Any significant changes included in the annual data release or the request process are detailed in the SEER Data Change History.
SEER collects cancer incidence data from population-based cancer registries covering approximately 34.6 percent of the U.S. population. The SEER registries collect data on patient demographics, primary tumor site, tumor morphology, stage at diagnosis, and first course of treatment, and they follow up with patients for vital status.
SEER Data Products
View Comparison of Data Products
There are now two data products available: SEER Research and SEER Research Plus. This was motivated because of concerns about the increasing risk of re-identifiability of individuals. The Research Plus databases require a more rigorous process for access that includes user authentication through an Institutional Account or a multiple-step request process for Non-Institutional users. View the FAQ about the account types for more information.
Research Database
Access to 1975-2018 data with exclusions:
- Excludes geography, month in dates, and other demographic fields
Who Can Access?
- Institutional users automatically get access with Research Plus?
Students and researchers at domestic and international universities, for-profit and not-for-profit company employees, state and federal government employees
- Non-Institutional users?
Users not affiliated with a university, organization, state or federal government
Data Access Steps
- Complete registration form
- Initial required agreements
- Get SEER*Stat username
- Log into SEER*Stat
Research Plus Database
Access to 1975-2018 data including:
- Geography, months in dates, other demographic fields, and treatment information
Who Can Access?
- Institutional users?
Students and researchers at domestic and international universities, for-profit and not-for-profit company employees, state and federal government employees
- Non-Institutional users with existing Research Database access?
Users not affiliated with a university, organization, state or federal government
Data Access Steps
- Complete registration form
- Initial required agreements
- Provide signing official
- For non-institutional users, upgrade current access
- For new users, receive SEER*Stat username
- Log into SEER*Stat
Specialized Databases
- These include additional fields that SEER collects and makes available through databases that are not part of the standard research data files. For more information, refer to the list of Specialized Databases.
- To access these databases, users must already have access to the Research Plus data with a valid institutional account and submit a proposal with description of research objectives and analysis plans that will be reviewed for each database requested.
- Some specialized databases are only available to researchers inside the U.S.
Request the Research Data
View How to Request Access
Attention! The Institutional Account route for requesting data is currently not working. As a temporary solution, please use the Non-Institutional route to request access to Research or Research Plus data, even if you have an eRA Commons account.
