The Western Australian Cancer Registry collects information about cancer diagnoses across the State.
This information is required to be collected by law from pathology reports and radiation oncology treatment records.
This information is used to produce cancer statistics that enable the WA health system to:
- monitor the number of new cases of cancer
- plan services for the control of cancer and the care of cancer patients
- evaluate the effectiveness of cancer prevention and treatment services
- provide data for research into cancer.
A separate register records asbestos exposure and other history for all cases of malignant mesothelioma.
Cancer Notification Regulations
What information is collected?
Information about patients with cancer includes:
- name and address
- date of birth
- country of birth
- whether they are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent
- location and type of each cancer
- doctor and medical service.
How does information get to the Registry?
Doctors and pathologists are legally required to report all cancers diagnosed in Western Australia.
The patient's details are needed to ensure that accurate information is recorded for each new case of cancer, and that each new diagnosis is counted only once in the statistics.
Who has access to the information?
The confidentiality and security of all information, including paper and electronic records, is treated with the utmost priority.
Registry staff may contact doctors or hospitals regarding the information supplied.
Reports published by the Registry are available to the public. These never include names or other identifying information about patients.
More detailed information, again containing no personal details, is available to the Department of Health, local government, health care institutions, health professionals and health researchers.
Health and medical researchers may request access to personal information in order to ask individuals if they are willing to be involved in research studies. This is only granted under strict conditions which are governed by the Department's Human Research Ethics Committee (external site).
If you have any concerns
If you have any concerns about the functioning of the registry, please contact us. You can also contact the Office of Health Review (external site) by phoning 9323 0600.
More information
Western Australian Cancer Registry
Health Data Collections
PO Box 8172
Perth Western Australia 6849
Phone: 6373 1883
Email: wacanreg@health.wa.gov.au
Last reviewed: 21-03-2022