Missouri Cancer Registry and Research Center

Mark your calendars for Friday, September 25, 2026, for the Missouri Cancer Registry's annual in-person educational offering for Oncology Data Specialists (ODS). Hosted in the Kansas City area, this essential event will deliver vital reporting updates, staging guidelines, state-of-the-art treatment overviews, and 6.5 continuing education credits.

Keep an eye out for further communications regarding the exact venue, agenda, and registration instructions.

Looking to further yourself this summer? Check out our Fundamentals of Abstracting, MOODs Study Guide or our other free guides and tips!

Missouri Cancer Registry

Deborah Carnagey created the attached Show Me Tip on coding lung cancer cases. This tip covers how to document the new SSDI – Spread Through Air Spaces.

Congratulations to Michael Castera. He received a Chancellor’s Outstanding Staff Award. Hes been a great part of the MCR Team!

Commending outstanding staff members.

Yesterday, celebrated the hard work of staff from across campus during the annual Outstanding Staff Awards.

Read more in President Choi's latest blog: https://brnw.ch/21x2I7P

The MCR team was at the 2026 NCRA Annual Conference in Louisville last week. We were excited to learn about accelerating excellence in oncology data and updates in reporting standards and compliance. It was great to meet with cancer registry professionals across the country! Look for new abstracting tips and tricks from us later this year.

April is Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month. Head and neck cancers account for nearly 4% of all cancers in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The NCI estimates that about 72,680 cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx were diagnosed in the United States in 2025. You can find out Stats and Facts about Head and Neck and other cancers at https://cancerregistry.missouri.edu/data/missouri-cancer-stats-facts/

This week, April 6-10th is National Cancer Registrar’s Week. Oncology Data Specialists are the rockstars of data entry and quality! Oncology Data Specialists are indeed the backbone of cancer surveillance and research. Thank you ODSs for all you do! Thank from the whole MCR team for your continued support!

April is Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month. According to the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 22,070 people living in the United States were diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2025. You can find out Stats and Facts about Esophageal and other cancers at https://cancerregistry.missouri.edu/data/missouri-cancer-stats-facts/

March is Colore**al Cancer Awareness Month. Colore**al cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, behind only lung cancer. The National Cancer Institute estimated that 154,270 people in the United States received a diagnosis of colon or re**al cancer in 2025. You can find out Stats and Facts about Colore**al and other cancers at https://cancerregistry.missouri.edu/data/missouri-cancer-stats-facts/

Don’t miss reviewing the Show Me Tip Deborah Carey created on V26 Updates! It contains information on new data items, retired data items, new SSDIs, and a new term for extranodal extension.