DPH Cancer Registry Receives Highest Certification from CDC, NAACCR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Sept. 22, 2026

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Central Cancer Registry (SCCCR), part of the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH), recently earned the top certifications from both of its accrediting bodies.

For the first time in its 30-year history, the SCCCR earned the designation of Registry of Excellence by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR), indicating the registry met the highest standards for quality, completeness, and timeliness. South Carolina was one of only 20 states awarded this certification.

Additionally, for the 12th consecutive year, DPH’s registry has earned Gold Standard certification from the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR). Achieving NAACCR certification represents months of diligent effort to ensure the quality and reliability of the state’s cancer data.  

“This recognition highlights the outstanding work our South Carolina Cancer Registry team does to collect, process, analyze, and publish accurate cancer data,” said Dr. Brannon Traxler, acting DPH director. “The insights gained through their work plays a vital role for our partners at every level, helping us understand cancer trends in South Carolina and guiding meaningful efforts to reduce the impact of cancer in our communities.”

As part of the CDC NPRC, the SCCCR collects, processes, analyzes and publishes cancer incidences (newly diagnosed cases) for South Carolina. The SCCCR also publishes information on cancer mortality (deaths), which is provided by DPH.

Data collected by NAACCR member registries form the backbone of the cancer surveillance system supported by the CDC and the National Cancer Institute. These cancer data underpin Cancer in North America’s statistics and support a wide range of cancer-related analyses and applications.

The SCCCR is the point of contact within DPH to assess community cancer concerns through data analysis. CDC guidelines are followed to determine any unexpected increases in cancers in the community. A Community Cancer Assessment report is provided with results of the assessment for all requests. 

For cancer registry data related to cancer incidence and mortality, contact the registry at cancer.registry@dph.sc.gov. To learn more about the SCCCR, visit DPH’s Cancer Registry webpage or listen to the latest agency podcast about the cancer registry’s work on DPH’s YouTube page.

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