The NCRA Education Committee’s Excel file of Cancer Registry References and Resources (Updated April 2025) provides registrars with a convenient and searchable tool to access the majority of references and resources needed to perform complete and accurate reporting of cancer data. Registrars are encouraged to download the file. Questions about the content of the resource or how to use it, should be directed to the organization or agency that develops and provides the resource. If you have another reference or resource to share or if a link is broken or needs updating, please email education@ncra-usa.org.
The abstract is the basis of all registry functions. It is a tool used to help accurately determine stage and to aid cancer research; therefore, the abstract must be complete, containing all the information needed to provide a concise analysis of the patient’s disease from diagnosis to treatment. To assist registrars in preparing abstracts, NCRA’s Education Committee has created a series of informational abstracts and a presentation titled Using the Informational Abstracts in Your Registry that shows registrars how to use these important resources. These site-specific abstracts provide an outline to follow when determining what text to include.
The following sites are included: benign brain, bladder, breast, cervix, colon, endometrial, kidney, larynx, lung, lymphoma, malignant brain, melanoma, ovarian, pancreas, prostate, renal pelvis, testis, and thyroid. Updated July 2025.
Video Presentation: Using Informational Abstracts
Additional resources: PowerPoint Slides; Where to Find Information to Abstract Various Data Items PDF; Medical Record - Breast; Medical Record - Colon