The Path to Becoming a Cancer Registrar
If there’s a cure for cancer, how do we find it? The answer isn’t in a single breakthrough — it’s in the data. Before every research study, treatment, and prevention strategy, there’s a cancer registrar collecting and analyzing the information that makes it all possible.
As the demand for skilled cancer registrars rises, the ˾’s online Cancer Registry Management certificate program provides the specialized training needed to enter this rewarding field. Designed for healthcare professionals, this program builds on your existing expertise, preparing you to contribute directly to cancer research and patient care.
What is a Cancer Registrar?
Every cancer diagnosis tells a unique story, shaped by factors such as the type and stage of cancer, genetic markers, treatment responses, and patient demographics. Cancer registrars document those stories by tracking diagnoses, treatments, and patient outcomes to build a comprehensive record of how cancer affects individuals and communities.
“Cancer registrars, like me, are data information specialists,” says Lea Guidry, director of the Acadiana Tumor Registry. “We capture a patient’s complete history, from diagnosis through treatment. Then, we share that data with researchers, healthcare providers, and public health officials.”
By tracking this crucial data, cancer registrars help identify trends, pinpoint at-risk populations, and inform treatment strategies. Their work ensures that every case contributes to a larger network of information that drives cancer research, policy, and care.
As states and federal programs rely more on accurate cancer data to improve outcomes, cancer registrars play an important role in keeping that data reliable and actionable.
How Cancer Data Moves from Diagnosis to Research
In Louisiana, tracking cancer cases is required by law. Healthcare providers must report all diagnoses to regional registries, which verify the information before sending it to the . The LTR then de-identifies and shares this data with national programs like the CDC’s and the National Cancer Institute’s .
This data flow ensures researchers and medical professionals have the information they need to track trends, identify risk factors, and develop targeted treatments.
“To know where we're going, we have to know where we've been,” says Courtney Jagneaux, an oncology registry solutions advisor at Registry Partners. “Quality cancer data is essential for ensuring quality care and improving patient outcomes.”
With a structured reporting timeline, there's always work to be done to keep the data accurate and actionable: diagnoses for patients under 20 must be reported within one month, while reports for pathology labs, oncology clinics, and physician practicews are due within two months. Hospitals provide complete abstracts within six months.
A Career in Demand
As experienced cancer registrars retire, a new generation of professionals is needed to fill the gap. According to the , employment of health information technologists and medical registrars is projected to grow 16 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations.
“The registrars, like me, have been doing this for decades, but we’re not going to be around forever,” says Guidry. “Because of that, the job demand is very high.”
Cancer registrars can work for hospitals, government agencies, or third-party cancer abstracting companies. The range of career options allows professionals to contribute to life-changing research while maintaining a stable, rewarding career.
Your Path to Becoming a Certified Cancer Registrar
Cancer research doesn’t happen without cancer registrars. Their work shapes treatment advancements, informs public health initiatives, and ultimately improves patient care.
In UL ˾’s online Cancer Registry Management certificate program, you’ll gain hands-on training in data collection, analysis, and reporting — essential skills that drive life-saving research. Plus, this program prepares you to sit for the , the key credential for becoming a cancer registrar.
Ready to take the next step? Learn more about UL ˾’s online Cancer Registry Management certificate program today.
