Overview
Dataset Summary
The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, administered by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), provides detailed population-based data on cancer incidence and mortality in the United States.
SEER includes information on patient demographics, tumor characteristics, stage at diagnosis, and survival outcomes for individuals residing in up to 21 geographic cancer registry areas, typically covering entire states or large metropolitan regions. The program is widely used for tracking trends in cancer incidence, mortality, and survival over time.
Caveats
- Access requires completion of a Data Use Agreement (DUA).
- Geographic coverage includes selected registry areas and does not represent 100% of the U.S. population.
- Limited detailed treatment data compared to some hospital-based registries.
- Researchers must account for changes in staging definitions and coding over time when conducting trend analyses.
Examples of Outcomes Examined
- Trends in cancer incidence
- Cancer-specific and overall mortality
- Stage distribution at diagnosis
- Survival by cancer type and demographic group
- Geographic variation in cancer burden
Topic
Clinical Epidemiology, Health Equity, Social Determinants of Health
Resource Type
Dataset
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