How to Be Cancer Registrar - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Jul 9, 2020 / 6 Minutes Read / By Albert

How to Become

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Smoking is a leading cause of cancer, and cancer registrars play an important role in tracking the effects of smoking. Cancer registrars collect, analyze, and interpret data on patients diagnosed with cancer, and they use this data to identify cancer risk factors, like smoking. This data is then used to inform public health policy, helping to reduce the number of people affected by smoking-related cancers.

With their help, public health organizations can create educational campaigns, set smoking bans, and provide resources to help people quit smoking. All of these efforts make a difference in reducing the incidence of smoking-related cancers and increasing patient survivorship.

Steps How to Become

Obtain a high school diploma or equivalent. Most employers require a high school diploma or GED as the minimum educational requirement for a career in cancer registry.
Obtain an associate degree in medical records management, health information management or a related field. Several community colleges and universities offer these types of programs, which typically take two years to complete.
Complete an accredited cancer registry program. These programs are available through several universities and community colleges. The American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC) Commission has a list of approved cancer registry programs that are available in many areas of the United States.
Obtain certification from the National Cancer Registrars Association (NCRA). The NCRA offers the Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR) exam for individuals who have completed an accredited program. The exam is offered twice a year and requires a fee for registration. A passing score on the exam is required to obtain certification.
Obtain state licensure, if required. Many states require cancer registrars to be licensed in order to practice. Requirements vary by state but typically involve the completion of a certain number of hours of education and/or experience, and successful passage of an exam.
Maintain certification by earning continuing education credits. The NCRA requires certified tumor registrars to earn a minimum number of continuing education credits in order to maintain their certification.

Cancer registrars play a vital role in ensuring that cancer care is conducted in an accurate, efficient, and up-to-date manner. By staying informed of the latest treatments, standards of care, and research developments, cancer registrars can keep their records accurate and complete. cancer registrars must stay organized in order to quickly access relevant data for healthcare providers.

This allows for faster diagnosis and improved patient care. By utilizing technology, such as electronic health records, cancer registrars are able to maintain efficient and accurate data collection. Furthermore, cancer registrars must stay up to date on cancer registry certification and attend continuing education courses in order to maintain their credentialing.

These efforts help to ensure that cancer registrars are knowledgeable and prepared to provide the best data collection services possible.

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Job Description

Cancer Registrar: Responsible for collecting, coding, and maintaining cancer registry data in accordance with established standards and regulatory requirements.
Cancer Data Analyst: Responsible for analyzing cancer registry data to identify trends, patterns and correlations that can be used to inform cancer research and care.
Cancer Database Administrator: Responsible for the development, maintenance and administration of cancer registry databases.
Cancer Information Specialist: Responsible for creating and maintaining cancer information resources and providing patient education services.
Cancer Surveillance Coordinator: Responsible for collecting and analyzing data related to cancer incidence, mortality and survival to inform cancer prevention and control strategies.
Cancer Program Manager: Responsible for managing the operations of a cancer program, including designing, implementing and evaluating cancer control initiatives.
Cancer Research Coordinator: Responsible for coordinating clinical trials and other research projects related to cancer.
Cancer Outreach Coordinator: Responsible for developing and implementing community-based outreach programs designed to increase cancer awareness and screening in underserved populations.

Skills and Competencies to Have

Knowledge of anatomy and physiology
Knowledge of medical terminology
Knowledge of medical coding systems
Knowledge of cancer staging systems
Knowledge of cancer registry software and databases
Familiarity with current standards of care for cancer diagnosis and treatment
Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize workload
Ability to collaborate with health care professionals and patients
Ability to analyze data and prepare reports
Knowledge of government regulations related to cancer registry
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal

Cancer registrars are essential members of a healthcare team that provide medical information to support cancer patients and their families. One of the most important skills a cancer registrar must have is the ability to interpret and analyze data. This includes the ability to review patient records and accurately interpret physician notes, laboratory results, and other medical information.

