Survival Selection Tab

The Selection tab is used to select the records to be included in the analysis. On the Selection tab for a Survival session, there are checkboxes for standard case selections made for survival runs. In addition, selection statements may be created in the Case Selection section to reduce the number of records included in an analysis based on specific variables in the case data files. If no selection statements are made, all records in the database will be included.

When making selections, start at the top and work your way down the window.

Standard Case Selections

The Standard Case Selections section contains a set of case selection or exclusion criteria commonly associated with survival analyses. Each standard selection or exclusion can be accepted or rejected by marking or clearing its check box. When a new Survival Session is started, some of the standard selections or exclusions will be automatically marked. These default selections represent the standard selections most commonly used for a survival analysis. The View Statement link next to the box open the Standard Selection Details dialog describing the checked selections.

The Select Only checkboxes include:

Select Only Microscopically Confirmed – Select this option to include only cases that were microscopically confirmed. The case will be included in the analysis if the Diagnostic Confirmation variable indicates that there was microscopic confirmation of the morphology of the cancer.
Select Only Actively Followed – Select this option to include only cases that were actively pursued for follow-up information. If the type of follow-up variable indicates that the case was actively followed, the case will be included in the analysis.
Select Only Malignant Behavior – Select this option to include only cases with a malignant behavior. The Behavior variable is part of the morphology of cancer. The SEER program only collects information on in situ and malignant cancers. If the behavior code is malignant, the case will be included in the analysis.
Select Only Sex Male or Female – Select this option to include only cases where sex is either Male of Female.
Select Only Known Age – Select this option to include only cases of a known age.
Select Only Cases in Research Database – Select this option to include only cases in the selected Research Database.

The Exclude checkboxes include:

All Death Certificate Only and Autopsy Only – Select this option to exclude all cases where cancer was reported through only a death certificate or autopsy. If the Type Of Reporting Source variable indicates that a death certificate or autopsy was the only source of information for the case, the case will be excluded from the analysis.
Alive with No Survival Time – Select this option when you want to exclude all cases that are alive and have zero survival time.
Dead Due to Other Causes with No Survival Time – Select this option to exclude all cases that died with zero survival time and had a cause of death other than what was defined in the Definition of Cause of Death. This option is only available when the Definition of Cause of Death is used (Cause-Specific Survival and Crude Probability of Death Using Cause of Death).

Exclusions to Match Expected Survival Table data are always made when relative survival or crude probability of death using expected survival are calculated. Records with values not found in the expected survival data must be excluded. For example, there are no expected survival data for unknown race. Therefore, case records with unknown race are excluded when using expected survival data in calculations. When you calculate survival statistics that do not use expected survival data (such as observed survival), you have the option to turn these exclusions on or off. Using these exclusions for observed survival allows you to analyze the same cohort that would be used in relative survival calculations -- assuming you are working with the same expected survival file.

Exclusions to Match the Expected Survival Table checkboxes include:

Age Values Not Found in Survival Table – Select this option to exclude all cases with ages outside the boundaries of the expected survival table or with unknown ages.
Invalid Year – Select this option to exclude all cases with an unknown age date (the date at which the age was coded). In SEER, the age date is the date of diagnosis.
Values Not Found for Other survival Table Variables – Select this option to exclude all cases with a missing or unknown value for any remaining expected survival table variable (excluding age and year when age was coded). For SEER*Stat-supplied expected survival tables, the only "other" variable is race.

View Statements Link

This link opens the Standard Selection Details dialog, which provides information on the standard options selected.

Case Selection

The Case Selection section is where you determine the records that will be included in your analysis. To add a selection statement click on the Edit button to open the Case Selection dialog.

Multiple Primary Selection

The Multiple Primary Selections option provides various methods for selecting the specific tumor or tumors of interest for an individual. See Multiple Primary Selections for Survival Sessions to learn about the options available in the drop-down list at the bottom of the Selection tab.