the survey were in fact "missed" by the UCR. The necessary information includes, but is not limited to, detailed patient information (first name, last name, middle name, maiden name, sex, social security number, etc.), the type (morphology and histology) of cancer, date(s) of diagnosis, place of residence at the time of diagnosis, and the diagnosing/treating facility. These patient and cancer data elements are necessary to determine whether a cancer diagnosis is reportable to the State registry (aka: UCR) and are needed to evaluate the completeness of the UCR data relative to the information from the 2005 community survey. The EEP recommended that further analysis of cancer rates in Monticello be performed. "Specifically, an attempt to validate cancer cases that were identified through surveys done by the Monticello Victims of Mill Tailings Exposure committee."

The major goal of this project, therefore, is to validate cancer diagnoses reported to the UDOH by the VMTE committee. Validated case information will be provided to the UDOH for risk analysis.

Funding Source: Utah Department of Health

Replication of Results Regarding Completeness of Melanoma Surveillance
September 30, 2005 - September 29, 2006

The primary goal of this study was to assess the extent of missing melanoma cases and identify additional reporting facilities and in-house pathologists who failed to report cases to the State central cancer registry.

Funding Source: National Cancer Institute

Patterns of Care Study- Patients Diagnosed with Cancer in 2004
September 30, 2005 - September 29, 2006

The goal of this study was to characterize patterns of cancer-related care in selected geographic regions within the United States for female and male cancers of the breast, kidney and head and neck.

Funding Source: National Cancer Institute