The St. John Cancer Registry provides patients and other medical experts with information on cancer diagnosis and treatment. The cancer registry monitors all types of cancers diagnosed and/or treated at St John. Data is compiled in a database developed by the National Cancer Institute, and helps register patients for approved clinical trials. More than 34,000 cases have been registered since the reference date of January 1967, making St John’s cancer registry the oldest approved program in Oklahoma.
Cancer registries were established to improve cancer therapy through collection of detailed data about diagnoses and therapies. Improvements in cancer therapy are achieved by:
• Comparison of therapy – which therapy worked best for each patient
• Support of treatment – registries can improve patient information and help provide the best treatment possible.
Through the cancer registry, St. John participates in national studies regarding cancer trends. The National Cancer Institute tracks cancer incidence rates and outcomes across the United States. Aggregate data about specific diagnoses is available for physician-directed research. Patient privacy is protected.
