SEER Inquiry System - Question 20021171 Details

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SEER Inquiry System - Report

Produced: 01/16/2026 10:59 AM

Question 20021171

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Inquiry Details

References:

#1: SEER Program Code Man, 3rd Ed, 121

#2: 2004 SEER Manual, 175

Question:

Date Therapy Initiated: How would you estimate the date treatment began for a patient who was treated elsewhere and seen only on an outpatient basis at the current facility? See discussion.

Discussion:

July 19th: Retromolar trigone primary was diagnosed.

August 8th note states, "Pt is not a surgical candidate due to multiple medical co-morbidities." Sept 19th note states, "Per Tumor Board, pt has been undergoing radiation for her head and neck cancer." The exact starting date for radiation is not specified.

In the SEER Program Code Manual it states that "In the absence of an exact date of treatment, the date of admission for that hospitalization during which the first cancer directed therapy was begun is an acceptable entry."

Answer:

If possible, review the radiation treatment summary and outpatient records at the treating facility. If the date treatment began is not stated, look for the completion date and number of treatments, and calculate the first date of treatment.

If the date radiation started cannot be found or calculated, code the month as 09 for the example provided. The determination was made in August NOT to treat with surgery. We know that there was treatment in September.

Cancer Site Category:

N/A

Data Item Category:

Date therapy initiated

Other Category:

N/A

Year:

2002