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Cancer Survival and Incidence from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program

Surveillance Research Program, DCCPS, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

Correspondence: Marsha E. Reichman, Ph.D., Surveillance Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 504, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-8316, USA. Telephone: 301-594-7032; Fax: 301-408-4077; e-mail: reichmam{at}mail.nih.gov ; web site: http://seer.cancer.gov

An overview of data on cancer at all sites combined and on selected, frequently occurring cancers is presented. Descriptive cancer statistics include average annual Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program incidence, U.S. mortality and median age at diagnosis, and death for the period 1996–2000. Changes during the time period 1992–2000 are summarized by the annual percent change in SEER incidence and U.S. mortality data for this period. Five-year relative survival for selected cancers is examined by stage at diagnosis, based on data from 1990–1999. In addition, 5-year conditional survival for patients already surviving for 1–3 years after diagnosis is discussed as well as relative survival for other time periods. These measures may be more meaningful for clinical management and prognosis than 5-year relative survival from time of diagnosis.

The likelihood of developing cancer during one’s lifetime is 1 in 2 for males and 1 in 3 for females, based on 1998–2000 data. It is estimated that approximately 9.6 million people in the U.S. who have had a diagnosis of cancer are alive. Five-year relative survival varies greatly by cancer site and stage at diagnosis, and tends to increase with time since diagnosis. The median age at cancer diagnosis is 68 for men and 65 for women. The 5-year relative survival rate for persons diagnosed with cancer is 62.7%, with variation by cancer site and stage at diagnosis. For patients diagnosed with cancers of the prostate, female breast, corpus uteri, and urinary bladder, the relative survival rate at 8 years is over 75%.

Key Words. SEER • Cancer • Survival • Incidence • Mortality • Prevalence

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