Having reliable statistics for childhood cancer is an essential component of planning the capacity which is needed for treatment and support of the children. The existence of a comprehensive registry which accurately captures all cases of childhood cancer is a vital base to provide these statistics.

In the absence of any registry being provided by the public sector, the SA Children’s Cancer Study Group (SACCSG an association comprising all the paediatric oncologists in SA) has for some years undertaken to run this registry and CHOC provides the financial support necessary to the running of the registry including the salaries of professional data capturers.

All cases of childhood cancer are captured and entered into the registry and is constantly updated. The registry has resulted in a greater knowledge of the incidence rates of cancer, the demographics and the ages of the children afflicted.