The population-based cancer registry records information on all cases of the disease, occurring within a certain territory. In Ukraine, collection of this information in each oblast (territorial administrative unit) is focused in a specialised oblast oncological dispensary. Furthermore, some large cities and rayons (smaller territorial administrative units) have city- or rayon-level dispensaries; these cities and rayons collect information independently and then supply it to oblast-level dispensaries. The network of oblast, city and rayon oncological dispensaries covers the whole territory of Ukraine.

The population-based cancer registry data allows to calculate various incidence parameters. Other reliable ways to assess the characteristics and trends of malignant neoplasm occurrence do not yet exist.
The population-based cancer registry is based on a variety of information sources. Most cancer cases are diagnosed and treated in local oncological dispensaries. However, it has input from both general hospitals and specialised scientific establishments (e.g., Ukrainian Research Institute of Oncology and Radiology), and oncological dispensaries of other oblasts and rayons . All the information is gathered inthe patient's residentiary oncological dispensary in the form of special medical documents - abstracts, notices, etc.
Population-based cancer registries exist in many countries. However, in a number of Western countries collection of the incidence information requires much efforts, as there is no uniform system of cancer information flow at a state level. On the other hand, the presence in Ukraine of the specialised oncological service, with its long-term experience of information collection and follow-up of oncological patients, has served as the precondition for creation of a truly national cancer registry, covering the whole population of Ukraine. The intensive work on creation of the Ukrainian population-based cancer registry gained additional momentum after the Chernobyl catastrophe. Only reliable data about incidence within extensive territories, including contaminated areas, will allow us to assess the long-term effect of radiation, as well as other ecological factors.

The work on automation of the Ukrainian cancer registry has been under way since 1989. The software of the registry has been developed in the Ukrainian Research Institute of Oncology and Radiology, in line with the requirements for its wide introduction in oblast and rayon oncological dispensaries of Ukraine. The program package is equipped with powerful tools for information quality assurance, automated coding for ICD-classification and stage of disease, fast search, calculation of statistical parameters, data linkage. It is also designed to allow for automated data reception from the hospital cancer registry system.

The introduction of the automated program package in Ukrainian oblast dispensaries is now nearly complete. Many large oncological dispensaries already have long-term experience with the automated system and large volumes of abstracted primary medical data in electronic form. In total, the databases of the Ukrainian registry already store over 1 000 000 records of malignant neoplasm cases, suitable for automated processing.

The basic registration document for the population-based cancer registry of Ukraine is " Registration Card for a patient with malignant neoplasm " (Form 030-6/i). The information of this document permits use of the registry not just for incidence information collection and analysis, but also for further follow-up of the patient, assessment of the oncological service activities, survival analysis, etc.

The Ukrainian population cancer registry is characterised by its close interrelation with the hospital cancer registries, which are important source of information for the population-basedone. We developed the technology for the automated transfer of the hospital cancer registry data to the population-based registry, which both reduces the labour cost of maintaining the population-based registry and increases the quality of data. It also allows, inversely, prompt updating of the information on patient's status in hospital registry, which is critical for scientific research and survival analysis.

The data of the population-based cancer registry include the following blocks of information:

· Passport data

For any detailed information concerning fields of each block, as well as features of the program package, contact the developers or see documentation on the program package.