Welcome
Welcome to The Informer, the monthly essential newsletter for ODS-Cs and aspiring Cancer Registry professionals. Packed with specially curated educational opportunities, industry updates, and practical resources, our goal is to keep you informed and equipped to excel in this vital field. Don't miss an edition—scroll to the bottom of this page to sign up to receive The Informer directly to your inbox.
Education
Complimentary 1 CE webinar for NCRA members
NCRA is hosting a three-part webinar series on “Informatics and AI Applied to the Cancer Registry.” The first webinar, which is free for NCRA members, “…will provide a practical, registrar-focused overview of why AI adoption is accelerating and how it delivers real gains across casefinding, abstraction, quality control and reporting.”
NCRA is also offering a special member bundle pricing for the last two webinars of $75 instead of $50/webinar. These webinars are “Harnessing Advanced AI Methods for Registry Abstraction: ODS in the Driver’s Seat” and “Beyond Abstraction: Using AI to Support Follow-up and Long-Term Patient Tracking.”
The registration deadline is June 12. For more information or to register, please visit NCRAs Cancer Registry Education site > CE Opportunities > LIVE Webinars.
CRANE’s Annual Educational Conference date announced
The Cancer Registrars Association of New England (CRANE) has announced that their annual educational conference will be Oct. 23 at the Warren Conference Center and Inn in Ashland, MA. Details will be provided as they become available.
Cancer surveillance community announcements
California Cancer Registry announcement
The California Cancer Registry (CCR) recently announced that CCR Education and Training Quarterly Updates will be sent via FLccSC mass mailer and through the California Quality Control Data Alert system. They also shared current resources available in FLccSC, as shown below.
CCR recorded trainings:
- New! 2026 Annual Data Changes
Learn about changes specific to California for 2026 as well as highlights of standard setter changes. Some CCR Coding reminders are also included as a bonus! The course can be accessed in FLccSC under the course category "CCR Educational Training 2026". Approved for 0.75 NCRA CEs (0.5 Category A).
- Still Available - 2025 Annual Data Changes
Enroll by 4/27/26 and receive FREE CEs!
- CCR Volume 1 Restructure
This 10-minute tutorial guides you through the changes to CCR 2025-Volume 1. Learn about the specific changes and how the Volume is now organized.
CCR Q-Tips (under course category “CCR Q-Tips”):
- Appendix LAMN Tumors - Histologic Subtype and Behavior
- SEER SSF1 HPV Status - Oropharyngeal Cancers
- SEER SSF1 HPV Status - Non-Oropharyngeal Cancers
- Other more recent Q-Tip topics available: Neoadjuvant Therapy Data Items, Scope of Regional Lymph Node Surgery, Melanoma Skin, Urinary Bladder.
- Plus 14 additional Q-Tips covering a variety of topics/primary sites
New NCI SEER data: Updated statistics and tools available
NCI SEER has released new SEER data, with updated cancer incidence, survival and prevalence statistics. The below is from the announcement.
Access and analyze the latest data using SEER's tools:
- SEER*Explorer for interactive visualization and exploration of key trends
- SEER*Stat for custom analyses, data extraction, and advanced research workflows
Recent highlights from the release include:
- 18.6 million cancer survivors in the United States (as of 2023)
- 70% 5-year survival, reflecting continued progress in outcomes and improvements in survival across many cancer types
- Cancer incidence is increasing overall, underscoring the importance of ongoing surveillance and research
- Current insights into disparities and outcomes across populations
For quick, high-level summaries by cancer type, SEER's Stat Facts provide easy-to-understand overviews of incidence, survival, and more.
QA knowledge challenge
Abstracting
2026 diagnosis year. A patient with metastatic breast cancer is initially prescribed a combination regimen that includes carboplatin, subcategorized as an alkylating agent/platinum analog. Due to intolerable side effects after the first cycle, carboplatin is discontinued and therapy is switched to capecitabine, subcategorized as an antimetabolite.
Should this change in therapy be coded as subsequent treatment, since these agents represent two different chemotherapy subcategories (groups)?
- Yes
- No
Your Next Step in Cancer Registry
At Savista, we’re committed to supporting your growth in the Cancer Registry field. Whether you’re looking to expand your skills or take the next step in your career, we’re here to help. Explore our open registry positions and join a team dedicated to advancing cancer data excellence.
QA knowledge challenge answer:
2. No; Beginning with diagnosis year 2026, a change in drug subcategory due to reasons unrelated to disease progression, recurrence, etc. are coded as first course therapy. Pre-2026 diagnoses, continue to code a change in chemotherapy agents that are not in the same subcategory (group) as subsequent treatment.
Please note, this applies to solid tumors only. For hematopoietic diseases, all treatment prior to first remission is first course treatment, regardless of diagnosis year or drug subcategory.