Course Description
This course will utilize basic abstracting principles and methods of the cancer registry to thoroughly review and analyze electronic health records and other source documents. Students will examine cancer identification, patient identification, and facility information as it pertains to the sections of an abstract. In addition, this course will provide general instructions on cancer registries resources and manuals used to accurately apply coding guidelines with hands on experience abstracting major disease sites. (3 credits)
Prerequisites
- BIO 212: Anatomy & 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:
- Identify if a patient has single or multiple primary cancer sites.
- Code, abstract and translate medical records into standardized codes specific to diagnosis and treatment information.
- Construct a complete abstract for all major disease sites.
- Create a glossary of cancer registry terminology.
- Describe cancer identification, patient identification, facility information as it pertains to the sections of an abstract.
- Summarize a cancer patient’s medical chart into text format.
- Identify and code cancer identifying information such as primary site, histologies, TNM staging and first course treatment.
- Explain how quality control edits are used to ensure the accuracy of data.
- Discuss each of the following staging systems: TNM, Summary Stage, Site specific staging classifications, Site specific Data items (SSDI), EOD, Grading.
- Use NCCN guidelines to identify expected standards of treatment care for each cancer site.
- Navigate through cancer registry manuals widely used in the cancer registry management field.
- Explain why data standards are important for reporting.
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) | 5% |
SEER Educate (Weeks 1, 4, & 5 – 2 total) | 15% |
Quiz (Weeks 2 & 3) | 5% |
Pathology Paper (Week 3) | 5% |
Abstracting and Coding (Weeks 4 & 5) | 10% |
Site-Specific Surgery Codes (Week 4) | 5% |
AJCC Staging Case Scenarios (Weeks 4 & 5) | 10% |
Radiation Cases (Week 6) | 5% |
Text Documentation (Week 7) | 10% |
Final Exam – Part 1 (Week 8) | 10% |
Final Exam – Part 2: Breast, Colon, & Lymphoma (Week 8) | 20% |
Total | 100% |
Required Textbooks
Available through Charter Oak State College's Book Bundle
National Cancer Registrars Association. Cancer Registry Management Principles and Practice for Hospitals and Central Registries. 4th ed. NCRA, 2021.
- 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.
- 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 | 1,4,5,11 | Topic: Cancer Registry Data Identification
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2 | 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12 | Topic: What is Abstracting?
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3 | 4, 8, 9, 11, 12 | Topics: Standards for Collecting and Reporting Cancer Information, Medical Records, and the Data Set
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4 | 2, 4, 5, 7, 9,11 | Topic: Abstracting Top Disease Sites: Prostate, Breast, Lung, Colon & Rectum
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5 | 1, 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11 | Topic: Abstracting Top Disease Sites: Bladder, Kidney, Brain and Spinal Cord, Melanoma of the Skin
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6 | 2, 4, 11 | Topic: Understanding the Radiation Treatment Plan
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7 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11 | Topics: Documenting Important Medical Data in the Cancer Abstract
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8 | 1-12 | Topics: Case Finalization and Validation
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04222026
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.