Cancer Programs News: July 10

Study Evaluates Results of Surgical Standards Implementation

A recent article by authors from the Commission on Cancer (CoC) and Cancer Surgery Standards Program evaluates results from the first nationwide implementation of surgical standards. The findings, published in the Annals of Surgery, reveal variation in how CoC-accredited cancer programs are meeting compliance measures for surgical care in melanoma, breast, colon, rectal, and lung cancers.

For questions, contact cssp@facs.org.

Coding Alert: Prepare for a Recode in Oropharynx Cases

The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC)  urges registrars to prepare for a recode with the 2026 registry software updates, by documenting this information (in text) now while you abstract 2025 oropharynx cases. This action will save you time and help you prepare for the recode guidance that will be included in the 2026 registry software.

Starting with 2025 diagnosed cases and going forward, all cases coded to C11.1 will be considered nasopharynx. This change will affect a small number of cases, estimated to be 5-6 cases per facility.

Learn more.

College of American Pathologists Updates Colorectal Protocol

Commission on Cancer (CoC) Standard 5.7 (Total Mesorectal Excision, or TME) requires that “total mesorectal excision is performed for patients undergoing radical surgical resections of mid and low rectal cancers, resulting in complete or near-complete total mesorectal excision.” To be compliant with Standard 5.7, pathology reports for resections of rectal adenocarcinoma must document the quality of the TME resection in synoptic format.

Until recently, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Protocol for the Examination of Resection Specimens from Patients with Primary Carcinoma of the Colon and Rectum listed Rectal Tumor Location as an optional field. Although the rectal tumor location is not a required element for CoC Standard 5.7, staff at CoC-accredited programs have indicated that having the rectal tumor location documented improves programs’ ability to identify applicable cases for Standard 5.7.

In 2024, the Cancer Surgery Standards Program and CoC provided this feedback to the CAP. This field was recently updated to be conditionally reported (required for only rectal primaries). The Colorectal Protocol posted in June 2025 (version 4.4.0.0) includes this update.

We encourage staff at CoC-accredited cancer programs to share this information with pathologists at their institutions. Email cssp@facs.org with any questions.

NAPRC Offers Resources for 2026 Standards

The National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC) released its new accreditation standards, Optimal Resources for Rectal Cancer Care (2026 Standards). The revised standards incorporate nonoperative management and local excision treatment options for rectal cancer while providing comprehensive, multidisciplinary care.

The following resources are available to help support the 2026 NAPRC Standards: 

• NAPRC 2026 Standards: Frequently Asked Questions
• The FAQ has been significantly updated with helpful information for NAPRC programs. The updated FAQ is available in the Quality Portal. 
• NAPRC Webinar Series

• • The NAPRC is hosting five webinars on the new 2026 Standards.
  • The next webinar, NAPRC: Tools and Resources, is scheduled for 4:00 pm CT on July 15, 2025.
  • The full webinar schedule is available on the NAPRC website.

Submit all questions related to Optimal Resources for Rectal Cancer Care (2026 Standards) on the CAnswer Forum.

View Recordings and Resources from NAPBC and NAPRC Webinars

The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers and National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC) have recently hosted several webinars focused on advancing patient-centered cancer care:

• De-Escalation of Breast Cancer Therapy: A Multidisciplinary Approach: Presenters explored recent clinical trial data supporting the de-escalation of treatment for select breast cancer patients.
• Starting an Exercise Oncology Program: A Primer: The webinar reviewed scalable approaches to physical activity support for cancer patients, offering practical tools to improve survivorship and overall wellness.
• NAPRC Standards: Expectations for NAPRC-Accredited Programs: This session introduced updates to the NAPRC accreditation standards in response to the latest improvements in rectal cancer care.

If you missed the live webinars, the recordings and presentation materials are available in the ACS Learning Management System. Continuing Education credits are available for physicians, nurses, and oncology data specialists. Contact cancerprogramsevents@facs.org with questions.

Register Today for the 2025 NAPBC Workshop Recording

During the NAPBC Workshop: Bringing the Standards to Life, program leaders and ACS staff provided an in-dept review of the requirements for the standards, shared implementation successes and challenges, and outlined best practices to prepare for a successful accreditation site visit. Recordings from this workshop, the 2025 ACS Cancer Conference: Harnessing the Power of Collaboration, and the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer Workshop  in Phoenix, Arizona, are all available for viewing.

If you prepaid for the recordings, you already have been enrolled in your select course(s). You will receive a notice from the ACS Learning Management System that provides information on accessing the recordings. If you were unable to attend the workshops, register now and earn up to 4.25 Continuing Medical Education credits, 4.25 Continuing Nursing Education credits, and 4.25 Continuing Education credits for Oncology Data Specialists. All coursework must be completed and credits claimed by 11:59 pm CT on Wednesday, December 31, 2025.

For questions regarding the workshops and conference, contact CancerProgramsEvents@facs.org.

CoC Recognizes Accredited Sites

The ACS CoC recognizes the following cancer sites for demonstrating their commitment to providing high-quality, patient-centered cancer care to patients and the community by recently earning CoC reaccreditation:

Adena Health System
Chillicothe, OH

AdventHealth Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach, FL

Chesapeake General Hospital
Chesapeake, VA

Mercy Medical Center
Redding, CA

Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center
Plainsboro, NJ

St. Joseph Hospital
Nashua, NH

UNC Rex Healthcare
Raleigh, NC

University of Toledo Medical Center
Toledo, OH

Westchester Medical Center
Valhalla, NY

NAPBC Recognizes Accredited Sites

The ACS NAPBC recognizes the following breast sites for demonstrating their commitment to providing high-quality, patient-centered cancer care to patients and the community by recently earning NAPBC reaccreditation:

Baton Rouge General Medical Center
Baton Rouge, LA

The Breast Center
Charleston, WV

The Center for Breast Care
Overland Park, KS

Center for Breast Health
Hagerstown, MD

Comprehensive Breast Care Center
Royal Oak, MI

Comprehensive Breast Health Center
La Jolla, CA

Endeavor Health Clinical Operations
Evanston, IL

Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin Breast Program
Milwaukee, WI

Inova Breast Care Program
Falls Church, VA

Norton Cancer Institute Breast Health Program
Louisville, KY

Saint Louis University Hospital Breast Center
St. Louis, MO

Westchester Medical Center Comprehensive Breast Center
Hawthorne, NY

NAPRC Recognizes Accredited Sites

The ACS NAPRC recognizes the following cancer sites for demonstrating their commitment to providing high-quality, patient-centered cancer care to patients and the community by recently earning NAPRC accreditation:

Memorial Hermann The Woodlands
Spring, TX

Regions Hospital
St. Paul, MN

Mark Your Calendars

July 15: NAPRC: Tools and Resources

July 17–20: ACS Quality and Safety Conference, San Diego, CA

August 19: NAPRC Site Visit Process: Success Using the New Standards

September 18: NAPBC: Breast Screening: What Every Physician Needs to Know

October 4–7: ACS Clinical Congress 2025, Chicago, IL

October 21: NAPRC: QI for NAPRC Programs

November 13: NAPBC: Auxiliary Surgical Management

November 18: NAPRC: Case Studies and Process Improvement: Promoting Success in NAPRC Programs