Description

For sample adults with at least one full sister (FSNUM) who ever had cancer of any kind (FSNHCAN), FSLWCAN reports whether the respondent had at least one full sister who ever had larynx-windpipe cancer.

Beginning in 2015, details about larynx-windpipe cancer (and several other cancer types) were suppressed because of low frequencies of these types of cancer among family members. Cancers of the esophagus, larynx-windpipe, mouth/tongue/lip, and throat-pharynx are not available separately on the NHIS public use files to protect confidentiality; incidence of these cancer types among full sisters are all combined in FSHNCAN, which reports whether at least one full sister had head and neck cancer.

FSLWCAN is one of a series of related variables in the "Family History" section of the 2000 and later Cancer Modules. In all years, 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." The 2010 and later Manuals provide 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 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).

Comparability

FSLWCAN is fully comparable between 2005 and 2010.

FSLWCAN 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

Availability

• 2000, 2005, 2010

Weights

• 2000, 2005, 2010 : SAMPWEIGHT