Applying Spatial Analysis Functionality to Enhance Routine Cancer Surveillance Systems

The integration of geographic information systems (GIS) in cancer control and prevention is emerging as a powerful tool, offering insights concerning cancer risks and prevention activities that go beyond traditional analytical approaches to understand the contextual impacts of place on cancer. This chapter discusses the impact of geospatial analysis in examining geographic variation in cancer risk, assessing environmental factors, and supporting cancer registry and surveillance activities. Cancer registries collect standardized information on all new reportable tumours among a defined population (Parkin, Nat Rev Cancer 6:603–612, 2006). Registries facilitate epidemiological investigation and surveillance activities as they capture all reportable cancer diagnoses within a defined population (Parkin, Nat Rev Cancer 6:603–612, 2006). Recognizing the interconnected relationships between health and place, traditional tabular data alone falls short in contributing to our understanding of cancer etiology and prevention. Drawing from real-world data, case studies, and exemplary scenarios, this chapter showcases various examples of spatial analysis within the context of cancer registry and surveillance functions and offers a comprehensive walk-through using open-source R code (R Core Team, R Foundation for Statistical Computing). As we navigate through these methodologies, the chapter provides methodological insights and presents their practical implications in informing targeted interventions, resource allocation, and policy formulation for effective cancer prevention.