Colorado Central Cancer Registry data
The Colorado Central Cancer Registry is a statewide database of cancer diagnoses and includes the following data items: cancer site; stage of disease at diagnosis; treatments; payer; and demographics including age, sex, race and residence. The goal of the Cancer Registry is to reduce death and illness due to cancer by informing citizens and health professionals through statistics and reports on incidence, treatment and survival, and deaths due to cancer. All individual patient, physician and hospital information is confidential as required by Colorado law.
Cancer Registry at-a-glance
Population presented
All Colorado residents who present with cancer, whether or not they were diagnosed in Colorado.
Health topic areas covered
All cancers except basal and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin and cervical carcinoma in situ. Benign and borderline tumors of the central nervous system are also captured.
Health disparities/inequities
Data analyses of health measures that stratify by or otherwise consider demographic variables (e.g., race/ethnicity, age, sex, socioeconomic position) can be used to assess health disparities and inequities.
Cancer registry data utility
- Determine population-level cancer trends
- Make informed public health policy decisions
- Promote interventions to diagnose cancers earlier, at more treatable stages
- Conduct innovative cancer research
- Create evidence-based healthcare screening guidelines
Methodology
The Cancer Registry collects data on all cancers except basal and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin and cervical carcinoma in situ from Colorado hospitals, pathology labs, other state cancer registries, death certificates, and some physicians.
Considerations for the data source
Confidentiality is maintained by suppressing results of any measure with only one or two events in each
category.
- Record-level de-identified datasets are available for approved research projects.
- Incidence rates for all cancer sites include invasive cancer only (except bladder cancer, for which in situ tumors are included).
Issues relevant for time trends:
- Current age-adjusted incidence rates are adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population. Comparisons should not be made between these rates and reports issued earlier than 2002, as those rates were based on the 1970 U.S. standard population.
- Rules governing the stage of cancer at diagnosis were modified starting in 2001. See the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries site-specific comparison summary stage 1977 for more details on how this may impact data trends.
Data availability
New data are typically complete within 18 to 24 months after the end of the calendar year.
Granularity
Data are available at the state and county levels.
Frequency
Ongoing
Cases captured
Around 25,000 invasive cancer cases per year in recent years.
Cancer records requests
Individuals requesting cancer records for personal use should follow the instructions below. Please allow 2 weeks to process the request once all documentation is received.
Colorado residents who are diagnosed with qualifying cancers may be eligible for compensation under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA). This federal program is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Division (DOJ). For instructions on requesting cancer records for the RECA program, please redirect to this link: RECA Program.
If you have additional questions, please contact the Colorado Central Cancer Registry Office:
The cancer record we provide is a one-page abstract that provides the diagnostic and treatment information for the specified cancer(s).
The CCCR has maintained complete, population-based reporting for the Denver metro area since 1979 and statewide since 1988 for individuals who were residents of Colorado at the time of their diagnosis.
Yes, if you have appropriate documentation establishing that you are legally entitled to receive this information.
A notarized letter from the patient requesting a copy of their cancer records is required. The letter should include:
- Name of the patient
- Patient’s date of birth
- Patient’s Social Security number
- Copy of the patient’s driver’s license (or other form of valid ID)
- Reason for requesting the records
- Address of where the requester would like the information sent
- Phone number for contact information
A notarized letter requesting the records, signed and dated is required. It should contain the Claimant Name and their relationship to the patient. A copy of the authorization letter from the patient or family authorizing the Representative to serve as their Authorized Representative. Additional information to include:
- Name of the patient
- Patient Date of Birth
- Patient Social Security number
- A court document showing they are the legal representative of the patient
- Reason for requesting the records
- Copy of the Claimant’s driver’s license (or other form of valid ID)
- Copy of the Requestor’s driver’s license (or other form of valid ID)
- Address where the information should be sent
A notarized letter is required from the Claimant stating who they are and their relationship to the patient. The letter should include why they are requesting a copy of the patient’s cancer records. The letter should include:
- Patient Name
- Patient Date of Birth
- Patient Social Security number
- Patient’s Date of death
- Copy of the patient’s Death Certificate
- Requestor’s Name
- A court document showing the Requester is the legal representative of the patient
- Copy of Requestor’s driver’s license (or other form of valid ID)
- Copy of a document showing how the Requestor is related to the patient such as a birth or marriage certificate
- Requestor’s address, email address and phone number
- The address of where they would like the information sent
For fastest processing, we encourage you to fax your documents to 1-855-839-0422.
Documents can also be received by encrypted email. For this method of transmission, please email the cancer registry at cdphe.pscaregistry@state.co.us for further instruction.
If you prefer to mail your documents, please send them to:
Colorado Central Cancer Registry
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment - CHED-8660
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South
Denver, CO 80246
In most cases, we will have the record for qualifying cancers that were diagnosed after 1988 for a Colorado resident at the time of diagnosis. Be advised that if the cancer diagnosis was recent, we may not have received the information yet at the time of your request.