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Family History Validation Study:
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Why is it important to track a family history of
cancer?
A family history of cancer is a potential indicator of inherited cancer susceptibility
mutations and of familial behaviors and environmental exposures that are associated with
increased cancer risk. Family history data have various uses in cancer risk factor
surveillance, such as:
- estimating the population prevalence of familial cancers;
- measuring the impact of cancer on family quality of life;
- understanding how family history of cancer influences screening behavior and clinical
management of patients at varying levels of risk; and
- helping determine allocation of public health genetics resources.
To date, the validity of family history of cancer reports collected from the general
population has not been well characterized. The Family History Validation Study will
provide valuable information that can be used to assess the feasibility of future
surveillance research to monitor familial risk factors in the US population.
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