Abstract
At the beginning of 2000, the National Cancer Center had little involvement in cancer statistics. In addition, cancer incidence data were collected by regional cancer registries (approximately 30 prefectures have on-site registries), but the problems were that (1) the completeness of the registration was low, (2) the registration method was not standardized, and (3) usage was limited. In the Third Comprehensive Strategic Cancer Research Project (2004-2013), Field 7, "Research on Developing Cancer Surveillance System and Disseminating Cancer Information," was added, and we could build a system to aggregate the latest cancer statistical data from Japan and provide it as content for cancer information services. In addition, within the Regional Cancer Registry Research Group, we promoted the standardization of population-based cancer registry methods through "formulation and dissemination of standard registration forms" and "development and dissemination of standard registry systems." We believe that these factors served as the basis for the smooth transfer to the National Cancer Registry under the Cancer Registry Promotion Act, which was enacted in 2013. In contrast, to take over the function of Hisamichi's "Evaluation of the Effectiveness of New Cancer Screening Methods" report published in 2001, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Cancer Research Grant "Research on the Establishment of Appropriate Methods for Cancer Screening and Evaluation Methods" group, which started in 2003, formulated the guideline development procedure and updated the guidelines, and the work of updating the guidelines was subsequently taken over by the National Cancer Center. This remains an important mechanism to ensure that cancer screening methods that do not have a scientifically confirmed balance between benefits and harms are not introduced into policy.