Relevant legislation | Responsibility | Who must be notified | How to notify | More information

All cases of cancer must be reported to the Department of Health. For the purposes of notification, 'cancer' means any malignant growth of human tissue which, if unchecked, is likely to spread to adjacent tissues and beyond its site of origin. This includes:

• All in situ neoplasms
• All malignant neoplasms other than primary basal cell carcinoma and primary squamous cell carcinoma (whether invasive or in situ ) of the skin
• All malignant neoplasms of the brain, spinal cord and cranial nerves, and any other intracranial neoplasms, whether benign or malignant
• All other malignant neoplasms

There is a separate statutory reporting requirement for the results of cervical cancer testing in relation to the Cervical Cytology Registry (Pap Smear Registry) (see Cervical Cancer Testing).

Relevant legislation

The statutory requirement to notify cases of cancer is specified in Regulations 5 and 6 of the Health (Notification of Cancer) Regulations 1981.

Responsibility for notification

Two groups have responsibility for reporting cancer:

• Pathologists (including haematologists) who diagnose/report the presence of cancer
• Radiation oncologists treating cancer (on the first occasion of treatment)

Who must be notified

Under the Health (Notification of Cancer) Regulations 1981 the Executive Director, Public Health must be notified. The Principal Medical Officer, Western Australian Cancer Registry, acts with the delegated authority of the Executive Director Public Health in this regard.

How to notify

A written report and/or copies of any pathology reports need to be forwarded to the Principal Medical Officer, Western Australian Cancer Registry, including the following information:

• The full name and address of the person
• The sex and date of birth of the person
• The type of cancer for which that person is being treated (if applicable)
• The name of the medical practitioner by whom the person is referred for examination
• If the person is a patient in a hospital, the name and address of the hospital

Notification is due:

As soon as possible, preferably within 30 days.

Notifications should be made to:

Principal Medical Officer / Manager
Western Australian Cancer Registry
Health Information Centre
Department of Health

PO Box 8172
Perth Business Centre WA 6849

For more information regarding notification of cancer

Contact the Principal Medical Officer / Manager, Western Australian Cancer Registry on (08) 9222 402 or by email at: wacanreg@health.wa.gov.au.

For more information regarding cancer and cancer statistics

Refer to: The Western Australian Cancer Registry website