About SCAN Cancer module Introduction The purpose of the SCAN Cancer module is to generate interactive statistical output (tables, trend-lines, bar-charts, county, zip code, and regional maps) of cancer incidence and mortality data. The intended audience is researchers, public health officials, students, and the general public. Cancer data comes from SC Central Cancer Registry (SCCCR). The SCCCR is a population-based data system that collects cancer incidence (newly diagnosed cases) in South Carolina. Data in a central cancer registry are used to study trends in how often cancers occur in a defined area, changes in diagnosis and treatment patterns, and patients' survival rates. Data from the SCCCR are submitted to the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR) for an evaluation of completeness, accuracy, and timeliness each year since a formal certification process was established in 1997. In each year (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003), the SCCCR has received NAACCR certification. Information on cancer mortality (deaths) is collected by the Division of Vital Records and published by the Division of Biostatistics within DHEC. This module also serves as a compliment to the 30-40 cluster investigations the registry carry out in a year and the statistical services offered by the registry. Please refer to the SCCCR homepage for more detailed information. Depending on the types of the information required, users can select from four different caner modules: Cancer Incidence Statistical Module, Cancer Incidence Full or Research Module, Childhood Cancer Incidence Module and Cancer Mortality Module. Cancer module Cancer Incidence Modules Three distinct modules all related to cancer incidence. These are new cases of cancer that are reported to the South Carolina Central Cancer Registry (SCCCR). Cancer Incidence: Statistical File These are new invasive cases of cancer that are reported to the South Carolina Central Cancer Registry (SCCCR). This module does not contain In Situ cases of cancer except for bladder. Statistics produced are comparable to nationally published reports. Cancer Incidence: Full (Research) File This module contains both in situ and invasive cases of cancer that have occurred to South Carolina residents. The primary difference between this and the statistical file is the inclusion of in situ cancers. Statistics produced may not be comparable to nationally published reports. Childhood Cancer Incidence File This module contains all the new cancer cases occurring children ages 0-19. The primary difference between this and the statistical and research files is the difference in the code of the specific cancers. This module does not contain In Situ cases of cancer except for bladder. Cancer Mortality Module This module contains all the cancer related deaths that have occurred to South Carolina residents. This module is only concerned with death caused by cancer. The coding is the same however there are slight modifications to the underlying population denominator as to match national statistics. Interactive tables Users can filter the data by demographic characteristics such as year, race, age and sex. Cancer stage and grade can also be selected for the incidence modules. To provide more flexibility, these variables can be selected individually or jointly from the multiple-selection windows provided so that the output includes a highly customizable two-way table with the statistics users requested. User can opt to obtain statistics of multiple cancer types at the same time by selecting different types of cancer from the available primary cancer types window, which can be sorted alphabetically or by cancer groups. As with the other SCAN modules, users can selected different geographic units of analysis such as by zip codes, counties and DHEC Regions. The geographic location of each case is obtained through an advanced geocoding process based on the actual residence address instead of the reported geography (e.g. zip code & county). For more information, please refer to the Geocoding section. Statistical and graphical output options include crude/age-adjusted rates, 95% confidence interval, trend-lines and bar charts to better accommodate the varied needs of SCAN users. Interactive maps The interactive mapping options in the SCAN cancer module have similar user input options. Like the other SCAN modules, Geographic Information System (GIS) is used to provide general spatial analysis capabilities and visual presentation of information. GIS provides SCAN with an illustrative media to distribute information via interactive maps. Interactive maps allow users to easily assess cancer statistics for any location in South Carolina. SCAN maps also allow the user to overlay other information, such as census data and health infrastructure, onto the map for additional analysis.   Confidentiality issue Suppression rules that SCCCR uses for its other publications are implemented on the public version of the cancer module. Users who need non-masked statistics need to contact the Registry to determine the most appropriate way to obtain the requested information. Suppression rules: Cells including counts of 1-4 be reported as <5. Cells including counts of 5-10 be reported as 10. Cells including counts of 10 or more should not be suppressed. Zero cells be reported as 0. Rates associated with frequencies of 15 cases or fewer be suppressed.   Geocoding process The SCCCR and PHSIS Biostatistics Division and Division of Public Health Informatics rewrote their geocoding procedures for SCCCR data in 2006 in order to streamline the process and to make sure the process was fully documented. All geocoding of DPH public health data are done internally using the SC DPH Composite Web Geocoding Service. The new procedures are all automated with no subjective decisions made by staff, which allows geocoding to be replicated year after year with the assurance that consistent methods will be applied. Based on this new method first utilized in 2006, over 96% of SCCCR geocoded data are matched, with a high degree of accuracy, to a minimum geographic scale at the zip code level. The majority of the cases are matched to an exact address.