Cancer registration in Louisiana began in 1947 at the Charity Hospital Tumor Registry in New Orleans. In 1974, as part of its Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) provided funds for a population-based cancer incidence and survival registry covering Jefferson, Orleans, and St. Bernard parishes. Thus population-based cancer registration began in the Greater New Orleans area with the advent of the Louisiana Tumor Registry (LTR).

In 1979, the LTR was transferred to Louisiana’s Office of Public Health (OPH). The catchment area for the LTR was expanded in 1983 to include all 35 parishes of south Louisiana (Regions I-V). In 1988, when the 29 parishes of north Louisiana (Regions VI-VIII) were added, statewide coverage was achieved.

In 1995, the LTR was transferred from the OPH to the LSU Board of Supervisors. Since then, the LSU Health Sciences Center School of Public Health in New Orleans has been responsible for the cancer registry program. In 2001, the Louisiana Tumor Registry was selected as one of four new expansion registries to join NCI’s prestigious SEER program after a rigorous competitive application process.

Oversight of the registry is exercised by the Louisiana Cancer and Lung Trust Fund Board. Members of this board represent various health institutions throughout the state and are appointed by the governor.