Chemotherapy Code

Field Length:  1

Code the type of chemotherapy that the patient received.  Refer to the SEER*Rx Interactive Drug Database for a list of chemotherapeutic agents.  

For all sites, the codes are:

Record any chemical that is administered to treat cancer tissue that is not considered to achieve its effect through a change in the hormonal balance. Only the agent is coded, not the method of drug administration (i.e., chemoembolization).  One planned course of chemotherapy may be given in multiple segments or cycles (i.e., CHOP x 6). Record as a single course of therapy.

If the patient has an adverse reaction to a particular chemotherapeutic drug, the physician may substitute another  If the replacement drug belongs to the same group as the original drug, it is considered to be the same regimen for coding purposes. If the replacement drug is in a different group than the original drug, code as a new subsequent course of therapy.

Two or more single agents given at separate times during the first course of cancer-directed therapy are considered a combination regimen and coded 3 (chemotherapy, multiple agents). If an agent in a combination regimen is a hormone (such as Prednisone in CHOP), code '3' here and record the hormonal agent again, under Hormone therapy.

When chemotherapeutic agents are used as radiosensitizers or radioprotectants, they are given at a much lower dosage and do not affect the cancer. Radiosensitizers and radioprotectants are classified as ancillary drugs. Do not code as chemotherapy.

Effective with diagnoses in 2005 and later, use the SEER Rx program for a list of all cancer therapeutic agents (available from SEER's web site: http://seer.cancer.gov/tools/seerrx/.)  For pre-2005 cases, refer to Appendix H and/or the SEER Program Self-Instructional Manual for Tumor Registrars, Book 8, Antineoplastic Drugs Second Edition.