July 2001
Highlights for the month:
American Cancer Society LifeLink Blood Collection Study
The American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC) collaborated with the American Cancer Society on a major cancer prevention study designed to augment detailed epidemiologic data with blood samples to study hormone and vitamin levels and DNA. CoC state chairs identified appropriate CoC-approved cancer programs and appointed cancer liaison physicians in their state to help facilitate the study. The individuals targeted for blood collection were part of a group enrolled in the American Cancer Society's Cancer Prevention Study II which was designed to collect and evaluate lifestyle and nutrition factors. These individuals were mailed an invitation letter explaining the study with a request to provide a blood sample for cancer research at a nearby participating hospital. The results of this three-year effort have been outstanding. Completed on June 4, 2001, the study resulted in the collection of 39,400 blood samples of the original 40,000 projected. This voluntary effort took place at 312 CoC-approved cancer programs in 20 states. The American Cancer Society believes the blood samples will be a great scientific resource for future cancer research.
Highlights
NCDB Call for Data
The next NCDB Call for Data will occur toward the end of this year and will request the submission of data for cases accessioned in the years 1985, 1990, 1995, and 2000. For each case all CoC required data items must be coded with an allowable and described code value. Case records which fail this quality check will be returned to submitting registries for correction and re- submission. Further details concerning this data quality submission criteria, Call for Data submission specifications, and the NCDB EDITS metafile have been prepared for use by software vendors and hospital registrars as preparations are made for the upcoming data submission. These materials will be available on our Web site in August. Data will only be accepted in NAACCR record layout version 9. Complete documentation of these specifications can be found on the NAACCR Web site.
Highlights
Cancer Liaison Program Breakfast Meeting in New Orleans
Cancer liaison physicians and cancer committee chairs from Commission-approved cancer programs are invited to participate in the annual Cancer Liaison Program Breakfast Meeting being held in the Versailles Ballroom of the Hilton New Orleans Riverside in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Monday, October 8, 2001, from 7:00-9:00am. The meeting will include a discussion of specific initiatives which require cancer liaison physician input and involvement. Invitations to the meeting will be mailed within the next two weeks. A faxback response sheet is included in this mailing. If you plan to attend, please return the sheet via fax (312/202-5009) by September 14, 2001. For more information, contact Mary Ann Marts at mmarts@facs.org.
We also invite cancer program staff in attendance at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress to attend the Commission on Cancer Annual Meeting, also being held at in Salon A of the Hilton, on Sunday, October 7th beginning at 2:00pm. The meeting content will include an update on current CoC activities including the status of formation of the disease site teams and committee restructuring efforts, discussion and input on changes to our existing cancer program standards, and review of partnership activities with other organizations.
Highlights
CoC Presents Spring 2002 Workshop
In March 2002, the CoC will present a workshop that includes instruction on being "Survey Savvy", NCDB benchmark reports, ROADS, and changes in TNM staging. This two-day session, March 8-9, will be held at the Wyndham Chicago. Details and registration information will be available soon on the News and Events page of our Web site.
Highlights
ACS Sponsors Wellness Link to Promote Cancer Awareness
In an effort to promote healthy living and cancer awareness to the public, the American Cancer Society is sponsoring a new product called the Wellness Link. Through easy-to-use touch screen kiosks, the public will be able to access information about early cancer detection and prevention. The Wellness Link can be used by employers, hospitals, and other organizations committed to delivering this important information to their constituents. The American Cancer Society is working with St. Andrew Development to deploy the kiosks. Cancer committee chairs from CoC- approved cancer programs will receive more details and information from St. Andrew Development in the near future. To learn more about the Wellness Link, visit www.standrew.com/kiosk.htm.
Highlights
ICD-O-3 Errata And Clarifications Are Available Online
ICD-O-3 errata and clarifications are now available by accessing the SEER Web site at http://seer.cancer.gov/Admin/ or through the CoC site at http://www.facs.org/dept/cancer/index.html.
Highlights
To Subscribe to CoC Flash
CoC Flash is e-mailed automatically each month to individuals for whom the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons has an e-mail address. If you wish to continue to receive the newsletter on a monthly basis, you need do nothing. You can discontinue your subscription by writing to coc@facs.org and requesting that your name be deleted from the database. Individuals not currently receiving the newsletter may subscribe to the publication by sending an e-mail message to coc@facs.org and asking to be added to our electronic distribution database.
To Submit Information
CoC Flash will accept submissions received by the monthly deadlines stated below. However, the CoC reserves the right to decide whether or not the materials are appropriate for inclusion. Information for CoC Flash should be timely, news worthy, brief, and of use and interest to the constituents of the Commission, which include cancer registrars, liaison physicians, cancer committee chairs, and other cancer-oriented health care professionals. To submit material, send it to coc@facs.org.
The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to decreasing the morbidity and mortality caused by cancer through prevention, monitoring and reporting of care, standard-setting, and education. CoC Flash is a monthly news service for constituents of the CoC provided by the Commission and the Cancer Department of the American College of Surgeons.
CoC Flash
Commission on Cancer
