National Cancer Data Set

National Cancer Data Set Overview

Please note that the National Cancer Data Set will be replaced by the Cancer Outcomes and Services Data Set which is planned to be mandated from 1 January 2013. For further details, see the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN) website.

Site Specific Cancers

Brain and Central Nervous System
Breast Cancer
Colorectal Cancer
Lung Cancer
Head and Neck Cancer
Sarcoma
Skin Cancer
Urological Cancer
Upper GI Cancer
Gynaecological Cancer

Data Set Data Element
Demographics
NHS NUMBER 
LOCAL PATIENT IDENTIFIER 
ORGANISATION CODE (CODE OF PROVIDER) 
CARE SPELL IDENTIFIER 
PERSON FAMILY NAME 
PERSON GIVEN NAME 
PATIENT USUAL ADDRESS (AT DIAGNOSIS) 
POSTCODE OF USUAL ADDRESS (AT DIAGNOSIS) 
SEX 
BIRTH DATE 
GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTITIONER (SPECIFIED) 
GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTICE CODE (PATIENT REGISTRATION) 
ORGANISATION CODE (RESPONSIBLE PCT) 
PERSON FAMILY NAME (AT BIRTH) 
ETHNIC CATEGORY 
Referrals
SOURCE OF REFERRAL FOR CANCER 
REFERRING ORGANISATION CODE 
REFERRER CODE 
CANCER REFERRAL PRIORITY TYPE 
CANCER REFERRAL DECISION DATE 
REFERRAL REQUEST RECEIVED DATE 
CONSULTANT CODE 
MAIN SPECIALTY CODE 
DATE FIRST SEEN 
DELAY REASON REFERRAL TO FIRST SEEN (CANCER OR BREAST SYMPTOMS) 
DELAY REASON COMMENT (FIRST SEEN) 
TWO WEEK WAIT CANCER OR SYMPTOMATIC BREAST REFERRAL TYPE 
CANCER OR SYMPTOMATIC BREAST REFERRAL PATIENT STATUS 
WAITING TIME ADJUSTMENT (FIRST SEEN) 
WAITING TIME ADJUSTMENT REASON (FIRST SEEN) 
SOURCE OF REFERRAL FOR OUT-PATIENTS 
Imaging
SITE CODE (OF IMAGING) 
CLINICAL INTERVENTION DATE (CANCER IMAGING) 
CANCER IMAGING MODALITY 
ANATOMICAL EXAMINATION SITE 
INVASIVE LESION SIZE (RADIOLOGICAL DETERMINATION) 
Diagnosis
DIAGNOSIS DATE (CANCER) 
PRIMARY DIAGNOSIS (ICD) 
TUMOUR LATERALITY 
BASIS OF DIAGNOSIS (CANCER) 
HISTOLOGY (SNOMED) 
GRADE OF DIFFERENTIATION (AT DIAGNOSIS) 
Cancer Care Plan
MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM DISCUSSION INDICATOR 
MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM DISCUSSION DATE (CANCER) 
CARE PLAN AGREED DATE 
RECURRENCE INDICATOR 
CANCER CARE PLAN INTENT 
PLANNED CANCER TREATMENT TYPE 
TREATMENT TYPE SEQUENCE 
NO CANCER TREATMENT REASON 
PERFORMANCE STATUS (ADULT) 
Staging
T CATEGORY (FINAL PRETREATMENT) 
STAGING CERTAINTY FACTOR (T CATEGORY) 
N CATEGORY (FINAL PRETREATMENT) 
STAGING CERTAINTY FACTOR (N CATEGORY) 
M CATEGORY (FINAL PRETREATMENT) 
STAGING CERTAINTY FACTOR (M CATEGORY) 
TNM CATEGORY (FINAL PRETREATMENT) 
STAGING CERTAINTY FACTOR (TNM CATEGORY) 
SITE SPECIFIC STAGING CLASSIFICATION 
TNM CATEGORY (INTEGRATED) 
T CATEGORY (INTEGRATED STAGE) 
N CATEGORY (INTEGRATED STAGE) 
M CATEGORY (INTEGRATED STAGE) 
Surgery and Other Procedures
SITE CODE (OF SURGERY) 
CONSULTANT CODE 
MAIN SPECIALTY CODE 
CANCER TREATMENT INTENT 
DECISION TO TREAT DATE (SURGERY) 
START DATE (SURGERY HOSPITAL PROVIDER SPELL) 
PROCEDURE DATE 
PRIMARY PROCEDURE (OPCS) 
PROCEDURE (OPCS) 
DISCHARGE DATE (HOSPITAL PROVIDER SPELL) 
DISCHARGE DESTINATION (HOSPITAL PROVIDER SPELL) 
Pathology Details
PATHOLOGY INVESTIGATION TYPE 
SAMPLE RECEIPT DATE 
INVESTIGATION RESULT DATE 
CONSULTANT CODE (PATHOLOGIST) 
ORGANISATION CODE (OF REPORTING PATHOLOGY) 
PRIMARY DIAGNOSIS (ICD) 
TUMOUR LATERALITY 
