Cancer Programs News: August 21

Final Reminder: Your Perspective Could Help Elevate Lung Cancer Care

A lung cancer specialty accreditation is under consideration as a potential enhancement to the Commission on Cancer (CoC) program, in collaboration with the ACS and The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. To help evaluate opportunities for improvement, CoC-accredited hospitals are encouraged to complete a brief survey by Friday, August 29. Only one response per hospital is requested. Responses will inform if a dedicated lung cancer accreditation would help support your work and improve patient care.

Contact CoC@facs.org with any questions.

Reminder: CoC Pediatric Programs Must Comply with Prevention Event Requirements

Commission on Cancer (CoC) Standard 8.2: Cancer Prevention Event requires that programs provide an event focused on preventive care. Previously, Pediatric Cancer Programs (PCP) or CoC Pediatric Specialty (CoC-PS) programs were exempt from this standard. However, beginning in 2026, PCP and CoC-PS programs must provide one event per year for children and/or young adults that addresses topics such as human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, obesity, smoking, sunscreen use, or other pediatric cancer prevention topic.

Specific to CoC-PS programs, if the prevention event offered by the adult CoC program applies to children and/or young adults, it can be used to support compliance for both adult and pediatric compliance.

For more information, refer to the Optimal Resources for Cancer Care (2020 Standards), Standard 8.2: Cancer Prevention Event and the Specifications by Category for PCPs and CoC-PS programs. Questions related to the CoC standards can be submitted to the CAnswer Forum.

Promote Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

The Commission on Cancer (CoC) encourages your site to promote prostate cancer awareness and the importance of screening during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in September. To help you raise awareness about prostate cancer within your program and community, the CoC developed customizable posters that can be downloaded from the Marketing Resources section in your site's QPort. Contact coc@facs.org with any questions. 

2025 NAPRC Workshop Recording Is Available

Recordings from the 2025 National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC) Workshop are now available. In the workshop New NAPRC Standards: Improving Care and Quality, presenters addressed the evidence for changes to rectal cancer care, outlined the content of the new and revised NAPRC standards, described changes to the current cancer program structure and processes, and reviewed the tools available to assist with implementation.

Recordings from the 2025 ACS Cancer Conference: Harnessing the Power of Collaboration and the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers Workshop in Phoenix, Arizona, are also available for viewing.

If you prepaid for the recordings, you have already been enrolled in the course. You will receive a notice from the ACS Learning Management System that provides information on how to access 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.

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

Help Shape the Future of Navigation Reimbursement

The American Cancer Society National Navigation Roundtable (NNRT) and the NNRT Policy Task Group are hosting a short survey on the Principal Illness Navigation codes for reimbursement. All cancer programs, agencies, and advocacy organizations that offer navigation services are encouraged to take the survey. One response per institution is requested to avoid duplication. Programs are urged to share the survey with colleagues at other organizations that are using or exploring patient navigation programs.

Contact the ACS NNRT at nnrt@cancer.org with questions.

Bridging Primary Care and Oncology in AYA Cancer Survivorship

Register to join a webinar featuring a panel of subject matter experts exploring the opportunities to support adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors. Topics will include:

• The role of primary care clinics in managing long-term follow-up care
• Strategies to strengthen communication between oncology and primary care teams
• Resources to support AYA survivors, their caregivers, and healthcare professionals

This 1-hour webinar, hosted by the American Cancer Society, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and Medical Learning Institute Inc., will take place at 12 pm CT on Monday, September 8. 

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:

Desert Regional Medical Center
Palm Springs, CA

Monmouth Medical Center-Southern Campus
Lakewood, NJ

TidalHealth Peninsula
Salisbury, MD

Westchester Medical Center
Valhalla, NY

NAPBC Recognizes Accredited Site

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

Fox Chase Cancer Center
Philadelphia, PA

NAPRC Recognizes Accredited Site

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

Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital
Troy, MI

Mark Your Calendars

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

October 28: CoC Smoking Cessation Standard

November 13: NAPBC: Auxiliary Surgical Management

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

November 20: AJCC Webinar: Lung

December 3: AJCC Webinar: Mesothelioma

December 4: CoC: Understanding Lymphedema: Science, Screening, and Guidelines

December 9: CoC: Managing Lymphedema: Multidisciplinary Approaches to Treatment and Survivorship