Data Sources

• Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program is NCI's main tool for tracking, assembling, and reporting data on cancer incidence, mortality, and survival in the United States. Data currently come primarily from population-based cancer registries in 17 geographic areas across the country. Data are collected by age, sex, and race. National trends in cancer incidence and patient survival are derived from this database.
  
• SEER-Medicare Linked Database provides a unique population-based source of information by linking data from the SEER cancer registries with data from Medicare claims.
  
• National Center for Health Statistics is the main government organization that collects, analyzes, and distributes health statistics. This Web site includes publications, online databases, and other health statistics information.