Cancer Registry
Started in 2007, the Beaufort Memorial Cancer Registry is a computer-based cancer incidence program accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. It tracks the number of people with cancer and helps in the prevention and treatment of the disease for people throughout our Beaufort, Bluffton, Hilton Head and surrounding Lowcountry communities.
The Cancer Registry collects, maintains and reports on all new cancers diagnosed and/or treated at Beaufort Memorial to the South Carolina Cancer Registry (SCCR) and National Cancer Data Base (NCDB). Tumors of the brain and central nervous system are reported even if they are benign. As is the national norm, basal and squamous cancers of the skin are not reported to the Cancer Registry.
Benefit From Lifetime Follow-Up
To assure the best continuity of care and evaluation of your treatment, the cancer registry will obtain and document updated information for our medical records annually. This follow-up can be done three ways:
- If you are re-admitted to the hospital or are seen as an outpatient, your records will indicate that you have been followed this year.
- If you have not received any service from Beaufort Memorial during the year, your physician(s) will be contacted.
- If you have not seen your doctor in the last year the cancer registry may send you a letter requesting follow-up information.
What Kind of Information is Collected?
- Patient demographics
- Primary site of cancer
- Tumor histology (study of tissues)
- Stage or extent of the cancer
- Treatment, including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone and/or immunotherapy
- Current health status
How is Confidentiality Handled?
The Beaufort Memorial Cancer Registry maintains strict confidentiality. According to HIPPA privacy regulations, the Beaufort Memorial Cancer Registry is authorized by law to collect and receive information for the purpose of preventing and controlling disease, injury or disability. Patient names are not included in the data shared.
How is the Information Used?
The Beaufort Memorial Cancer Registry compiles information vital to the prevention and treatment of cancer. This information is used to keep track of how many cancer cases Beaufort Memorial has each year. With the data we can:
- Compare state, regional and county cancer rates with rates in other states and the U.S.
- Allow state and local agencies to plan for health care needs related to cancer.
- Compare numbers and rates for cancer in the different parts of South Carolina and the U.S.
- Look at changes in the number of cancer cases over time and track the stage of cancers at diagnosis, which could be due to access to medical care.
- Plan and evaluate cancer prevention and control programs.
- Work with researchers to conduct cancer studies.
- Investigate possible cancer clusters.
- Let the public know about cancer in our five-county area by publicizing summaries, data tables, graphs and special reports required by the Commission on Cancer in our annual report.
Who is Required to Report Cancer Cases?
South Carolina law requires hospitals, freestanding radiation therapy centers, ambulatory care facilities, laboratories and physicians to report cancer cases to the South Carolina Department of Public Health within six months of diagnosis.