1. What is your name and your profession?

Katherine, Cancer Registrar CTR (Certified Cancer Register)

2. What made you choose this line of work?

I fell into this career.  I was newly divorced and had no idea what I would do for a living as I has always been an at home mom. The fates must have been on my side.

3. Has it been a long life dream?

No, it was a “job”!  Survival!

4. Do you find any satisfaction in what you do? 

There are many areas of the job that are quite satisfying. Meeting cancer  patients, survivors and family members. Being able to intelligently read and understand the physician when reading their notes on a patient’s cancer and treatment.

5. What kind of benefits do you receive? (Not insurance, vacation, etc.)

Just the knowledge that my work compiles statistics for the nation that in turn can make a difference to some patients on their choice of treatment modalities. Perhaps the work I do will assist someone in their battle with this dreaded disease and assist their loved ones to understand their disease and help provide the patient with a better quality of life.

6. Are there downfalls with this job?

My biggest downfall with my job has been the times that cancer has touched my loved ones. I knew so much about the disease so it was hard to be supportive in the way the family wanted.  Knowledge changed the outlook of the decisions being made for treatment and the decisions that were being made by family members. 

In my job everyday I can read a medical record chart, approximately 7 months old and already the patient has expired.  In doing my job I have set certain standards for my heart to follow.  If not, I would always be in tears. One has a tendency to look at death as quite matter of fact.

7. Is it a career or just a job?

For me this has been a career.  There are days that lately it seems like a job.  The work is always the same; the number of new cancer patients yearly has increased since I started this job and just seems to continue to grow.

8. Is there a historical(?) figure that you admire in your profession?

 
9. Where do you draw support from to remain where you are in your career?

On my desk are two photos.  One is a picture of my mother just days after she was diagnosed with cancer.  The other is a picture of Mother Mary.  I draw strength from these two ladies.  I know that my work is helping others with this dreaded disease and the work that I do will someday help conquer this disease.

10. Could you share a special anecdote about you profession?

In my work I send follow-up letters to the physician asking the status on the patient and their disease.  When the physician has not heard from the patient or seen the patient I then send a follow-up letter to the patient.

This letter was a response from an 86 year old male who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.  He wrote to say that he was doing well.  Other than he would like assistance on acquiring Viagra as he would like to have sex one more time before he expired.

11. What are you responsibilities?

The responsibilities in a registry include case finding, abstracting and follow-up.

Case finding:  Information is gathered from the main hospital system on   any patient seen in any of our facilities (labs, x-ray, clinics, etc.) with a diagnosis of cancer or for treatment of cancer. 

Pathology reports are reviewed for active disease or new disease.

Abstracting:  Medical records are request for those cases selected from the case finding efforts.  Each record is read and information is gathered for each cancer site.  Many patients have more than one cancer; each is usually a separate case.

Our abstracting program consists of information gathered on patient demographics, diagnosis information such as: site, histology, grade, date diagnosed.  Also collected is information on treatment received, active disease, and extent of disease. 

Our abstract consists of not only coded information, required by the American College of Surgeons, as well as our own State Registry, but also of narrative information to substantiate what we have coded.

Follow-up:  Per state and national law, the patient is to be followed until date of expiration.  This is done by letter to the Primary care Physician (PCP) asking the status of the patient, their disease and if any additional treatment has been given patient since the initial contact.

Another function of our registry is patient support.  The Hospital Cancer Committee sponsors 4 different patient forums per year.  Physicians are invited to speak to the public on a specific cancer, diagnosis and treatment.  The physicians are available to patient questions. Many times speaking to the individuals and personally answering their questions.

Our hospital is involved in Community support. Such as the Susan B. Komen run or supporting the American Cancer Association activities.  The registry staff is involved with our State and National organizations.  Providing continuing education for registrar’s throughout our state.

12. Did you receive special education for profession? Where?

 Yes, when I entered the field of Cancer Registry my education was received at the State Registry. But, for the most part my education was on the job training. I sat for my certification with-in two years of being in the field.  My certification, CTR (Certified Tumor Registrar) is maintained with continuing educations credits each year.

As the years have gone by there are now many avenues open to Cancer Registrars. The National Cancer Registrars Association (www.ncra-usa.org) supports our work and most importantly our education. 

13.  How long have you been doing this line of work and how has it changed
   since you've been with it?

I have been in this field since 1992.  The changes to our field are constant.  National requirements change to capture information need to   assess the patient and treatment received.  Reporting rules are constantly being upgraded, changed or added.  As you are only one of many registrars collecting data, there are many guidelines for accurate and consistency of data collection. Education in the field has become more specialized as the years have progressed and requirements to capture information have grown.

14.  What are you goals in your career?

My final goal in my career is to work in an American College of Surgeons approved program.  Until then, I will continue to enhance my education, assist in community endeavors and reach out to cancer patients and their loved one to ease the burden they carry.