Sheila Roth is patient-focused in her work and literary-focused with her free time. Though her career at Avera and her volunteer work with Reach Literacy are both fulfilling and done in the service of others, the two feel like very different chapters in her biography.
What Does a Cancer Registrar Do?
Roth is an oncology data specialist at the Avera Cancer Institute in Sioux Falls.
Many mistakenly think that cancer registry means physically registering patients — an assumption Roth’s boss helps discourage with a newsletter blurb every April during Cancer Registry Week.
The role is more behind-the-scenes and analytical.
“We collect, analyze and manage cancer-related data from patients’ medical records,” said Roth. “We find out how, when and where the person was diagnosed with cancer, and then we see what kind of treatment and outcomes they have.”
Oncology data specialists follow patients from when they are diagnosed throughout their entire treatment journey.
Though the work of cancer registrars is not often seen or understood by the general public, Roth recognizes the significance of her role in the lives of patients and in Avera’s health care mission.
“You don’t see the impact of our work as much as you do with more hands-on positions, but all our information goes to the researchers and doctors at Avera,” Roth said. “The doctors want to know what kind of treatment patients are getting and how soon things are being picked up, so our data is used to help with research.”
By gathering, coding and sharing insight about patient cancer data with researchers and physicians, oncology data specialists help track trends and improve care.
Roth’s passion for her work and for Avera is evident by her longevity in the position.
“I’ve been doing it eight and a half years — it’ll be nine years in March,” said Roth. “I’ve been with Avera for 20 years. I just love it.”
Day in the Life of Oncology Data Specialists
Just as no two patients are the same, no two days as a cancer registrar are alike.
“It’s always changing. You’re always learning,” said Roth. “No case is the same. Even if you look at two breast cancers, they’re always a little different.”
The same is true for the rules that guide registrars because national accreditation agencies and rule-makers are always evolving, which excites Roth.
Roth and her coworkers can have anywhere from 1,200 or 1,400 people to over 2,000 to look up in a month’s time.
“You’re looking at when they were last seen, if they’ve had any recurrences, if you could say they were disease free,” said Roth. “Maybe the last time they were put in the system, they hadn’t had their surgery yet. Now, they’ve had their surgery and are disease free, which makes a big difference in the grand scheme of things.”
Roth is motivated by the variety in her work, which keeps the job fresh and challenging.
“Because every day is a little different, if I get stuck on one thing, one case or follow-up, there’s always something else to do,” Roth said.
Volunteering at Reach Literacy
For over six years, Roth has also been an active volunteer at Reach Literacy. The organization promotes literacy in the Sioux Falls community through a bookstore and literacy programming, including classes for English language learners.
Roth’s specific role involves keeping on top of the popular bookstore’s ever-changing inventory.
“I enter into Shopify mystery books and new hot sellers so that they can be sold on the floor or on the website,” Roth said.
As a reader herself, Roth enjoys seeing what’s available and making sure shoppers have easy access to their next favorite reads.
Aside from using a computer for both her work at Avera and her role at Reach, there aren’t many similarities in Roth’s mind.
“To me, they’re the complete opposite. They’re so different because I’m working with cancer patients and cancer data at Avera, whereas at the bookstore, I’m putting books in the system for people to hopefully find the perfect book.”
Life Outside of Work
Outside of work and volunteering, Roth is focused on friends and family, investing in those closest to her.
When she isn’t logging books for sale at Reach, she’s logging books she’s read into Goodreads.
“I love to read,” said Roth. “If I’m not listening to a true crime podcast, I usually listen to audiobooks. I get lots of books in that way.”
Roth is part of a book club started by a former Reach bookstore manager. The group meets every month next door to Reach at Altered Species.
“At the last meeting, we talked about our favorite book of the year. How do you narrow that down?” said Roth. “Everyone reads different things, so it’s fun to hear what other people listen to or read.”
