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Conversion – heads up on 2013 case abstracting
We know that you are currently due to be abstracting July 2012 cases, but keep in mind for the future that MCR recommends that you not complete or send us abstracts for 2013 diagnosis cases until you have upgraded to NAACCR v13 as there have been changes in the Birthplace and Place of Death fields.
If you do have an urgent need to abstract them before you finish 2012 cases and convert, please know that you will also have extra edits to run when submitting them to MCR after our conversion in June or
July.
Education
SAVE THE DATE! Basic Cancer Registry Training will be March 18-19, 2013 at North Kansas City
Hospital. This is the perfect opportunity for anyone with an interest in cancer registry and for those just starting out in cancer registry field. This two day training will provide a general overview of cancer registry field and the responsibilities of the cancer registrar.
SAVE THE DATE! Fundamentals of Abstracting Workshop will be April 29-30, 2013 at the Missouri
Cancer Registry and Research Center. This is a hands-on class for those new to abstracting. Each MCR-
ARC required data item is discussed using the MCR-ARC Abstract Code Manual and laptops are available to abstract practice cases using Abstract Plus software. The class is generally small and there is ample time for questions and one on one help.
NAACCR Webinars – are trainings that are held here in our offices the first Thursday of each month for
3-4 hours, which typically begin at 8am and are presented by NAACCR Staff. MCR-ARC is only a host site for the telecast of the webinar.
February 7, 2013 - Collecting Cancer Data: Central Nervous System
Recorded Webinars are now available to view. Request Access Now! Check out our Education and
Training page to find out how you can receive access to the recorded NAACCR Webinars previous recordings include Uterus, Stomach and Esophagus, Pharynx, and most recently, Bone and Soft Tissue.
Live Meetings - are trainings which are viewed from your computer on the second Wednesday of each month, are usually one hour long, begin at 10am and are presented by MCR-ARC Staff.
February 13, 2013 - Multiple Primary and Histology General Rules Overview by Deb Smith
As always to register for any of our educational opportunities, contact Shari El Shoubasi at elshoubasis@health.missouri.edu
or 1-866-240-8809. Please be sure to clarify which you will be attending when you register.

Case Resubmission
There have been some misunderstandings about resubmission of cases to MCR. Please consider the following points:

When you get an email notice from Web Plus letting you know an uploaded has been rejected due to edit errors, all of the cases in that file are rejected, not simply the ones with errors.
Resubmission of the entire file is required (not just the cases with errors).

If your file is not rejected, please do not resubmit the same cases even if they had edits. This results in duplicate cases in our database and requires extra time and effort on the part of the
QA reviewer to void the duplicate case. If you want to be sure your file is only accepted when completely edit error-free, ask Angela to reset your edit error threshold to 0%.

If QA staff have a question about a particular case, (often when text and code do not agree), we generally ask you to provide an email/phone call of clarification. Occasionally, if the file contains significant coding quality issues we may ask you to resubmit either a full file or
individual cases. Please be attentive to the specifics of the feedback. Do not resubmit entire cases or files unless we specifically make that request.

If you find information that changes abstract content significantly after submission, please submit a Change of Information form so QA can update our database.
Thyroid Microcarcinoma
For thyroid cancer only, the term micropapillary/papillary microcarcinoma does not refer to a specific histologic type. It means that the papillary portion of the tumor is minimal or occult. Even though there is a specific micropapillary carcinoma code in ICD-0-3 (8341), the MPH histology rules implemented in
2007 must be followed that instruct us to code 8260, per rule H14 of Other Sites. Refer to SINQ
20081127, SINQ 20110027.
Bladder Margins
When TURBT and TURP procedures are performed, there has been some confusion as to when to use codes 7 versus 9 for Rx Summary Surgical Margins. Code 7 may be used only when the pathology report indicates the surgical margins cannot be evaluated or they are indeterminate. If there is no statement to that effect or no mention of the margins, code 9. Refer to FORDS 2012, Section II, First Course of
Treatment, page 204, or the MCR Manual, page 68.
CS Mets Evaluation Codes
When FNA’s, fluid removal, tissue biopsies of a specific site or removal of an organ result in proven metastatic disease pathologically, if the positive findings are the only basis for coding the CS Mets at Dx data item, the CS Evaluation code is 3 not 1 (in the absence of neo-adj therapy). Code 1 indicates no pathological examination of metastatic tissue or the pathologic examination was negative. It also includes endoscopic and surgical observation findings without biopsy. If clinical staging workup, in addition to the pathological evaluation, results in the CS Mets at Dx mapping to a higher code than the pathological information, code the appropriate CS Mets Evaluation code to reflect those findings. Refer to CS General Rules, page 72 for further coding instructions and examples.

