Cancer Programs News: December 18

2026 ACS Quality, Safety & Cancer Conference Abstract Submissions Are Open

The ACS has issued a call for abstracts to be presented at the 2026 ACS Quality, Safety & Cancer Conference, July 30-August 2, in Orlando, Florida. The deadline for submitting abstracts is March 9, 2026.

Quality improvement professionals are encouraged to submit a 250-word abstract for consideration. Abstracts may be accepted as an oral presentation, poster presentation, or both.

Abstract submissions should:

• Relate to surgical quality improvement initiatives, including the development, implementation, or validation of best practices
• Follow operational best practices relating to workflows around collecting data and reporting
• Use data from any nationally recognized surgical quality registry

Abstracts submitted or recently presented at other meetings are eligible for presentation at the 2026 Quality, Safety & Cancer Conference. All acceptances will require in-person attendance at the meeting and a registration fee.

For additional information regarding presentation guidelines, submission details, and more, visit the conference website or contact acsqsconference@facs.org.

Cancer Programs Survey to Identify Barriers to NAPBC and NAPRC Accreditation

The ACS Commission on Cancer (CoC) and Cancer Research Program are launching a national study to examine the barriers and facilitators for obtaining accreditation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) and National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC). The goal of the study is to identify strategies that make accreditation more valuable and attainable for programs varying in size, structure, and resources.

The study team is looking for sites that are CoC-accredited but are not currently accredited by the NAPBC or NAPRC. Programs that previously held, or have considered pursuing, NAPBC or NAPRC accreditation are encouraged to participate.

Participation involves a 30–45-minute virtual interview between a clinician or administrative stakeholder from the program and a member of the research team. Responses will be kept confidential and reported only in aggregate. No incentives, including credit for any CoC standard, will be provided for participation in the survey.

If you are interested in participating or learning more, contact Raheem Bell at rbell@facs.org.

CSSP Hosts Sarcoma Cancer Surgery Webinar

The Cancer Surgery Standards Program (CSSP) will present the Technical Standards for Sarcoma Cancer Surgery webinar at 5:00 pm CT on January 21, 2026. Presenters will discuss evidence-based operative standards for the performance of sarcoma surgery as outlined in the Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery, Volume 3.

This webinar will include speaker presentations on the resection of extremity and trunk soft tissue sarcoma and strategies for approaching surgical resection of retroperitoneal and intra-abdominal sarcomas. The panel discussion will include insights into clinical management of sarcoma cancer through case study review.

This webinar is applicable to general surgeons, surgical oncologists, and trainees with an interest in sarcoma surgery. All surgeons who attend the webinar are eligible to receive Continuing Medical Education credits.

For more information contact CSSP@facs.org.

CoC Accreditation Available to Hospitals in Canada

ACS Commission on Cancer (CoC) accreditation is now available to hospitals in Canada. Through accreditation, the CoC offers a proven framework for elevating cancer care standards and outcomes. Canadian hospitals can join the nearly 1,400 CoC-accredited US hospitals delivering outstanding oncology care.

Hospitals participating in the CoC also have the option of adding specialty accreditation through the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer, and CoC Pediatric Specialty Accreditation. Visit the CoC website or email coc@facs.org for more information.

NCDB Releases 2024 CQIP Report

The Commission on Cancer (CoC) National Cancer Database (NCDB) released the 2024 Cancer Quality Improvement Program (CQIP) report. CQIP is a data-driven, process and outcomes-based cancer quality improvement initiative. 

This annual report is unique in providing short-term quality and outcome data and long-term outcome data, including 5-year survival rates for commonly treated malignancies stratified by stage. CQIP allows programs to assess their quality and outcomes based on data submitted to the NCDB. CQIP provides CoC-accredited facilities with data on: 

• Compliance with CoC quality measures (including measures released in 2025)  

• Volume data for complex surgical oncology operations with 30-day and 90-day mortality 

• Unadjusted and risk-adjusted survival data for selected cancer sites 

• Local zip code patient in/out migration mapping 

CoC-accredited programs can access this report through QPort. A complete CQIP slide directory is available in the “About CQIP” tab of the CQIP reporting application. 

