CAP Protocol Checklist

If you or a loved one are diagnosed with almost any type of cancer, the doctors will use CAP protocols to make sure your records and your care are consistent. The CAP protocols used during the treatment of cancer patients were created by the College of American Pathologists and are used by hospitals and other medical treatment facilities throughout the United States.

Data

• The first section of the CAP protocol for each type of cancer is typically used to gather data. Questions that require responses on the protocol include information on where the cancer is in the body and the shape and size of the affected area. Other basic information that other physicians may need, such as other organs or areas of the body where the cancer has spread to, are also included in the data gathering section.

Classification

• The second part of most CAP protocols covers the classification of the cancer. Depending on the type of cancer, the classification protocols can include slightly different terms, but the classification portion typically includes statements regarding the level the cancer has reached, whether the cancer originated in another part of the body and other medical classification terms.

Treatment

• The final portion of the CAP protocols for cancer deal mainly with the treatment of the cancer itself. Treatment methods for the current cancer, such as chemotherapy or excision, are typically listed and further details, such as whether a cancerous growth was fully or partially removed, appear in this section. Previous cancers and their treatments are also typically included in this section, along with the effectiveness of each type of treatment tried on the patient.