SEER*Rx- Interactive Drug Database Updated
The SEER*Rx Interactive Drug Database was updated on January 23, 2013. This version includes 3 new regimens, 12 new drugs (Phase I, Phase II, or Phase III clinical trials or recently approved by the FDA). 71 drugs currently in the database have been updated to include generic names and or updated information added to the remarks field. 255 drug regimens have been modified. Review of the regimens in SEER*RX noted an ancillary drug (which is not coded) was inadvertently added to these regimens. The drug in question has been deleted. Please refer to the summary of changes document which is available on the SEER*RX page: http://seer.cancer.gov/tools/seerrx/revisions.html
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Six drugs have changed categories (chemo to BRM). You will see a message like this when you look them up:
“JANUARY 2013 IMPORTANT UPDATE: This drug has changed categories. A comprehensive review has been completed and in keeping with the FDA, Rituximab is to be coded as a Biologic therapy/Immunotherapy agent. Effective with diagnosis date January 1, 2013 forward, code Rituximab as BRM/Immunotherapy. For cases diagnosed prior to January 1, 2013 continue coding as chemotherapy.”
NPCR SSDI Database
NPCR has plans to update its SSDI database which had been frozen with third quarter 2011 data: https://www.npcrcss.org/ssdi/login.cfm
. Within a month it should be updated through the first quarter of 2012, and kept updated as info becomes available. They are converting to individual user IDs, so if you want to go back to using this resource, contact support@npcrcss.org
to obtain your personal user ID and password. The group log-in that MCR published years ago no longer works. (Alternatively some registrars have recommended the non-government website http://www.genealogybank.com/gbnk/ssdi/
. It is said to be updated weekly.)
First Course Calc Method
In my last update, I promised more details on the reason this item was retired. Per the NAACCR version
13 Implementation Guidelines, the field First Course Calc Method was retired because SEER and CoC have agreed on one year as the interval (diagnosis to treatment) to use for timing of first course treatment in the absence of disease progression. I have been in touch with the CoC and learned that they plan to clarify this change in the next revision of FORDS 2013.
CS Leadership Seeking Cancer Registrars for Focus Group
The Collaborative Stage (CS) leadership will be hosting a small number of Focus Groups in the coming months. CS is seeking cancer registrars to volunteer as participants in a 90-minute web-based session, and in a post-Focus Group survey. Those individuals who are selected to participate and who complete all components of the Focus Group activity will be given a $25 Amazon Gift Card in appreciation for their time and feedback. If this opportunity is of interest, click here and read through the detailed explanation and follow the link to the Recruitment Screener to see if you qualify for the group. The selected participants will be notified by email or by phone with instructions and next steps. Please direct any questions to csv2@facs.org
.
CS Education and Training Team is seeking registrars to contribute to new educational initiatives.
Do you have a particular interest in staging for a specific disease site? Would you like to contribute but not be required to attend another meeting? The CS Education and Training Team can use your help!

The goal is to create a library of educational videos (8-10 slides) developed by registrars for registrars .
Participants will have the opportunity to use online educational tools to develop, record, and post a short case-based video on Collaborative Stage. They will be supported by a mentor in their content development and will receive continuous feedback and coaching throughout the project. The CS
Education and Training Team and the participants will develop a toolbox with site-specific, topic specific educational videos that will serve as a key reference for all registrars who use CS. If you are interested in participating, or for more information, please take the participant survey .
Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer (1975-2009) http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2013/01/03/jnci.djs491.full
Cancer Statistics, 2013 article from the American Cancer Society http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.3322/caac.21166/pdf?dmmsmid=68954&dmmspid=8281108&dm msuid=1829600
HIPAA Updated
HIPPA rules have been updated, so stay on top of the changes and any impact they may have on procedures at your facility. Overview and link here: http://www.healthcare-informatics.com/news-item/breaking-hhs-releases-hipaa-update
Metabolic Syndrome May Skew Oncotype DX Reliability http://www.oncologystat.com/news/Metabolic_Syndrome_Skews_Oncotype_DX_Reliability_US.html
Blood Tests May Someday Replace Bone Marrow Biopsies for MDS http://curetoday.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/news.showNewsArticle/id/13/news_id/3607
Don’t Trust Smartphone Apps to Spot Melanoma – test results http://www.oncologystat.com/news/Don_t_Trust_Apps_to_Spot_Skin_Cancer_US.html
Trends in Ovarian Cancer after Breast Primary http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/early/2013/01/02/JCO.2012.43.2757.full.pdf+html
Chemo-free Combo Tames Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia http://curetoday.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/blog.showIndex/elizabethwhittington/2012/12/9/Movingaway-from-chemo-in-acute-promyelocytic-leukemia http://www.oncologystat.com/news/Chemo_Free_Combo_Tames_Worst_of_the_Worst_Acute_Leuke mia_US.html
The Prevalence and Cost of Guideline Discordant Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer http://annonc.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2012/12/30/annonc.mds618
Intraoperative Radiation Shown Effective for Breast Cancer http://www.oncologystat.com/news/Intraoperative_Radiation_Shown_Effective_for_Breast_Cancer_US
.html
http://www.zeiss.com/C1256CAC0038CEFF/ContainerTitel/Radiotherapy/$File/patients3.html

Are there prognostic differences in breast cancers with 1, 2 or 3 nodes positive? http://www.redjournal.org/article/S0360-3016(12)03747-9/abstract
Cancer Care sponsors free workshops oriented toward patients. You can listen to these workshops on the telephone or via living streaming through the internet. These workshops are a way for people to learn about cancer-related issues from the convenience of their home or office. Leading experts in oncology provide the most up-to-date information on the telephone and internet.
For more information on the upcoming topics below and to register, please go to the CancerCare website.
The Latest Developments Reported at the 35th Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium
Update on Metastatic Prostate Cancer: What's New?
Understanding the Affordable Care Act in 2013 for People Living with Cancer
Living with Colorectal Cancer Part I: Current Perspectives on the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer
Living with Colorectal Cancer Part II: Management of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Advances in the Treatment of Lung Cancer
QA Unit Supervisor
Missouri Cancer Registry and Research Center
PO Box 718
Columbia, MO 65205