Course Description
This course will focus on the processes used in the daily operations of a cancer registry. There will be an overview of identification of cases, coding, maintaining quality lifetime follow up, and the role these elements play in providing data for analysis. Other topics include legal/ethical issues surrounding a cancer registry, the importance of cancer committees, cancer conferences and quality monitoring. Students will examine the requirements of state and national standard setters as well as voluntary standards for accredited programs of the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer.
(3 credits)
Prerequisite
- None
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- Explain the purpose of disease registries and disease surveillance.
- Identify appropriate sources for potential cases.
- Determine which cases meet criteria for inclusion in the registry.
- Define operational requirements of a Cancer Registry.
- Identify important references to be included in a procedure manual.
- Summarize the ethical standards affecting a cancer registry.
- Develop a vocabulary of oncology related terms.
- Identify and describe the purpose of a reference date and accession register files.
- Recognize and discuss necessary components that ensure compliance with state and national registry rules, regulations and standards.
- Differentiate between case finding and suspense lists.
- Identify and discuss NCCN guidelines, prognostic indicators and options for clinical trial participation.
- Define staff roles and responsibilities.
- Identify the components of an approved CoC Cancer Program.
- Apply coding and staging knowledge in simple case scenarios.
Course Activities and Grading
Note: A "C" grade or higher must be earned to pass this course.
| Letter Grade | Percentage |
| A | 93.0-100.0 |
| A - | 90.0-92.9 |
| B+ | 87.0-89.9 |
| B | 83.0-86.9 |
| B - | 80.0-82.9 |
| C + | 77.0-79.9 |
| C | 73.0-76.9 |
| F | 72.99% and below |
| Assignments | Weight |
|---|---|
Discussions (Weeks 1-8) | 15% |
Essay (Weeks 1 & 5) | 20% |
Quizzes (Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, & 6) | 30% |
Staging Scenarios (Week 7) | 15% |
Final Exam (Week 8) | 20% |
Total | 100% |
Required Textbooks
Available through Charter Oak State College's Book Bundle
National Cancer Registrars Association. Cancer Registry Management and Principles and Practice for Hospitals and Central Registries. 4th ed. NCRA, 2021. ISBN-13: 978-1-73291-783-5
Amin MB, Edge S, Greene F, Byrd DR, Brookland RK, Washington MK, Gershenwald JE, Compton CC, Hess KR, et al. (Eds.). AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 8th ed. Springer International Publishing: American Joint Commission on Cancer; 2017. ISBN-13: 978-3-319-40617-6
Note: These textbooks are used in most of the Cancer Registry Management courses and should be saved for preparation for the CTR exam.
Course Schedule
Week | SLOs | Readings and Exercises | Assignments |
1 | 4,6,8,12 | Topics: CTR Basics
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2 | 2,3,10 | Topic: Reportability, Class of Case, and Accession
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3 | 1,4 | Topic: Disease Registries and Disease Surveillance
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4 | 7,11 | Topics: Oncology Vocab and NCCN Guidelines
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5 | 5,9,13 | Topics: American College of Surgeons/Commission on Cancer 2020 Standards
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6 | 14 | Topics: Introduction to Coding and Abstracting
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7 | 14 | Topics: Introduction to Staging
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| 8 | 1-14 | Topic: Final Exam
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COSC Accessibility Statement
Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.
COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources
Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.