HIM 235: Oncology Treatment and Coding

Course Description

This course will focus on oncology treatment and coding. Other topics include an overview of nomenclature and classification systems. Students will examine major sites of cancer, diagnostic and staging procedures, treatment modalities, clinical trials and research protocols. There will be an overview of AJCC staging, SEER Summary Staging and Extent of Disease. Concepts used by physicians and cancer survival organizations to determine treatment and survival will be emphasized. (3 credits)

Prerequisites

  • BIO 212: Anatomy and Physiology
  • BIO 215: Pathophysiology
  • HCA 105: Medical Terminology
  • HIM 230: Introduction to Cancer Registry and Management
  • HIM 231: Cancer Registry Operations

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

  1. Describe standard treatment modalities given to eliminate cancer.
  2. Explain how a treatment modality works against cancer.
  3. Identify the likely treatment based on cancer type and stage.
  4. Differentiate between treatment guidelines available to help document complete and appropriate care.
  5. Differentiate between first line of treatment and subsequent treatment.
  6. Identify treatment modalities in case scenarios.
  7. Recognize and utilize the correct coding for surgery, chemotherapy, and other treatments appropriately.

Course Activities and Grading

Note: A "C" grade or higher must be earned to pass this course.

Letter GradePercentage
A93.0-100.0 
A -90.0-92.9 
B+87.0-89.9 
B83.0-86.9 
B -80.0-82.9 
C +77.0-79.9 
C73.0-76.9 
F72.99% and below



AssignmentsWeight

Discussions (Weeks 1-8)

30%

Quizzes (Weeks 1-7)

20%

Application Activities (Week 3 and Week 5)

10%

Treatment Guideline PowerPoint (Week 8)

20%

Final Exam (Week 8)

20%

Total

100%

Required Textbooks

Available through Charter Oak State College's online bookstore

  • National Cancer Registrars Association. Cancer Registry Management Principles and Practice for Hospitals and Central Registries. 4th ed. NCRA, 2021. ISBN-13: 9781732917835

  • 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

1,2

Topics: Overview of Treatment

  • Reading:
    • Chapter 10 in our CRM text
  • Video:
    • Watch Cancer Basics: How chemotherapy works
  • Review course syllabus
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Review lecture material
  • Watch assigned video
  • Participate in discussion
  • Submit Week 1 Quiz - Chemotherapy and Surgery

2

1,2,3

Topic: Terminology and Types of Treatment

  • Review:
    • Review Chapter 10 in our CRM text - concentrate on surgery
  • Video:
    • Watch Chemotherapy Drugs
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Review lecture material
  • Watch assigned video
  • Participate in discussion
  • Submit Week 2 Quiz - Types of Chemotherapy

3

4,5,6,7

Topics: Coding Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy, and Hormone Therapy

  • Reading and Review:
    • Chapter 7 and pp. 149-154 in our CRM text
    • Familiarize yourself with SEER Website
    • Familiarize yourself with SEER*Rx - Interactive Antineoplastic Drugs Database.
    • Familiarize yourself with STORE Manual
    • Read the following in NCCN Guidelines for Patients:
      • Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
      • B-Cell Lymphoma
      • Bladder Cancer
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Read assigned materials
  • Participate in discussion
  • Submit Week 3 Quiz - Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy, and Hormone Therapy
  • Submit Week 3 Application Activity - Systemic Treatment Coding

4

2,5,6,7

Topics: Coding RT

  • Reading:
    • Read pp. 263-290 in STORE Manual
    • CTR Guide to Coding Radiation Therapy Treatment in the STORE
  • Video:
    • Watch The Pros and Cons of Proton Therapy
  • Read assigned materials
  • Watch assigned video
  • Participate in discussion
  • Submit Week 4 Quiz - CTR Guide to Coding RT

5

1,2,7

Topics: Radiation and Surgery Techniques

  • Reading:
    • Read pp.144-149 in our CRM text
    • CTR Guide to Coding Radiation Therapy Treatment in the STORE
    • Read pp. 259-290 in STORE Manual
  • Video:
    • Watch Knee Replacement Using the MAKO Robotic Arm
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Watch assigned video
  • Participate in discussion
  • Submit Week 5 Quiz - Radiation and Surgery Techniques
  • Submit Week 5 Application Activity - Radiation Coding

6

1,3,4,7

Topics: NCCN Guidelines and Coding Surgery

  • Reading:
    • Read page 112 and pp. 237-238 in our CRM text
    • Read pp. 142-143 and 354-376 in STORE Manual
    • Read the following in NCCN Guidelines for Patients:
      • Kidney Cancer
      • Liver Cancer
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Read assigned materials
  • Participate in discussion
  • Submit Week 6 Quiz - STORE Treatment Coding
  • Begin working on your Treatment Guideline PowerPoint

7

2,4,6

Topics: Experimental Treatments and Clinical Trials

  • Reading:
    • Read pp. 155-160 in our CRM text
    • Read pp. 52-64 in STORE Manual
  • Read assigned materials
  • Participate in discussion
  • Submit Week 7 Quiz - Experimental Treatments and Clinical Trials
  • Continue working on your Treatment Guideline PowerPoint

8

1-7

Topics: Course Review

  • Reading:
    • Read Road To Recovery
    • Review SEER Website.
    • Review NCCN Guidelines for Patients
  • Read assigned materials
  • Participate in discussion
  • Submit Week 8 Treatment Guideline PowerPoint
  • Submit Week 8 Final Exam
  • Complete Course Evaluation

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.