Chemotherapy

See the current version of the SEER Program Coding Manual under Reporting Guidelines, Section VII: First Course of Therapy, for complete coding instructions for the chemotherapy data items.

Chemotherapy (also called chemo) uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Chemotherapy can also be referred to as a systemic drug, opposed to radiation that typically targets a specific site/area/location. Chemotherapy may be given alone or with other types of treatment. The way the chemotherapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.

Chemotherapy is not routinely used for Prostate cancer. The most common uses are for Stage IV Prostate cancer, or cancers determined to be hormone-sensitive or hormone-resistant, and those that have recurred.

See SEER*Rx Interactive Antineoplastic Drugs Database for more information on the specific chemotherapy drugs for prostate cancer. These can either be individual drugs, or part of a regimen.

Document chemotherapy details in NAACCR Item #2640: Text-Chemo.

See Additional Resources for Prostate Cancer Treatment.

Updated: June 15, 2026