While cancer research and clinical trials often grab headlines, there’s an important but lesser-known group of people who manage the data behind those breakthroughs: cancer registrars.
Lea Guidry, director of the Acadiana Tumor Registry, says cancer registrars collect, analyze, and report cancer data to support research, treatment, and prevention efforts.
“Cancer registrars are data information specialists,” she says. “We capture a patient’s complete history, from diagnosis through treatment. Then, we share that data with researchers, healthcare providers, and public health officials.”
Every advance in cancer treatment begins with the data collected by cancer registrars at the regional level.
“Our mission is to collect and report complete, high-quality, population-based cancer data in Louisiana,” Guidry continues. “This data supports cancer research, control, and prevention.”
But as experienced registrars retire, the need for new professionals is escalating.
The University of Louisiana at Â鶹´«Ă˝app’s online cancer registry management certificate program prepares students to thrive in this critical field and pursue the , a key certification for professional competence as a cancer registrar.
Lea Guidry: Three Decades in Cancer Registry
Guidry has been a leader in cancer registry for over 34 years. After earning her health sciences degree at UL Â鶹´«Ă˝app in 1992, she was offered a cancer registry position and has been in the field ever since.
Throughout that time, she’s seen the field evolve, and the demand for qualified registrars has never been greater.
“The registrars, like me, have been doing this for decades, but we’re not going to be around forever. We’re going to retire eventually,” Guidry says. “Because of that, the job demand is very high.”
Without sufficient staff to collect and analyze cancer data, this shortage poses a significant challenge for healthcare organizations.
“There aren’t many cancer registrars because not many people know who we are and what we do,” says Guidry.
“No one thinks about the question: If there’s a cure for cancer, how do they find that? It’s through the important data that cancer registrars collect.”
This data collection isn’t just important — it’s required. Louisiana law (R.S. 40:1105.10) mandates that healthcare facilities and providers report every cancer case they diagnose or treat to registries.
To meet this directive, many institutions turn to cancer abstracting companies, which hire registrars to collect and analyze cancer data, often remotely.
“Cancer abstracting companies work with facilities that don’t have in-house registries,” she says. “These companies hire registrars to abstract cancer cases from home, and they’re paid very well for their expertise.”
With growing demand and the flexibility of remote work, cancer registry has become an increasingly attractive career. For professionals like Courtney Jagneaux, the ability to work remotely has been a key factor in thriving in the field.
Courtney Jagneaux: Climbing Cancer Registry Ranks
After earning a health sciences degree from UL Â鶹´«Ă˝app in 2009, Jagneaux began her career as a cancer registrar at Â鶹´«Ă˝app General Hospital’s cancer center, now the Ochsner Cancer Center of Acadiana.
Today, she works as an oncology registry solutions advisor at Registry Partners, helping clients find solutions to their needs while navigating the complexities of cancer registry reporting and accreditation requirements.
“Being a cancer registrar isn’t just about abstracting data all day. There are so many components that come together to drive cancer registry management,” she says.
“You could go into roles like quality assurance, project management, accreditation consulting, clinical research, data analytics and even oncology administration.”
For Jagneaux, the opportunity to contribute to cancer research is what makes the work so meaningful.
“To know where we're going, we have to know where we've been,” she says. “Quality cancer data is essential for ensuring quality care and improving patient outcomes. The cancer care patients receive today is directly shaped by the data collected through cancer registries.”
The Growing Demand for Cancer Registrars
Cancer registry is the backbone of cancer research and treatment. Without it, breakthroughs would be impossible.
The demand for skilled cancer registrars is growing fast, and with that comes a wealth of career opportunities. Now is the perfect time to step into this critical role.
Are you ready to make an impact? Get the knowledge and skills you need to succeed with UL Â鶹´«Ă˝app’s online cancer registry management certificate program.
