Since 1998, the Bavarian Cancer Registry collects data on new cases of cancers in Bavaria, starting with half of the counties. Since January 2002, all newly detected cancers and their early manifestations are registered statewide. In April 2017, the new Bavarian Cancer Registration Law became effective, and the Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority became responsible for hosting the statewide clinical-epidemiological cancer registry. All physicians, dentists and/or medical institutions participating in cancer diagnosis and cancer care notify the cancer registry about any incident cancers.
Cancer registries offer the possibility to learn about the etiology and development of cancer. The tasks of the cancer registry include monitoring trends over time and analysing the regional distribution of cancers, as well as providing information for health services planning and epidemiological research. Analysing the course of disease and cancer therapy supports quality assessment of cancer care. The cancer registry helps in monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of preventive and curative measures.
Epidemiological analysis of the collected data is done population-based by the patients` area of residence. This allows the comparison of regional differences in cancer incidence. Population-based studies have the advantage of assessing the entire region, not only selected study groups.
Quality assessment of cancer care is done hospital-based, independently from the patient's place of residence.
Monitoring temporal trends in the occurrence of cancer cases and the distribution of disease stages allows the assessment of prevention and early diagnosis measures, for example population-based mammography screening programmes.