Send questions to NCDB@facs.org. 

Discover CoC Standards for Rural Cancer 

To better address the needs of hospitals providing cancer care in rural counties, the Commission on Cancer (CoC) has developed a category for participation that includes standards tailored for rural hospitals. Hospitals located within a county that has a Rural-Urban Continuum Code (RUCC) of 4 through 9 are eligible to participate in the Rural Cancer Program (RCP) category.

Current CoC programs that meet the eligibility criteria may switch from their existing categories to the RCP category in late 2026. Eligible hospitals interested in switching categories are asked to complete a brief interest survey. These programs may also begin implementing the RCP modifications starting with 2026 activity. However, it is cautioned that programs must confirm they are within a RUCC 4-9 category before utilizing the RCP standards.

New applicants may use the RCP modifications for initial accreditation site visits occurring in 2027, which will review cancer program activity from 2026.

More information on the RCP offering, including Frequently Asked Questions and detailed guidelines, will be available in January. The RCP modifications will also be added to Specifications by Category section of Optimal Resources for Cancer Care (2020 Standards) with its next update.

Send questions to CoC@facs.org. Please note that due to the upcoming holiday, responses may be delayed until after the new year.

CoC Operative Standards Template Is Available

In October, the Commission on Cancer (CoC) updated the measure of compliance for Standards 5.3 – 5.6. Comprehensive details can be found in a recent Cancer Programs News article. The new measure requires yearly audits using a CoC Operative Standards Audit Template, which is available for accredited programs in the Resources section of QPort.

These new templates are designed to help programs evaluate cases for the appropriate information for compliance and to develop data-based action plans when applicable. The templates provide accredited programs with checklists and case considerations to evaluate documentation and technical compliance each year. These documents were created to provide programs with a uniform documentation framework to record applicable case information, the required elements and responses in synoptic format, and to report overall compliance.

Questions can be directed to CSSP@facs.org.

Access Resources for New Smoking Cessation Standard

The Commission on Cancer (CoC) hosted the webinar “Smoking Cessation Across the Continuum of Lung Cancer Risk, Treatment, and Survival,” which provided an overview of the new Standard 5.9: Smoking Cessation for Patients with Cancer. The session also included information underscoring the value of smoking cessation for patients with cancer, notable components related to standard compliance, and suggestions for successful implementation. A recording of the webinar can be accessed through the ACS Online Learning Portal.

Questions submitted during the webinar have been addressed in the Standard 5.9 Frequently Asked Questions document, in the Standard Resource Library in QPort.  Additional questions can be submitted to the CAnswer Forum.

American Cancer Society Resource Intersections Guide Available in QPort

The American Cancer Society, with the support of the Commission on Cancer (CoC), has updated the Resource Intersections Guide, which outlines society resources that support cancer programs in their efforts to meet CoC accreditation standards. While these resources do not demonstrate all required elements for compliance with CoC standards, the listing of programs and services aligned with specific CoC standards can be a helpful component of a program’s accreditation process. CoC-accredited programs can access the ACS Intersections Guide in the Resources section of QPort.

NAPRC Standards Updated for Implementation January 2026

The updated National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC) accreditation standards address Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and provide a streamlined approach to requirements. Centers must comply with the updated standards starting January 1, 2026.

Substantive changes include:

• Standard 5.12: RC-MDT Review Following Neoadjuvant Therapy was removed. The requirement to present patients to the Rectal Cancer Multidisciplinary Team (RC-MDT) post-neoadjuvant therapy now resides in Standard 5.11: Treatment Outcome Discussion and Outcome Summary.
  • Standard 5.11 was also updated to clarify that RC-MDT presentations for any neoadjuvant patient must occur within 150 days of the final administered course of the patient’s treatment.
• The standards governing RC-MDT presentation requirements (Standards 5.6 and 5.11) were reorganized so the elements required for discussion match the elements required for the summary. A few discussion elements were added to the treatment planning RC-MDT presentation in Standard 5.6, which are outlined in the Change Log.
  • The compliance percentages for delivery of recommendation and outcome summaries were increased to 90% to match the patient presentation compliance threshold. As a reminder, if a treating physician is present during the RC-MDT discussion, this qualifies as delivery of the recommendation or outcome summary.
• Standard 7.2: Quality Improvement Initiative was updated to reduce the number of QI projects required each accreditation cycle from three to one.

