02-09-2024 Revised for 2024 No Treatment vs Surveillance-Different Fields Have Different Rules
There was a little change in coding instructions for Date Therapy Initiated (SEER field) for cases diagnosed in 2024.
In 2023 if a patient chooses active surveillance or watchful waiting the Date therapy initiated would be BLANK, but in 2024 if they choose active surveillance/watchful waiting you will record the date the decision was made for active surveillance even if the patient later changes their mind and opts for additional treatment. This is now in alignment with the instructions from the COC on their field Date of First Couse Treatment.
SEER Instructions, however, did not change for when the patient/physician/family either choose no treatment or refuse all treatment.
Some of you must manually enter dates into these 2 separate fields when these types of situations come up and some software defaults this information in the background. Whichever scenario you are in, make sure both you and your software are doing this correctly in 2024. Remember to follow the coding instructions for Coding Date of First Course Treatment-COC as outlined in the STORE manual and follow the instructions for coding Date Therapy Initiated as outlined in the SEER Program Coding & Staging Manual.
| Treatment Status | Scenario | 2023 | 2024 |
| 0 –No Treatment
Physician decides not to treat a patient, a patient’s family or guardian declines all treatment, or patient receives palliative care for pain management only |
Jan 22nd Patient Refused all treatment | Date of First Couse Tx-COC: 1/22/2023
Date Therapy Initiated-SEER: BLANK |
Date of First Couse Tx-COC: 1/22/2024
Date Therapy Initiated-SEER: BLANK |
| 2-Active Surveillance/ Watchful waiting/deferred therapy or other similar options | Jan 22 Patient Chose active surveillance or watchful waiting | Date of First Couse Tx-COC: 1-22-2023
Date Therapy Initiated-SEER: BLANK |
Date of First Couse Tx-COC: 1-22-2024
Date Therapy Initiated-SEER: 1/22/2024 |