Parametric relative survival regression using generalized linear 
models with application to Hogkin's lymphoma, by E. A. Weller, E. J.
Feuer, C. M. Frey and M. N. Wesley
Appl. Statist., vol. 48 (1999)

DATA FILE: HODGKINSDESCRIPTION: In this paper, Weller et al fit a
Weibull relative survival regression model in PROC GENMOD of SAS
(version 6.11).  This program was used to obtain the parameter estimates
for the relative survival model across diagnosis years described in the
manuscript.  The scale parameter was assumed to be a function of the
diagnosis year, an indicator allowing for a gap in survival between
Connecticut and SEER data and indicators of survival changes (join
points) in trends occurring prior to development and realization of the
treatment breakthrough, and full realization of treatment benefits.  The
code to fit this model is in the file PROGRAM.SAS.  This file uses the
data in the file Hodgkins and calls the macros defined in MACROS.MAC. 
To estimate the shape parameter using a profile likelihood method
approach an additional estimation loop was done. 

In this program the user must provide
(1) estimates of the first and second join points
(2) the survival year of interest (for example, 5 year survival)
(3) the first and last diagnosis year and
(4) the minimum and maximum values of the grid to search over for delta
(start,stop) as well as the increments of the search (gridwid).This user
must provide values of the joinpoints.  Therefore, the estimates of the
join points are obtained by iteratively running the program and
determining those values that minimize the deviance.  The user can
modify the accuracy to which numeric variables are printed (Accuracy),
the convergence criterion for the deviance (conv) and for delta (dconv),
and the number of iterations (maxiter).  

NOTE: This program performs a profile likelihood search for the shape
parameter (delta) and not for the first and second join points. 
Therefore, the user must run this program iteratively to determine the
join points that minimize the deviance.  

CODE: PROGRAM.SASDATA: HodgkinsINPUT: MACROS FROM MACROS.MACSAS VERSION:
6.11

QUESTIONS: Contact Edie Weller Phone: (617) 632-2445 FAX : (617)
632-2444 Email: eweller@jimmy.harvard.edu