NPCR and SEER Incidence – U.S. Cancer Statistics Public Use Databases
Researchers can access and analyze high-quality population-based cancer incidence data on the entire United States population. De-identified cancer incidence data reported to CDC’s National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) and the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI’s) Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)External Program are available to researchers for free in public use databases that can be accessed using software developed by NCI’s SEER Program.
Cancer surveillance data from these two programs are combined to become United States Cancer Statistics (USCS), the official source for federal cancer data. Combined data from NPCR and the SEER Program include cancer incidence and population data for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, providing information on more than 24 million cancer cases.
The databases include data by demographic characteristics (for example, age, sex, and race) and tumor characteristics (for example, year of diagnosis, site, histology, stage, and behavior). Hospitals, physicians, and laboratories across the nation report these data to central cancer registries supported by CDC and NCI. The NPCR and SEER Incidence – U.S. Cancer Statistics Public Use Databases are intended for researchers to conduct focused analyses beyond what is available through the U.S. Cancer Statistics Data Visualizations tool. Researchers can use these data to inform scientific inquiries, programs, and policies by identifying disparities in cancer burden, investigating trends and geographic distributions in cancer incidence, and evaluating and monitoring cancer prevention activities.
Two public use databases are available—
- 2001–2015 database, which includes data for 50 states and the District of Columbia.
- 2005–2015 database, which includes data for 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
Number of Records in the NPCR and SEER Incidence – U.S. Cancer Statistics Public Use Databases
| Database | All Cases** | Malignant Cases† | Malignant and In Situ Cases† |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–2015 database (November 2017 submission) | 24,697,337 | 22,411,632 | 24,108,828 |
| 2005–2015 database (November 2017 submission) | 18,949,028 | 17,061,057 | 18,393,757 |
* The following criteria apply to the NPCR and SEER Incidence – U.S. Cancer Statistics Public Use Databases:
- NPCR- and SEER-supported cancer registries report all incident cases coded as in situ (non-malignant) and invasive (malignant; primary site only) according to the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, Third Edition (ICD-O-3), with the following exceptions:
- In situ cancers of the cervix are not reported.
- Basal and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin are not reported, except when these occur on the skin of the genital organs.
- Non-malignant (including borderline and benign) central nervous system tumors are reported.
- Additionally, in situ urinary bladder cancers were re-coded as invasive behavior.
- Cancers that were identified only through death certificate or autopsy reports and cancers in patients with unknown age or sex have been excluded from the public use databases.
**The “All Cases” column includes benign and borderline brain and central nervous system (CNS) tumors and cases coded as “no longer reportable in ICD-O-3” and “only malignant in 2010+”. See SEER Behavior Recode for AnalysisExternal for more information.
†Malignant and in situ cases are defined using the SEER Behavior Recode for Analysis.External
How to Obtain Access to the Data
The data are provided and analyzed through SEER*Stat software, which is distributed by the NCI’s SEER Program.
- If you do not have a current SEER*Stat account, please complete a new request.External
- Complete and sign the NPCR and SEER Incidence – U.S. Cancer Statistics Research Data Agreement. Cdc-pdf[PDF-39KB]
- E-mail the form to uscsdata@imsweb.com. Your request for access will be processed within 2 business days and you will receive a response notifying you when you have access to the databases in the SEER*Stat software.
- Download and install SEER’s SEER*Stat software.External The site also provides training tutorials.
- A new NPCR and SEER Incidence – U.S. Cancer Statistics Research Data Agreement is required for each data submission year. You will receive notification reminding you to complete a data agreement when new data becomes available.
Supporting Documentation
- 2001–2015 data dictionary (for U.S.) Cdc-pdf[PDF-890KB] and 2005–2015 data dictionary (for U.S. and Puerto Rico) Cdc-pdf[PDF-789KB]
The data dictionaries include background information on NPCR and SEER – U.S. Cancer Statistics data, instructions for use, and a list of all of the variables in the database. Analysts should read and understand the data standards before using the databases. If you have questions regarding the databases, please contact CDC at uscsdata@cdc.gov. - NPCR and SEER Incidence – U.S. Cancer Statistics methodology document Cdc-pdf[PDF-40KB]
Text that can be tailored and used to describe NPCR and SEER – U.S. Cancer Statistics incidence data in a research article. - 2001–2015 database analysis checklist and 2005–2015 database analysis checklist
The analysis checklists include important considerations when analyzing NPCR and SEER – U.S. Cancer Statistics incidence data. - Predefined variables for calculating the number of associated cancers for selected risk factors are available in the SEER*Stat databases as merged system-supplied variables. They include cancers associated with tobacco, alcohol, human papillomavirus, obesity, and lack of physical activity. The predefined variables are described in the data dictionaries and this document Cdc-pdf[PDF-108KB] provides the ICD-O-3 site and histology codes used to define them.
For more information on these cancers, please see Invasive cancer incidence and survival—United States, 2013. Please note that in official federal cancer statistics publications, CDC reports malignant (invasive) cancers with the exception of bladder cancers (includes in situ and invasive cancers).
Archived Documentation
- Data dictionary for the 2001–2014 NPCR and SEER Incidence – U.S. Cancer Statistics Public Use Research Database, November 2016 submission Cdc-pdf[PDF-978KB]
- Data dictionary for the 2005–2014 NPCR and SEER Incidence – U.S. Cancer Statistics Public Use Research Database, November 2016 submission Cdc-pdf[PDF-834KB]
- Data dictionary for the 2001–2013 NPCR Public Use Research Database, November 2015 submission Cdc-pdf[PDF-1.3MB]
Suggested Citations
The database should be cited in all publications and presentations and include the submission and release dates.
Suggested Citation for the 2001–2015 Database
National Program of Cancer Registries and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results SEER*Stat Database: NPCR and SEER Incidence – U.S. Cancer Statistics 2001–2015 Public Use Research Database, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Cancer Institute. Released June 2018, based on the November 2017 submission. Accessed at www.cdc.gov/cancer/uscs/public-use.
Suggested Citation for the 2005–2015 Database
National Program of Cancer Registries and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results SEER*Stat Database: NPCR and SEER Incidence – U.S. Cancer Statistics 2005–2015 Public Use Research Database, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Cancer Institute. Released June 2018, based on the November 2017 submission. Accessed at www.cdc.gov/cancer/uscs/public-use.
Additional Questions?
- Questions and Answers: A list of frequently asked questions and answers.
- For technical assistance related to using the data, please e-mail uscsdata@cdc.gov. For assistance with SEER*Stat, please e-mail uscsdata@imsweb.com.
Questions and Answers
A list of frequently asked questions and answers related to the NPCR and SEER Incidence – U.S. Cancer Statistics Public Use Databases.
2001–2015 Analyses Checklist
This analysis checklist includes important considerations when analyzing NPCR and SEER – U.S. Cancer Statistics incidence data from 2001 to 2015.
2005–2015 Analyses Checklist
This analysis checklist includes important considerations when analyzing NPCR and SEER – U.S. Cancer Statistics incidence data from 2005 to 2015.
Fact Sheet
Researchers can access and analyze high-quality population-based cancer incidence data on the entire United States population through the NPCR and SEER Incidence—U.S. Cancer Statistics Public Use Database.