Cancer Registry and the Role of the Certified Tumor Registrar
This paper examines the significance of cancer registries and cancer registrars in collecting quality cancer data for disease management and prevention. It defines cancer registries and outlines the three primary types: population-based, hospital-based, and special-purpose registries. The paper also describes the role of cancer registrars as data information specialists and details the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) requirements for earning and maintaining Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR) credentials. Finally, it evaluates the role of the CTR within the American Cancer Society, highlighting how compiled patient records support cancer management programs and broader public health initiatives.
- Introduction: Importance of quality cancer data and registries
- What Is a Cancer Registry?: Definition and three types of cancer registries
- The Role of the Cancer Registrar: Registrars as data specialists collecting patient information
- AHIMA Credentialing Requirements for Certified Tumor Registrar: Eligibility, exam, and CTR certification process
- Maintaining CTR Certification: Continuing education and annual fee requirements
- The CTR's Role in the American Cancer Society: CTRs compile records supporting ACS cancer programs
- Conclusion: Summary of cancer data, registrars, and health impact
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What makes this paper effective
- Uses clearly labeled sections that follow a logical progression from definition, to roles, to credentialing, to applied function — making the content easy to navigate.
- Grounds definitions in a cited academic source (Jensen & Storm, 1991) and a professional association reference (NCRA), lending credibility to the overview.
- Maintains a consistent professional tone appropriate for a health information management topic, avoiding jargon overload while still using field-specific terminology accurately.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates structured expository writing by building each section on a foundation laid by the previous one. It begins with broad definitions, narrows to specific roles and responsibilities, and then applies those concepts to a real-world institutional context (the American Cancer Society). This funnel-style organization is a reliable technique for introductory academic papers in health sciences and information management.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a brief introduction establishing the importance of cancer data, then proceeds through five substantive sections: defining cancer registries and their three types, explaining the registrar's role, outlining AHIMA credentialing requirements, describing certification maintenance, and evaluating the CTR's function within the American Cancer Society. A short conclusion synthesizes the main points. The structure mirrors a standard informational report format common at the undergraduate level in health information management programs.
Introduction
Quality cancer data is an important part of cancer management programs and efforts to prevent the disease and develop effective treatment measures. This paper examines the significance of cancer registries and cancer registrars in the process of collecting quality cancer data. The discussion covers what a cancer registry is, the role of the cancer registrar, the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) requirements for credentialing as a Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR), and the requirements for maintaining that certification. The paper concludes with an evaluation of the CTR's role within the American Cancer Society.
The availability of quality cancer data is integral to the fight against cancer throughout the country. The significance of such data has contributed to the development and establishment of cancer registries that help capture it. Registrars record important information related to the disease — including history, diagnosis, treatment, and health status — for all patients in the country. This information is used by researchers, public health professionals, and healthcare providers to conduct research, enhance cancer prevention programs, and improve the evaluation of cancer treatments.
References
Jensen, O. M., & Storm, H. H. (1991). Cancer registration: Principles and methods. Oxford University Press.
National Cancer Registrars Association. (n.d.). Become a cancer registrar. Retrieved November 10, 2014, from ).pdf
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