Frequently Asked Questions - TCR

Cancer is the name given to a collection of more than 100 related diseases. In all types of cancer, some of the body’s cells begin to divide without stopping and spread into surrounding tissues. 

In 2022, an estimated 137,308 Texas residents will be diagnosed with cancer. The five most commonly diagnosed cancers are breast, prostate, lung and bronchus, colorectal, and kidney and renal pelvis. An estimated 47,067 Texas residents will die from cancer this year. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Texas.

For more information on cancer in Texas, visit our Cancer Statistics webpage.

The Texas Cancer Registry (TCR) is a statewide population-based registry that collects and maintains information on new cancer cases diagnosed and treated in Texas. It is part of the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). In addition, the TCR shares cancer data and supports a wide variety of cancer research and studies.

By law, health care team professionals are required to report information about all cancers diagnosed and treated in Texas to the TCR. Depending on where someone is diagnosed and or treated, information may be reported by a hospital, cancer treatment center, surgery center, pathology laboratories, and a physician.

Information shared with TCR helps us understand how cancer affects people living in Texas. It contributes towards cancer prevention and control research that will help improve the diagnosis, treatment, survival, and quality of life for all Texans. Cancer researchers use this information to better understand the causes of cancer, cancer prevention and control, and cancer survivorship. For some studies, researchers might even want to contact patients and survivors to learn more about their experiences so they can better understand the disease and help eliminate or reduce the impact of cancer.

Protecting patient confidentiality and protected health information is important to the TCR. The TCR complies with all federal and state laws and rules and DSHS policy. The DSHS Institutional Review Board (IRB) reviews and approves all research studies that use protected health information from the TCR. The IRB is here to protect your rights and the welfare of human research participants.

For more information, visit our Data Release Policy webpage.

No, the state law doesn’t allow individuals to remove their cancer information from the registry. If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer and don’t want to be contacted for research studies that use information from the TCR, call us at 800-252-8059 or 512-776-3080 or email us at CancerData@dshs.texas.gov.

Many national and local organizations provide help to cancer patients and survivors as well as their caregivers, family members, and friends. Some might offer services to patients with specific types of cancer while others might specialize in program areas, like cancer education, emotional support or financial assistance.

For a list of national and state organizations to help you get started, visit our Additional Resources for Cancer Information webpage.

The American Cancer Society has information for friends and family members that can help answer questions about cancer, supporting their loved one, and taking care of themselves.

• Caregivers and Family
• Helping Children When a Family Member Has Cancer
• When Your Child Has Cancer

The crisis hotline for your county's local mental health or local behavioral health authority can help. Texas Health and Human Services' Mental Health Crisis Services provides a list of authorities, counties served and phone numbers. It also includes referrals for suicide prevention and mental wellness phone apps.