Cancer Registry

The Northbay Cancer Registry is a data system that has been monitoring the incidence, staging, treatment and survival of cancer patients seen by Northbay Health since our reference date, Jan. 1, 1987.

The Cancer Registry is an integral part of the Northbay cancer program and a basic requirement for approval by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons.

The major objective of the Cancer Registry is to make basic knowledge about the cancer experience at Northbay available to all members of the medical staff in order to evaluate the results of patient care and compare the results with regional and statewide data.

The registry is comprised of 12,375 cases admitted to Northbay Medical Center from 1987-2013. Of this number, 3,358 patients are followed up on a 12-month basis. VacaValley Hospital has a total of 2,317 cancer cases admitted from 1987-2013. Of that number, 165 patients are followed up on a 12-month basis.

Through the Cancer Registry's lifetime follow-up service, physicians and patients are contacted annually to record and update each patient's progress. The follow-up process helps to ensure patients receive regular medical care and provides the basis for survival statistics. In 1987, the registry began reporting cancer data to the State Department of Health Services California Cancer Registry as part of the mandatory cancer reporting law.

Under the direction of the Cancer Committee, registry staff performs data analyses and participates in internal and national data studies.