DHS Marks 50 Years of the Wisconsin Cancer Reporting System

DHS Marks 50 Years of the Wisconsin Cancer Reporting System

Helping advance cancer prevention and treatment methods

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its Wisconsin Cancer Reporting System (WCRS), an essential tool that increases the understanding of cancer in Wisconsin and informs prevention and treatment strategies.

Established in 1976 to collect statewide cancer data, WCRS is the ninth oldest cancer registry in the United States and is part of a national network of cancer registries that provides a complete picture of new cancer cases, treatments, and outcomes in the U.S. Today, WCRS collects critical cancer diagnosis data from health care providers statewide, tracking over 330 types of cancer.

"Collecting data, tracking health outcomes, and identifying disease trends are cornerstones of public health, and for 50 years the Wisconsin Cancer Reporting System has been a core part of how Wisconsin delivers on this mission," said Paula Tran, state health officer and administrator of the Division of Public Health. "The program enables us to better inform prevention, testing, and treatment to save lives."

By monitoring cancer trends over time, WCRS enables health officials to track and identify diagnosis rates, state at diagnosis, and other key factors around cases of cancer in Wisconsin. This information allows cancer control programs and health care providers to make informed decisions to improve screening, prevention, and treatment recommendations.

By maintaining high-quality, long-term cancer data records, WCRS data provide important insights for health research and care. Today, this data shows:

• Steady progress in survival rates for many cancers, particularly pediatric cancers. In the mid-1970s, 58% of children and 68% of adolescents diagnosed with cancer survived at least five years. Today, five-year survival rates for both groups have increased to approximately 85%.
• Emerging trends, including data showing an increasing risk of colorectal cancer among younger adults that has contributed to lowering the starting age for colorectal cancer screening from 50 to 45.

Find more reporting and data, and learn more about the Wisconsin Cancer Reporting System on the DHS website.