Missouri Cancer Registry

1. The Archival Safety Net

State archival safety nets function best as a backup to direct physical records. You should always attempt to obtain your original medical documentation directly from your regional hospital's Health Information Management (HIM) department first. However, if your direct hospital records have been lost, purged, or destroyed over time, the Missouri Cancer Registry (MCR) serves as a critical fallback.

The MCR is the designated central cancer registry for the state. In most cases, the registry will hold diagnostic records for qualifying cancers that were diagnosed after 1984, provided the individual was a resident of Missouri at the time of diagnosis. In 1999, reporting mandates expanded to also capture data from non-hospital facilities, such as pathology labs and freestanding clinics.

2. Option A: DOJ Automatic Verification

The simplest and most efficient way to utilize the registry for a RECA claim is to allow the federal government to request the verification on your behalf. This eliminates the need for you to gather identity proofs and mail physical request forms to the state.

How to Authorize the DOJ:

When filling out the official DOJ Manhattan Project Waste Exposure claim form, you can explicitly grant the Department of Justice permission to request your record from the MCR. You must check the specific box located at the top of Page 10 of the application, and also ensure you sign the medical release on Page 14.

3. Option B: Requesting a Personal Physical Copy

If you prefer to obtain a physical copy of the registry data for your own records before submitting your claim or verify the MCR has these records, you can make a direct request to the MCR. Because these records contain highly sensitive health data, the state requires extensive proof of identity and relationship.

Documents Needed to Request Your Own Records:

A completed MCR Request for Information Form.
A copy of your birth certificate or official adoption papers.
Marriage license(s) documenting any and all name changes.
A copy of your valid driver's license.
Proof of your current address, such as a recent electric bill or similar statement.

Documents Needed to Request a Deceased Parent's Records:

If you are filing a survivor claim, you must prove you are legally entitled to receive the information:

A completed MCR Request for Information Form.
A copy of your birth certificate specifically proving your relationship to the parent.
The parent's official death certificate (or Power of Attorney paperwork if they are living but incapacitated).
Marriage license(s) documenting your name changes.
Divorce decrees documenting that all marriages of the parents have ended (if applicable).
Death certificates of any of your siblings who have passed away.
A copy of your valid driver's license and proof of current address (e.g., utility bill).

Note: If you are a stepchild, you must provide proof that their spouse was your natural parent, alongside records (like school transcripts) showing you lived with the ill parent in a regular parent-child relationship.

4. Strict Submission Requirements

⚠️ Important Notice: No In-Person Requests

The Missouri Cancer Registry explicitly states they only process RECA requests by mail or fax. Do not travel to the MCR facility in person, as they will not be able to process your request.

Submission Method	Details
By Fax (Preferred)	For faster processing, the MCR encourages claimants to fax their completed forms and all supporting identity documents to: Fax Number: 573-884-9655
By Mail	If you prefer to mail your physical documents, send them via secure mail to: Missouri Cancer Registry and Research Center 1095 Hospital Drive Columbia, MO 65211
Phone Support	If you have administrative questions regarding the exact paperwork required, you can contact the MCR main office at: Phone: 573-882-7775

Submission Method

Details

By Fax (Preferred)

For faster processing, the MCR encourages claimants to fax their completed forms and all supporting identity documents to:

Fax Number: 573-884-9655

By Mail

If you prefer to mail your physical documents, send them via secure mail to:

Missouri Cancer Registry and Research Center
1095 Hospital Drive
Columbia, MO 65211

Phone Support

If you have administrative questions regarding the exact paperwork required, you can contact the MCR main office at:

Phone: 573-882-7775