Identifying Duplicate Cancer Cases Across State Boundaries: Pseudonymization as a Method to Encrypt Identifiers.

Identifying potential duplicate cancer cases across state boundaries has been a topic of interest for many years. Duplicate cases could distort our understanding of the burden of cancer in a state, region, or even nationally, and waste cancer surveillance resources. This paper reports a pilot quality improvement project to use a publicly available tool to encrypt a standard set of patient identifiers and then link cases across state boundaries as a way to identify and reconcile possible duplicate cases among a group of neighboring states.

Pediatric Cancer By Race, Ethnicity and Region in the United States.

Background: In a 2018 descriptive study, cancer incidence in children (age 0-19) in diagnosis years 2003 to 2014 was reported as being highest in New Hampshire and in the Northeast region.

Methods: Using the Cancer in North America (CiNA) analytic file, we tested the hypotheses that incidence rates in the Northeast were higher than those in other regions of the United States either overall or by race/ethnicity group, and that rates in New Hampshire were higher than the Northeast region as a whole.

Results: In 2003 to 2014, pediatric cancer incidence was significantly higher in the Northeast than other regions of the United States overall and among non-Hispanic Whites and Blacks, but not among Hispanics and other racial minorities.

Survival after squamous cell and basal cell carcinoma of the skin: A retrospective cohort analysis.

A retrospective cohort analysis of survival after keratinocyte cancer (KC) was conducted using data from a large, population-based case-control study of KC in New Hampshire. The original study collected detailed information during personal interviews between 1993 and 2002 from individuals with squamous (SCC) and basal (BCC) cell carcinoma, and controls identified through the Department of Transportation, frequency-matched on age and sex. Participants without a history of non-skin cancer at enrolment were followed as a retrospective cohort to assess survival after either SCC or BCC, or a reference date for controls.

Non melanoma skin cancer and subsequent cancer risk.

Introduction: Several studies have shown an increased risk of cancer after non melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) but the individual risk factors underlying this risk have not been elucidated, especially in relation to sun exposure and skin sensitivity to sunlight.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the individual risk factors associated with the development of subsequent cancers after non melanoma skin cancer.

Methods: Participants in the population-based New Hampshire Skin Cancer Study provided detailed risk factor data, and subsequent cancers were identified via linkage with the state cancer registry.

Reliability of rapid reporting of cancers in New Hampshire.

Objective: The New Hampshire State Cancer Registry (NHSCR) has a 2-phase reporting system. An abbreviated, "rapid" report of cancer diagnosis or treatment is due to the central registry within 45 days of diagnosis and a more detailed, definitive report is due within 180 days. Rapid reports are used for various research studies, but researchers who contact patients are warned that the rapid reports may contain inaccuracies.

Breast cancer stage at diagnosis and geographic access to mammography screening (New Hampshire, 1998-2004).

Introduction: Early detection of breast cancer by screening mammography aims to increase treatment options and decrease mortality. Recent studies have shown inconsistent results in their investigations of the possible association between travel distance to mammography and stage of breast cancer at diagnosis.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to investigate whether geographic access to mammography screening is associated with the stage at breast cancer diagnosis.

Travel distance and season of diagnosis affect treatment choices for women with early-stage breast cancer in a predominantly rural population (United States).

Objective: Current standards of care for early-stage breast cancer include either breast-conserving surgery (BCS) with post-operative radiation or mastectomy. A variety of factors influence the type of treatment chosen. In northern, rural areas, daily travel for radiation can be difficult in winter.

On the coding and reporting of race and ethnicity in New Hampshire for purposes of cancer reporting.

Background: The objective was to investigate how data on race and ethnicity are collected by hospitals reporting to the New Hampshire State Cancer Registry (NHSCR).

Method: NHSCR surveyed hospitals asking how information on race and ethnicity were collected. A review of relevant legal mandates and national guidelines was undertaken.