A first-of-its-kind cancer coronavirus registry in the world has been launched in the UK.
The monitoring system termed ‘UK Coronavirus Cancer Monitoring Scheme’ will track the impact of COVID-19 on cancer patients who have tested positive. It aims to ensure the delivery of high-quality cancer care across the country to safeguard patients. The registry will use clinician-led reporting for tracking patients with cancer and guiding treatment pathways.
Information about the prevalence of COVID-19 infections with anonymised data pertaining to the site of disease and mortality will be collected through a recently established network of cancer COVID-19 response reporting clinicians, accounting for 82 per cent of the nation's cancer centre network. The system will then convey real-time daily updates back to the cancer centres, with crucial insights for decision makers.
Dr Vinton Cheng, who leads the ethics and regulatory affairs for the project, said: "As an oncologist, patients with cancer need to know that the NHS will continue to look after them and will identify and learn from cases. The monitoring system is the first step to help the NHS achieve these aims for cancer patients."
The project team comprises medical oncologists, data scientists and graphic designers from the University of Leeds, University of Birmingham, University of Oxford, Kings College London, The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, University College London and Edinburgh Cancer Hospital.
