Lightening the Load: Louisiana Amends Tumor Registry to Reduce Burden of Cancer in the State

In 2024, Act No. 404 was signed into law in Louisiana to improve the capabilities of the Louisiana Tumor Registry (LTR). The LTR is a program within the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Public Health that aggregates multiple data points to guide patients through the cancer timeline, from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. Amendments to the LTR will help modernize the tumor registry for the future. The amendments aim to

• Clarify the tumor registry’s access to all records that identify cases of cancer to abstract reportable cancer cases by the statewide cancer registry program
• Remove requirements for health records to be submitted physically
• Restate LRT’s ability to collect follow-up health records, including medical history, risk factors, and cancer screenings
• Change the composition of Louisiana’s Cancer Advisory Board to reflect relevant stakeholders, including representatives from Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System and Willis Knighton Health System

The proposed amendments allow for more comprehensive, uniform data collection, with fewer gaps in data than more targeted collection methods. They also provide flexibility for the LRT to leverage automation tools and technologies, such as large language models, to analyze large datasets.

Cancer registries provide a wealth of information for cancer researchers and treatment teams. Viewing a cancer diagnosis through the overlapping lenses of medical history and risk factors gives oncology professionals a clearer picture of cancer incidence, helping them improve tools for prevention and early diagnosis. By involving multiple stakeholders with the Louisiana Cancer Advisory Board, the LRT is able to further focus its efforts, integrating a variety of perspectives to fill gaps in access to care.