INVASIVE LESION SIZE 
SYNCHRONOUS TUMOUR INDICATOR 
HISTOLOGY (SNOMED) 
GRADE OF DIFFERENTIATION 
CANCER VASCULAR OR LYMPHATIC INVASION 
EXCISION MARGIN 
NODES EXAMINED NUMBER 
NODES POSITIVE NUMBER 
T CATEGORY (PATHOLOGICAL) 
N CATEGORY (PATHOLOGICAL) 
M CATEGORY (PATHOLOGICAL) 
TNM CATEGORY (PATHOLOGICAL) 
SERVICE REPORT IDENTIFIER 
SERVICE REPORT STATUS 
SPECIMEN NATURE 
ORGANISATION CODE (REQUESTED BY) 
CARE PROFESSIONAL CODE (REQUESTED BY) 
T CATEGORY EXTENDED (PATHOLOGICAL) 
M CATEGORY EXTENDED (PATHOLOGICAL) 
Chemotherapy and other drugs
SITE CODE (OF CANCER DRUG TREATMENT) 
CONSULTANT CODE 
MAIN SPECIALTY CODE 
DECISION TO TREAT DATE (ANTI-CANCER DRUG REGIMEN) 
DRUG THERAPY TYPE 
DRUG TREATMENT INTENT 
DRUG REGIMEN ACRONYM 
START DATE (ANTI-CANCER DRUG REGIMEN) 
RECORDED HEIGHT (CANCER DRUG TREATMENT) 
RECORDED WEIGHT (CANCER DRUG TREATMENT) 
PERSON BODY SURFACE AREA (PRETREATMENT) 
CREATININE CLEARANCE 
START DATE (ANTI-CANCER DRUG FRACTION) 
ANTI-CANCER DRUG CYCLE IDENTIFIER 
DAY NUMBER (ANTI-CANCER DRUG CYCLE) 
DURATION OF ANTI-CANCER DRUG CYCLE 
DRUG PROGRAMME RESPONSE 
PLANNED TREATMENT CHANGE REASON 
HEALTHCARE RESOURCE GROUP CODE 
Radiotherapy (Teletherapy)
SITE CODE (OF TELETHERAPY) 
CONSULTANT CODE 
DECISION TO TREAT DATE (TELETHERAPY TREATMENT COURSE) 
CANCER TREATMENT INTENT 
START DATE (TELETHERAPY TREATMENT COURSE) 
END DATE (TELETHERAPY TREATMENT COURSE) 
RADIOTHERAPY PRESCRIBED DOSE 
TELETHERAPY PRESCRIBED FRACTIONS 
RADIOTHERAPY PRESCRIBED DURATION 
RADIOTHERAPY ACTUAL DOSE 
TELETHERAPY ACTUAL FRACTIONS 
DURATION OF TELETHERAPY TREATMENT COURSE 
TELETHERAPY BEAM TYPE 
TELETHERAPY BEAM ENERGY 
TELETHERAPY FIELDS CLASSIFICATION 
TELETHERAPY COMPLEXITY GROUP 
RADIOTHERAPY ANAESTHETIC 
TELETHERAPY MULTIPLE PLANNING 
HEALTHCARE RESOURCE GROUP CODE 
TREATMENT COURSE STATUS 
Radiotherapy (Brachytherapy)
SITE CODE (OF BRACHYTHERAPY) 
CONSULTANT CODE 
DECISION TO TREAT DATE (BRACHYTHERAPY TREATMENT COURSE) 
CANCER TREATMENT INTENT 
BRACHYTHERAPY TYPE 
START DATE (BRACHYTHERAPY TREATMENT COURSE) 
END DATE (BRACHYTHERAPY TREATMENT COURSE) 
RADIOTHERAPY PRESCRIBED DOSE 
BRACHYTHERAPY PRESCRIBED FRACTIONS 
RADIOTHERAPY PRESCRIBED DURATION 
RADIOTHERAPY ACTUAL DOSE 
BRACHYTHERAPY DOSE RATE 
DURATION OF BRACHYTHERAPY TREATMENT COURSE 
BRACHYTHERAPY ISOTOPE TYPE 
RADIOTHERAPY ANAESTHETIC 
UNSEALED SOURCE PATIENT TYPE 
BRACHYTHERAPY DELIVERY TYPE 
HEALTHCARE RESOURCE GROUP CODE 
TREATMENT COURSE STATUS 
Palliative Care
DECISION TO TREAT DATE (SPECIALIST PALLIATIVE TREATMENT COURSE) 
START DATE (SPECIALIST PALLIATIVE TREATMENT COURSE) 
Clinical Trials
PATIENT TRIAL STATUS (CANCER) 
CANCER CLINICAL TRIAL TREATMENT TYPE 
Clinical Status Assessment
CLINICAL STATUS ASSESSMENT DATE (CANCER) 
PRIMARY TUMOUR STATUS 
NODAL STATUS 
METASTATIC STATUS 
MARKER RESPONSE STATUS 
PERFORMANCE STATUS (ADULT) 
TREATMENT TYPE (CANCER MORBIDITY) 
MORBIDITY CODE (CANCER SURGERY) 
PATIENT FOLLOW-UP STATUS (CANCER) 
MORBIDITY CODE (CHEMOTHERAPY) 
MORBIDITY CODE (RADIOTHERAPY) 
MORBIDITY CODE (COMBINATION) 
Death Details
PERSON DEATH DATE 
DEATH LOCATION TYPE 
DEATH CAUSE IDENTIFICATION METHOD 
DEATH CAUSE CANCER 
DEATH CAUSE CODE (IMMEDIATE) 
DEATH CAUSE CODE (CONDITION) 
DEATH CAUSE CODE (UNDERLYING) 
DEATH CAUSE CODE (SIGNIFICANT) 
DEATH CODE DISCREPANCY ORIGINATOR 

