FSAOCCAN is a two-digit count variable.

03: Beginning in 2015, top code of 3 or more
21: Prior to 2015, top code of 21 or more
96: Not in Universe
97: Unknown-Refused
98: Unknown-Not Ascertained
99: Unknown-Don't Know

Description

For sample adults with a full sister who had some cancer other than the types listed (FSOCCAN), FSAOCCAN reports, for those with at least one full sister (FSNUM) who ever had cancer, if the respondent's full sister(s) were under 50 years of age when this other cancer was first diagnosed.

FSAOCCAN is one of a series of related variables in the "Family History" section of the 2000 and later Cancer Modules. The same types of cancer were asked about in all years; however, beginning in 2015, certain types of cancer are suppressed because of low frequencies of those types of cancer among family members.

Suppressed cancer types in the 2015 data are not included in "other" cancer types. Family history variables related to cancers of the bladder, blood, bone, brain, gallbladder, liver, pancreas, and soft tissue (muscle or fat) are asked about in the survey, but are not included in the 2015 data.

Additionally, cancers of the esophagus, larynx-windpipe, mouth/tongue/lip, and throat-pharynx are not available separately, but are combined in a set of variables about head and neck cancer. Similarly, cancers of the colon and rectum are not available separately, but are combined in a set of variables about colorectal cancer.

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 these 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

Although FSAOCCAN is substantively comparable across all years, users should note two changes in the recoding of values that may affect analyses of data from multiple cancer supplement years.

The first, and most recent, change affects the top code value for FSAOCCAN. Prior to 2015, FSAOCCAN was top coded at 21. Starting in 2015, FSAOCCAN was top coded at 3. The second change, affecting how missing data values were treated for sample adults who completed only part of the cancer supplement, took place between the 2000 and 2005 cancer supplement. 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, whereas in 2005 and later years, 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, 2015

Weights

• 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 : SAMPWEIGHT