The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) is an authoritative source of information on cancer incidence and survival in the United States. SEER currently collects and publishes cancer incidence and survival data from population-based cancer registries covering approximately 48% of the US population.
SEER data show remarkable advancements in the treatment of childhood cancers: The 5-year survival rate of childhood and adolescent cancer survivors rose from 63% in 1975 to more than 84% in 2010, and annual excess deaths occurring less than 5 years after diagnosis steadily declined from 1985 to 2016. However, SEER data also revealed that conditional life expectancy for childhood cancer survivors, especially for those treated with radiotherapy, is 15–25% lower than for their peers. This work highlights the value of investments in cancer surveillance programs to shed light on important long-term trends.