Data Set Data Element
Waiting Times Details
WAITING TIME ADJUSTMENT (DECISION TO TREAT) 
WAITING TIME ADJUSTMENT (TREATMENT) 
WAITING TIME ADJUSTMENT REASON (DECISION TO TREAT) 
WAITING TIME ADJUSTMENT REASON (TREATMENT) 
DELAY REASON REFERRAL TO TREATMENT (CANCER) 
DELAY REASON (DECISION TO TREATMENT) 
DELAY REASON COMMENT (REFERRAL TO TREATMENT) 
DELAY REASON COMMENT (DECISION TO TREATMENT) 
DECISION TO TREAT DATE (ACTIVE MONITORING) 
START DATE (ACTIVE MONITORING) 
Site-Specific Data Elements

Brain and Central Nervous System

Brain and Central Nervous System
Data Set Data Element
-

Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer
Data Set Data Element
DIAGNOSTIC ROUTE 
BREAST CANCER NURSE SEEN 
RESPONSIBLE CARE PROFESSIONAL CODE (OPCS) 
MENSTRUAL STATUS 
LMP DATE 
CLINICAL EXAMINATION FINDINGS (BREAST CANCER) 
ENDOCRINE THERAPY TYPE 
MARKER LYMPH NODE RESULT 

Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal Cancer
Data Set Data Element
DIAGNOSTIC ROUTE 
COLORECTAL NURSE OR STOMA THERAPIST SEEN 
RESPONSIBLE CARE PROFESSIONAL CODE (OPCS) 
GRADE OF RESPONSIBLE HCP 
PATIENT PROCEDURE RESULT (COLONOSCOPY) 
COLONOSCOPY INCOMPLETE REASON 
COLORECTAL NURSE OR STOMA THERAPIST SEEN 
SURGICAL URGENCY 
THEATRE CASE START TIME 
MARKER LYMPH NODE RESULT 

