Does the cancer registry ever contact people directly?

No. No one from the registry will ever contact you directly. On some very rare occasions clinical researchers may apply for permission to contact you if, for example, they needed more information about the cancer that you are being treated for. If this is the case, the National Disease Registration Service will check that the person asking has legal and ethical permission even then only pass your details to your GP or cancer specialist and this doctor who knows you will contact you to ask if you are happy to be contacted by the researcher.