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FSSTCAN
Full sisters had soft tissue cancer
Group: Family Cancer History — PERSON

Description

For sample adults with at least one full sister (FSNUM) who ever had cancer of any kind (FSNHCAN), FSSTCAN reports whether the respondent had at least one full sister who ever had soft tissue (muscle/fat) cancer.

FSSTCAN is one of a series of related variables in the "Family History" section of the 2000, 2005, and 2010 Cancer Modules. In both 2000 and 2005, this section begins with the general comment:

We would like to ask you a few questions about your family history of cancer.

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." The 2010 Manual provides a similar rationale, stating that the collection of this data "will allow analysts a greater understanding of how family history relates to cancer."

The Manuals for all three years 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).

I. Related Variables for Full Sister(s) 

Sample adults with at least one full sister who ever had cancer of any kind (FSNHCAN) were asked the follow-up question, "What kinds of cancer did your [full] sister(s) have?" As noted in the 2000, 2005, and 2010 Survey Descriptions, respondents could specify up to two types of cancer for their siblings. Besides soft tissue (muscle/fat) cancer, other possible types of cancer that respondents could report for their full sister(s) were:

  • Skin (don't know what kind) (FSSNCAN)

When a respondent reported at least one full sister who ever had soft tissue (muscle/fat) cancer (FSSTCAN) or one of the other kinds of cancers noted above, the respondent was then asked how many full sisters had ever been told they had soft tissue (muscle/fat) cancer (FSNSTCAN) or whatever other kind of cancer had been reported.

Furthermore, when a respondent reported at least one full sister who ever had soft tissue (muscle/fat) cancer (FSSTCAN) or one of the other kinds of cancers noted above, the respondent was also asked how many full sisters were under 50 years of age when first diagnosed with soft tissue (muscle/fat) cancer (FSASTCAN) or whatever other kind of cancer had been reported.

II. Soft Tissue (muscle/fat) Cancer Variables for Other Biological Relatives 

In addition to questions about full sister(s), the "Family History" section of the 2000, 2005, and 2010 Cancer Modules also included questions about respondents' biological daughter(s), biological son(s), full brother(s) (i.e., brother(s) with the same biological father and biological mother as the respondent), biological father, and biological mother. For example, to analyze soft tissue (muscle/fat) cancer, researchers may find the following variables useful:

  • Biological daughter(s) had soft tissue (muscle/fat) cancer (BDSTCAN)
  • Number of biological daughters with soft tissue (muscle/fat) cancer (BDNSTCAN)
  • Number of biological daughters under 50 years of age when first diagnosed with soft tissue (muscle/fat) cancer (BDASTCAN)
  • Biological son(s) had soft tissue (muscle/fat) cancer (BSSTCAN)
  • Number of biological sons with soft tissue (muscle/fat) cancer (BSNSTCAN)
  • Number of biological sons under 50 years of age when first diagnosed with soft tissue (muscle/fat) cancer (BSASTCAN)
  • Full brother(s) had soft tissue (muscle/fat) cancer (FBSTCAN)
  • Number of full brothers with soft tissue (muscle/fat) cancer (FBNSTCAN)
  • Number of full brothers under 50 years of age when first diagnosed with soft tissue (muscle/fat) cancer (FBASTCAN)
  • Biological father had soft tissue (muscle/fat) cancer (BFSTCAN)
  • Biological father under 50 years of age when first diagnosed with soft tissue (muscle/fat) cancer (BFASTCAN)
  • Biological mother had soft tissue (muscle/fat) cancer (BMSTCAN)
  • Biological mother under 50 years of age when first diagnosed with soft tissue (muscle/fat) cancer (BMASTCAN)

Similar groups of variables are also available for the other kinds of cancers noted above in (I).

Comparability

FSSTCAN is fully comparable between 2005 and 2010.

FSSTCAN is largely comparable between 2000 and 2005/2010, though there may be some difference in the meaning of "refused," "not ascertained," and "don't know" as used in 2000 compared to the meanings of those terms in 2005 and 2010.

The Survey Descriptions for all three years 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 both 2005 and 2010 , 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

  • 2000; 2005; 2010: Sample adults age 18+ whose sister(s) ever had cancer.

Codes and Frequencies



Availability

  • 2000, 2005, 2010
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