Head and Neck Cancer

Head and Neck Cancer
Data Set Data Element
PATIENT HISTORY (CANCER DIAGNOSIS) 
YEAR CANCER DIAGNOSED 
PREVIOUS TREATMENT ELSEWHERE 
TOBACCO USAGE TYPE 
SMOKING STATUS 
TOBACCO CHEWING HISTORY 
YEAR STOPPED SMOKING 
ESTIMATED PACK YEARS 
ALCOHOL STATUS 
QUALITY OF LIFE (AT DIAGNOSIS) 
SYMPTOMS FIRST NOTED DATE 
FAMILY OR SURNAME OF RELATION WITH CANCER 
RELATIONSHIP TO PERSON 
PRIMARY DIAGNOSIS OF RELATION (ICD) 
NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED (CANCER) 
NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED TYPE (CANCER) 
NUTRITIONAL PROCEDURE (OPCS) 
NUTRITIONAL PROCEDURE COMPLICATION (ICD) 
CONTACT DATE (DIETICIAN INITIAL) 
CANCER DENTAL ASSESSMENT DATE 
IMAGE REQUEST DATE 
SPEECH AND SWALLOWING ASSESSMENT DATE 

Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer
Data Set Data Element
SMOKING STATUS 
YEAR STOPPED SMOKING 
ESTIMATED PACK YEARS 
COPD PRESENT 
FEV1 ABSOLUTE AMOUNT 
FEV1 PERCENTAGE 

Sarcoma

Sarcoma
Data Set Data Element
BONE SARCOMA LOCATION 
CLOSEST MARGIN 
NECROSIS 
SARCOMA CONDITION FIRST SEEN 
SARCOMA LARGEST DIAMETER 
SARCOMA PART SITE 
SARCOMA PREDISPOSING CONDITION (FAMILY) 
SARCOMA PREDISPOSING CONDITION (OTHER PHYSICAL) 
SARCOMA RELATION TO DEEP FASCIA 
SARCOMA SURGICAL MARGIN 
SARCOMA SURGICAL PROCEDURE TYPE 
SARCOMA TUMOUR SITE 
SOFT TISSUE SARCOMA LOCATION 

Skin Cancer

Skin Cancer
Data Set Data Element
BASAL CELL CLINICAL MORPHOLOGY 
CLINICAL EXCISION MARGIN 
DERMATOLOGIST BODY SITE (SKIN CANCER CARE SPELL) 
DERMATOLOGIST BODY SITE (SKIN CANCER LESION) 
DISTRIBUTION OF LESIONS PRESENT 
GENETICALLY DETERMINED SKIN CANCER TYPE 
NEW LESIONS TREATED NUMBER (CHEMOTHERAPY) 
NEW LESIONS TREATED NUMBER (RADIOTHERAPY) 
NEW LESIONS TREATED NUMBER (SURGERY) 
PATHOLOGY SPECIMEN TYPE 
PATIENT ON IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE THERAPY 
PERINEURAL INVASION 
PREVIOUS SKIN CANCER 
RECURRENT LESIONS TREATED NUMBER (CHEMOTHERAPY) 
RECURRENT LESIONS TREATED NUMBER (RADIOTHERAPY) 
RECURRENT LESIONS TREATED NUMBER (SURGERY) 
SKIN CANCER LARGEST CLINICAL DIAMETER (SKIN CANCER CARE SPELL) 
SKIN CANCER LARGEST CLINICAL DIAMETER (SKIN CANCER LESION) 
SKIN CANCER NEW RECURRENT INDICATOR 
SKIN CANCER SUBSEQUENT DIAGNOSIS DATE 
SKIN LYMPHOMA CLINICAL MORPHOLOGY 
SKIN TCELL CLINICAL VARIANT 
SKIN TCELL SURFACE AREA 
SKIN TUMOUR STATUS 

Urological Cancer

Urological Cancer
Data Set Data Element
SERUM TUMOUR MARKER PSA 
S CATEGORY FINAL PRETREATMENT 
DRUG ROUTE OF ADMINISTRATION 

Upper GI Cancer

Upper GI Cancer
Data Set Data Element
POSSUM SCORE (AT DIAGNOSIS) 
POSSUM SCORE (AFTER SURGERY) 
RELATIONSHIP TO PERSON 
PRIMARY DIAGNOSIS OF RELATION (ICD) 
SMOKING STATUS 
YEAR STOPPED SMOKING 
ESTIMATED PACK YEARS 
ALCOHOL STATUS 
CO-MORBIDITY (ICD) 
CLINICAL SIGN OR SYMPTOM (ICD) 

Gynaecological Cancer

Gynaecological Cancer
Data Set Data Element
GYNAECOLOGICAL ONCOLOGY ACCREDITATION