World Campus January 2026 Session (Part I): why cancer registries matter for saving lives
Presentation by Biying Liu, African Cancer Registry Network (AFCRN)

How can we improve cancer outcomes without reliable data?

In the first part of our January 2026 World Campus session, Biying Liu from the African Cancer Registry Network (AFCRN) highlighted the essential role of cancer registries across Sub-Saharan Africa. AFCRN partners with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) through the Global Initiative for Cancer Registry Development to strengthen population-based cancer registries in the region.

Cancer incidence is rising, yet many countries still lack complete national data. In some places, registries cover only one city; elsewhere, data collection is inconsistent due to limited resources. Behind every statistic is detailed work – often manually extracting information from paper hospital records to build reliable databases.

The insights are clear:

• Breast and cervical cancer lead among women; prostate cancer among men.

• Survival varies widely between regions.

• Early-stage diagnosis can double or even triple survival rates.

Without registries, these disparities remain invisible. With them, countries can plan screening, allocate resources, and improve care.

Data is not just numbers – it is the foundation for earlier detection and saved lives.

Watch the full session here: