There are many data changes coming to the cancer registrar field. Specifically, a major change includes the implementation of the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, 7th Edition, with accompaniment of Collaborative Stage version 2 (CSv2), starting Jan. 1, 2010. This will impact registries throughout the country.

NCRA Planning
From early on, the National Cancer Registrars Association (NCRA) has been involved in understanding these changes to be fully prepared to ascertain and deliver on the educational needs of the members and greater cancer registry community. The planning process started with staff and volunteers serving on the CSv2 Education and Training Team alongside standard setting organizations, ensuring the broadest reach of information for sound planning across the spectrum of organizations. Early in 2009, NCRA education committee leaders worked internally to develop an organization-wide framework for designing and delivering education and training around CSv2. This systematic approach allowed NCRA to conduct a thorough analysis of its current inventory of educational programming and plan accordingly for the 2010 changes. Through this process, education committee leaders were able to focus on specific areas that either needed to change or be developed.                 

Webinar Series
One of NCRA's education committees, the Advanced Education Subcommittee, worked to identify relevant training to meet the demands of the cancer registry community by developing a live Webinar series. The subcommittee chairperson, Herman Menck, described development of the webinars as "on mission, by providing comprehensive advanced educational opportunities that are accessible, cost appropriate and forward-thinking." In response to the perceived need, the Subcommittee has scheduled two series of six Webinars on CSv 2 to meet the needs of the NCRA membership."

Series 1           Subject

Sept. 3, 2009   Introduction, Overview   

Sept. 24, 2009 Breast                                   

Oct. 8, 2009    Prostate/GU  

Oct. 22, 2009  Colorectal

Nov. 5, 2009   Lung

Dec. 3, 2009    Head & Neck

Series 2           Subject

Jan. 7, 2010     Lymphoma/Hematopoietic 

Jan. 21, 2010   Gynecologic 

Feb. 4, 2010    Liver/Biliary 

Feb. 18, 2010  GIST/Neuroendocrine 

March 4, 2010 Skin 

March 18, 2010 Adv Abstracting of Site Specific Factors                                

Webinar Advantage
NCRA's Webinars are designed with the purpose of offering high quality and high value to participants. By offering live Webinars participants will have the opportunity to not only listen to the presentation, but ask questions and even review case scenarios-all in real-time. This design maximizes the potential for the participant to translate what is learned into practical application of the new rules. Menck also noted, "It is thought that using the electronic Webinar format will provide a relatively inexpensive media, available at your site, without travel."

NCRA is pleased to be able to meet the changing demands of the cancer registry community. Through the work of a dedicated group of highly talented volunteers, NCRA continues to strive to be the premier educational resource for cancer registry professionals.

• To learn more, visit www.ncra-usa.org and click on "education."

Lilly Grossman is education manager with NCRA