Cancer registration enables monitoring and documentation of the development of cancer in Switzerland, using today’s data to generate knowledge that will help improve our capacity to fight cancer in the future.
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As is the case almost everywhere in the world, cancerous diseases are also widespread in Switzerland. The federal government and the cantons are constantly working to better understand cancer and ensure the best possible care for all patients. An important part of these endeavours is the cancer registration - this has been enshrined in law since 2020.
Explanatory video on cancer registration in Switzerland
Mandate and purpose of cancer registration
The collection, registration and analysis of data on cancerous diseases are regulated by law in Switzerland.
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Benefit
The knowledge gained through cancer registration helps to better understand and combat cancerous diseases. This makes it possible to prevent cancer, recognise it earlier, treat it in a targeted manner and avoid relapses.
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Gain a better understanding of cancer
Broad insights
The knowledge gained from cancer registration can be used to answer a wide range of questions about cancer.
Work together to generate reliable data
Record cancer cases as completely as possible
The purpose of cancer registration is to create an overall picture of cancer cases in the population that is as meaningful as possible. Although individuals are not the focus, every data record is important in order to be able to obtain reliable information, for example on the quality of care.
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Cancer registration
The information on cancerous diseases reported by medical service providers is used to analyse the spread and development of cancer in Switzerland.
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Well-coordinated processes
Federal system for registering cancer cases
The cancer data reported by hospitals, doctors’ practices and laboratories is collected by the cantonal cancer registries and the Childhood Cancer Registry. It is then evaluated at both cantonal and national levels and processed into usable insights.
Separate registration for children
National Childhood Cancer Registry
Cancer in children is less common and di ers from cancer in adults. Cancer cases among children and adults are therefore recorded in separate registries.
Registry data is turned into statistics
Information on the spread and development of cancer
The cancer registration compiles statistics that relate to the entire population. Investigations into new treatment methods or biological mechanisms for the development of cancer are the subject of other research fields and have a di erent legal basis than the cancer registration.
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Data handling
The cancer registries collect various data on the respective disease as well as information on the person concerned - all in accordance with strict data protection regulations.
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Information collected during cancer registration
Cancer registries record information about the cancer as well as information about the person. Information about the person is important in order to register tumours correctly and to prevent cases from being recorded twice.
Well protected and encrypted
Handling of data in cancer registration
The data obtained by the cancer registration is an extract of the information recorded at the doctor’s practices or in the hospital;
it is subject to strict data protection regulations. Individuals cannot be identified from the published data.
Data protection regulations that apply to cancer registration
All those involved in cancer registration are subject to strict data protection regulations, which are set out in the Cancer Registration Act and other cantonal and national guidelines.
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Patient rights
Patients have various rights in cancer registration that are set out in the Cancer Registration Act.
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The three rights of patients in cancer registration
Patients* have three statutory rights when it comes to the registration of cancer cases.
The National Agency for Cancer Registration assists them in exercising their rights.
The right to object is explained in detail below.
Lodging an objection against cancer registration
To lodge an objection, the objection form must be signed and sent to a cantonal cancer registry or the Childhood Cancer Registry.
The right to object
An objection to the registration of your data can be lodged at any time. This has different consequences depending on the time the objection is made.
