In 1974, the U.S. National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program funded the Fred Hutch to establish the Cancer Surveillance System (CSS). Our mission is to provide high quality data on the incidence, treatment and follow-up of all newly-diagnosed cancers (except non-melanoma skin cancers) in 13 western Washington State counties.
When the program began, health care facilities voluntarily reported cancer-related data. In 1992, a newly created state law required cancer diagnoses to be reported to the Washington Department of Health (DOH) for the purposes of understanding, controlling and reducing cancer rates. The DOH designated the CSS as the contractor responsible for receiving abstracts on cancer cases from health care facilities within the CSS reporting region.
Data on cancer cases are obtained by the CSS through hospitals, surgical centers, pathology laboratories, imaging centers, radiotherapy centers, multi-specialty clinics, clinician offices and death certificates. Per DOH policy, we perform quality control and case consolidation on the cancer information, then submit it to the Washington State Cancer Registry for inclusion in the state database.
The collected data helps public health scientists and practitioners:
- Track trends in the incidence of all forms of cancer (surveillance)
- Identify and investigate patterns of cancer occurrence (epidemiology)
- Monitor trends in mortality and survival for specific cancers (end results)
Our reporting area covers Clallam, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Mason, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston and Whatcom counties. With a total population of approximately 4.9 million people, over 75% reside in King, Pierce or Snohomish counties. The racial distribution is white: 75%; black: 5%; Asian: 11%; and Native American: 1.6%, with the remaining 7.4% listed as “other.” In addition, 10% self-identify as Hispanic.
The state law is described in R.C.W. 70.54.230, 70.54.250, 70.54.260, 70.54.270. The reporting rules for cancer are described in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC), Chapter 246.102.
Hospital Registrar Access
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Datafile Transfer
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Leadership Team
Stephen M. Schwartz, PhD, MPH
Dr. Schwartz is the Principal Investor for the CSS. He is a professor of epidemiology at the University of Washington and member of the Hutch’s Public Health Sciences division. His research focuses on genetic, lifestyle, and environmental determinants of neoplasia and its sequelae.
Christopher I. Li, MD, PhD, MPH
Dr. Li is the Co-Principal Investigator for CSS and a member of the Epidemiology Program in the Hutch’s Public Health Sciences division. Most of his research is on breast cancer etiology and outcomes.
Jennifer Hafterson, CTR
Ms. Hafterson is the Director of Information Services.
Georgia Green
Ms. Green is the CSS Administrator.
Accessing CSS Data for Research
CSS data provides insight into the patterns, causes and outcomes of cancer. How we release the data depends on the type of information needed for a particular project.
For projects that do not require confidential identifying information, data can be obtained in one of two ways:
- Incidence, survival and mortality data (including case counts, rates, and detailed de-identified individual case records) from 1974—2016 can be obtained from the SEER program as limited-use files and from online report generators.
- Incidence and mortality data (case counts, rates) from 1974-2018 can be obtained from Cancer Rates.
Projects requiring confidential identifying information must be reviewed and approved by Fred Hutch’s Institutional Review Board. Email Tiffany Janes at tjanes@fredhutch.org, or call her at 206.667.7902 to discuss your data needs and your IRB application.
The SEER Program
The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program has been a trusted source for high quality data since 1973. It currently monitors cancer incidence and survival in approximately 34% of the U.S. population.
SEER registries such as the CSS collect data on cancer incidence, treatment and survival. This information, collected at the population level, is critical for epidemiologic studies designed to determine the causes of cancer, identify strategies to reduce cancer incidence and mortality rates, and improve our understanding of basic mechanisms that lead to the development and progression of cancer. And with over 40 years of cancer incidence and survival data available, SEER enhances the monitoring of temporal trends across the nation. The value of long-term incidence data increases with each passing year, as the ability to perform cohort analyses of time trends becomes greater.
Due to innovations in registration techniques, as well as the high level and quality of data captured in the areas covered, the "SEER-standard" is used as a measure for cancer registries throughout the world. Data are collected and coded using standardized definitions for reportability, site and histology codes and extent of disease at diagnosis.
A unique feature of SEER registries is their connection with strong epidemiologic research units. To be of value, the data must be analyzed and interpreted by knowledgeable individuals. Epidemiologic expertise also helps researchers plan and conduct ancillary studies that use the registry as a case-finding mechanism and source of additional data not routinely collected by registry personnel. SEER has also provided opportunities for training researchers in the uses of data on cancer incidence, treatment and survival.
CSS FAQ
Publications
We post bi-monthly newsletters for hospital registrars in Washington State with process improvement pointers (PIPs). If you have topics you would like to suggest, please email us at Registrar-PIP@FredHutch.org.
Contact Us
Mailing Address
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Cancer Surveillance System
Mail Stop MD-B706
P.O. Box 19024
Seattle, WA 98109-1024
Scientific Leadership
Stephen M. Schwartz, PhD
Christopher I. Li, MD, PhD, MPH
Information Services
Jennifer Hafterson, CTR
Data Inquiries
Tiffany Janes, CTR
Cancer Surveillance System