The SEER Program is pleased to announce the availability of SEER*Rx,
the cancer registrar's interactive antineoplastic drug database on
July 1, 2005. This downloadable database replaces SEER Self-
instructional Manual Book 8, Antineoplastic Drugs, effective for
cases diagnosed January 1, 2005 and after.

There is NO CHARGE for this program. SEER*Rx can be downloaded from
http://seer.cancer.gov/tools/seerrx/. Registration of your email
address, name and institution is necessary in order to obtain the
password required to download the program to the desktop of your
computer. Once you download and install the program on your
computer, you do not have to connect to the internet to use it. The
information you supply will be used for no other purpose than to
maintain an e-mail list that will notify you of updates to the
database or changes to the software, which will be approximately
every six months.

SEER*Rx allows you to look up the treatment category for over 1600
drugs and the individual treatment categories for the drugs in over
700 regimens. The screen provides information on generic name, brand
name, NSC number, drug category and subcategory, cancer sites where
the drug is used, and other details, including whether or not the
drug should be coded as treatment. As noted, this program replaces
the printed Book 8 (published in 1993) and the update to Book 8
issued in May 2002. The categories for a few drugs have changed,
notably some monoclonal antibodies such as Avastin, Velcade, Rituxan,
Herceptin, and a few others that have been determined to be
cytostatic chemotherapy agents rather than traditional
immunotherapy. Recoding of these agents for cases diagnosed prior to
2005 is not required or recommended.

Celebratory fireworks are scheduled for the National Mall on Monday,
July 4! Check your local public broadcasting system listings.