Current status of cancer registries in Australia.

Since 1975, considerable progress has been made in the development of population-based cancer registries in Australia. Each of the six federated states has accepted the principle that population registries are of major importance in cancer control. The registries in New South Wales (established in 1972) and South Australia (established 1977) are fully functional; in addition, a national pediatric registry was established in 1977. Cancer incidence data by site are available for the New South Wales registry, and a preliminary analysis has been done of melanoma for variation by geography and country of birth, and of lung and colorectal cancers for variations by country of birth. A 3-year study of cancer of the renal pelvis in New South Wales and the relationship to analgesic consumption was started in 1977; a second study on contacts among patients with hematologic cancers has been completed.