Data Cart

Description

For sample adults, FSNHCAN reports the number of the respondent's full sisters who ever had cancer of any kind.

The 2000 and 2005 Manuals define "full siblings" as people who have "the same biological father and mother." Thus, a respondent's full sister is a sister who has the same biological father and mother as the respondent (i.e., not half-sisters, stepsisters, adopted sisters, foster sisters, or sisters-in-law).

FSNHCAN is one of a series of related variables in the "Family History" section of the 2000 and 2005 Cancer Modules. In both 2000 and 2005, this section begins with the general comment:

According to the 2000 and 2005 Field Representative's Manuals, the purpose of this and other family cancer history questions is to "determine the prevalence of cancer in families in the population" to "allow a greater understanding of how data obtained from genetics clinics can be applied to the general population." For a full list of available cancer family history variables relating to full sisters, see the variable description for FSBLCAN, which reports whether the respondent's full sister ever had bladder cancer.

In addition to asking the number of the respondent's biological daughters who ever had cancer of any kind, the "Family History" section of the 2000 and 2005 Cancer Modules also asked for the number of the respondent's biological daughters (BDNHCAN), biological sons (BSNHCAN), and full brothers (FBNHCAN) who ever had cancer of any kind. For a full list of available cancer family history variables relating to biological daughters, see the variable description for BDBLCAN, for biological sons, see the variable description for BSBLCAN, and for full brothers, see the variable description for FBBLCAN.

Comparability

FSNHCAN is largely comparable between 2000 and 2005, though there may be some difference in the meaning of "refused," "not ascertained," and "don't know" as used in the two years. Both the 2000 and 2005 Survey Descriptions caution that while "all sample adults were to be asked the questions in the Cancer Control Module, some persons did not complete the supplement." However, whereas in 2000, persons who answered less than 50 percent of the questions in the supplement had a value of "not ascertained" automatically inserted in the appropriate fields of the Cancer Control Module file, in 2005 , persons who answered none of the questions in the supplement had a value of "not ascertained" automatically inserted in the appropriate fields of the Cancer Control Module file.

Universe

Availability

• 2000, 2005, 2010

Weights

• 2000, 2005, 2010 : SAMPWEIGHT