A detailed Change Log has been added to both the Resources section of QPort and the NAPRC website. The NAPRC FAQ resource has been updated, which is also available in the Resources section of QPort.

Updated templates that may be used to document RC-MDT discussions will be available in early 2026.

Questions on the NAPRC Standards should be submitted to the CAnswer Forum. 

Last Chance to Claim Credits for 2025 ACS Cancer Conference

Don’t miss the opportunity to view recordings from the 2025 ACS Cancer Conference: Harnessing the Power of Collaboration. Conference speakers explored how partnerships among national organizations, physicians, advanced practice providers, and allied health professionals are driving improvements in cancer care. Topics included:

• Innovations in cancer treatment and clinical practice
• Enhancements in data collection and outcomes analysis
• Emerging research findings

If you were unable to attend the conference and workshops in Phoenix, Arizona, register now. If you prepaid for the recordings, you have been enrolled in the courses.

Attendees can claim additional credits available in the recordings. This course offers a maximum of 22.75 Continuing Medical Education credits for physicians,  25.5 Continuing Education credits for Oncology Data Specialists, and 25.5 Continuing Nursing Education credits.

Recordings are also available on demand from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers and National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer workshops in Phoenix.

All credits and coursework for the conference and the workshops must be completed by the 11:59 pm CT on Wednesday, December 31. 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:

Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Wausau, WI

Banner Gateway Medical Center
Gilbert, AZ

Cooper University Hospital
Camden, NJ

Edward-Elmhurst Health Integrated Cancer Program
Naperville, IL

Ingalls Memorial Hospital
Harvey, IL

Licking Memorial Hospital
Newark, OH

LifeBridge Health Network
Baltimore, MD

Long Beach Memorial Medical Center
Long Beach, CA

Meridian Health System
Edison, NJ

Methodist Healthcare University Hospital
Memphis, TN

MetroHealth Cancer Care Center
Cleveland, OH

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
New York, NY

Northwell Health Cancer Institute
New Hyde Park, NY

NYU Langone Hospitals
New York, NY

Parkridge Medical Center
Chattanooga, TN

Reid Health
Richmond, IN

Tampa General Hospital
Tampa, FL

UMass Memorial Medical Center
Worcester, MA

VA Portland Health Care System
Portland, OR

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:

Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital Inc.
Milwaukee, WI

Gerrish Breast Care Center
Newburyport, MA

Inova Breast Care Program - Loudoun Hospital
Leesburg, VA

James Graham Brown Cancer Center
Louisville, KY

Kapiolani Women's Center
Honolulu, HI

Mercy Health Fairfield Hospital
Fairfield, OH

Novant Health Breast Center
Charlotte, NC

NYU Langone Health, Perlmutter Cancer Center
New York, NY

Parkview Cancer Institute
Fort Wayne, IN

UM Clark Comprehensive Breast Center
Easton, MD

UW Health Cancer Center at ProHealth Care
Waukesha, WI

NAPRC Recognizes Accredited Sites

The ACS National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (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:

Pennington Cancer Institute at Renown Health
Reno, NV

Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center
Las Vegas, NV

UF Health Rectal Cancer Program
Gainesville, FL

University of Tennessee Medical Center Cancer Institute
Knoxville, TN

Mark Your Calendars

January 21, 2026: Technical Standards for Sarcoma Surgery

January 29: NAPBC: Axillary Management in Breast Cancer

February 18: Technical Standards for Gastric Surgery

July 30–August 2: Quality, Safety & Cancer Conference

September 26–29: ACS Clinical Congress 2026