They must also be able to enter data into a computerized system, keeping track of patient information and testing results. cancer registrars must have excellent communication skills, as they often work with both patients and medical professionals. They must be able to explain complex medical information in an easy-to-understand manner.

Furthermore, cancer registrars need to be organized and pay close attention to detail in order to properly record and analyze data. Having these skills helps ensure that cancer patients receive the best care possible and that their treatments are successful.

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Frequent Interview Questions

How have you handled challenging cases as a Cancer Registrar?
Have you ever worked with software like OncoEMR or Pathways?
Describe the process you typically use to abstract data for cancer cases.
What strategies do you use to ensure data accuracy and completeness?
How do you stay up-to-date on current regulations and guidelines related to cancer registry?
What experience do you have in collaborating with clinicians and other healthcare personnel?
What challenges have you faced in maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality in your role as a Cancer Registrar?
How do you prioritize tasks and manage competing deadlines?
Tell me about a successful project you have completed as a Cancer Registrar.
What experience do you have in preparing and presenting reports based on registry data?

Common Tools in Industry

Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. This is a national cancer registry program run by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). It collects data on cancer incidence, treatment, and survival in the United States. Examples include information on the number of people diagnosed with cancer each year, the types of cancer they have, and how long they survived.
Cancer Registry System (CRS). This is a software program used by cancer registrars to collect, store, and analyze data related to cancers and treatments. Examples include patient demographics, clinical information, and treatment outcomes.
Tumor Registry System (TRS). This is a software program used to collect and store data related to tumors and their treatments. Examples include tumor characteristics, pathology reports, and radiation treatments.
Coding Software. This is a software program used to assign codes for cancers and treatments in accordance with the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) system. This is used to ensure accurate data collection and analysis.
Cancer Data Analysis Software. This is a software program used to analyze data collected from cancer registries. Examples include statistical analysis, trends in cancer incidence, and survival rates.

Professional Organizations to Know

National Cancer Registrars Association (NCRA)
American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
International Association of Cancer Registries (IACR)
North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR)
International Society of Oncology and BioMarkers (ISOBM)
Commission on Cancer (CoC)
Association of Registries for Clinical Oncology Data (AR-COD)
National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME)
American College of Surgeons (ACS)
American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA)

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Common Important Terms

Oncology. The branch of medicine that deals with tumors and other forms of cancer.
Cancer Registry. A database which collects and analyzes data on cancer patients, including diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes.
Incidence Rate. The rate of new cancer cases in a given population.
Mortality Rate. The rate at which cancer patients die from their disease.
Case Finding. The process of identifying potential cancer cases in a population.
Surveillance. The process of tracking and monitoring cancer cases in a population.
Classification. The process of organizing information about cancer cases into categories for easy analysis and comparison.
Data Collection. The process of gathering information from various sources to be used in cancer research and analysis.
Data Analysis. The process of interpreting and analyzing collected cancer data to identify trends and patterns.
Cancer Epidemiology. The study of the distribution and causes of cancer in a population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Cancer Registrar?

A Cancer Registrar is a healthcare professional who specializes in collecting, coding, and maintaining medical records related to the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of cancer patients.

What qualifications do Cancer Registrars need?

In order to become a Cancer Registrar, individuals must have a relevant Associates Degree or Bachelors Degree. Additionally, they must be certified by the National Cancer Registrars Association and pass the Certification Examination for Cancer Registrars.

What is the job of a Cancer Registrar?

The primary responsibility of a Cancer Registrar is to collect and maintain detailed medical records related to cancer patients. This includes collecting demographic information, staging information, and treatment data. They also interpret, analyze, and report this data to help improve patient outcomes.

How many Cancer Registrars are there in the U.S.?

According to the National Cancer Registrars Association, there are approximately 30,000 Cancer Registrars in the United States.

What is the average salary for a Cancer Registrar?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for Cancer Registrars is $51,630.

Web Resources

Cancer Registry Management | University of Cincinnati online.uc.edu
Cancer Registrar Post-Degree Certificate Program www.tri-c.edu
What Do Cancer Registrars Do: Daily Work & Skills - franklin.edu www.franklin.edu