Effective September 1, 2021, for all cases diagnosed January 1, 2022 and forward. Daily cancer abstracting requires the use of many manuals to abstract a patient’s case daily. One such manual is the Solid Tumor Rules manual by the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER). The use of this manual, which according to the CancerRegistryeducation.org website,...

Pituitary adenomas are tumors of the anterior pituitary gland. Most are slow-growing and benign. They are classified based on size or cell of origin and described as microadenoma, macroadenoma, or giant tumors. Microadenomas are usually less than 10 mm in size, while macroadenomas are larger than 10 mm. Giant pituitary tumors are bigger than 40 mm. Adenomas are further...

The Commission on Cancer (CoC) requires accredited programs to treat cancer patients according to nationally accepted measures endorsed by the CoC. The measures are included in the Rapid Cancer Reporting System (RCRS) tool for monitoring and reporting purposes. Standard 7.1 states that each calendar year the expected performance rate should be met for each of the quality...

Cancer screening saves lives and reduces the burden of cancer in the United States. However, gaps in screening programs mean far too many in the US are presenting with late-stage disease or dying from cancers that were preventable or could have been detected at an earlier stage. The socially and economically disadvantaged populations are often at higher risk for cancer...

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that arises in the melanocytes or cells that produce melanin and determines the color of your skin, or pigment. Melanoma can form in the eyes, and on rare occasions inside the body such as the nose or throat. Its exact causes are not always clear, but evidence does support exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight or tanning...

On April 6, 2022, the National Cancer Registrar’s Association (NCRA) will kick off its annual educational conference at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Washington, DC. This year’s conference will offer a first-time ever hybrid experience where virtual attendees can watch the live streaming of the in-person sessions and take part in the live Q&A. Early...

When I first heard about concurrent abstracting years ago, I thought “they have got to be kidding”. Now, many years later, it is my reality. I have been doing concurrent abstracting since December of 2016. Although concurrent abstracting has many advantages, there are also disadvantages.  What is Concurrent Abstracting? Concurrent abstracting is when you complete the...

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates, 608,570 deaths will occur from cancer in the United States in 2021. About 45% are attributed to potentially preventable, pre-pandemic causes such as tobacco smoking, obesity, alcohol intake, physical inactivity, and an unhealthy diet. In the ACS report Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Facts & Figures,...

I am the sole tumor registrar at a small Commission on Cancer (CoC) accredited facility in the state of Vermont. I have been employed there for over five years. Because I am the only registrar, I am responsible for all the tasks that are involved in maintaining the tumor registry.  When I first started here, I worked 2.5 days at a hospital location and 2 days remotely...

The purpose and intent of palliative care is often misunderstood. In 1990 the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized palliative care as a distinct medical specialty dedicated to relieving the suffering and improving the quality of life for patients with life-limiting illnesses, chronic disease, or serious injury. Despite its twenty-plus year history, many healthcare...