02-05-2012, 06:19 PM
You might find this enlightening *(:>*
Join Our Cancer Prevention Study - 3 (CPS-3)
If you've ever known someone with cancer, you know that birthdays are a very significant milestone. There are nearly 12 million people in America who have survived cancer - and countless more who have avoided it - who will be celebrating birthdays this year. You can join the movement for more birthdays and fight back against cancer by enrolling in a new research study called the Cancer Prevention Study - 3 (CPS-3). The American Cancer Society's Epidemiology Research Program is inviting men and women between the ages of 30 and 65 years who have no personal history of cancer to join this historic research study. The ultimate goal is to enroll at least 300,000 adults from various racial/ethnic backgrounds from across the U.S. By joining CPS-3, you can help us understand how to prevent cancer, which will save lives and give people more of their most precious resource: time. More time with their families and friends, more memories, more celebrations . . . and more birthdays.
http://www.cancer.org/Research/ResearchP...dy-3/index
Cancer Prevention Study Overviews
Cancer Prevention Study I
The Cancer Prevention Study I (CPS-I) is a prospective mortality study of approximately 1 million adult men and women enrolled between October 1, 1959 and February 15, 1960, and followed up through September 1972. Participants were recruited into the study in 25 states by approximately 68,000 volunteers for the American Cancer Society. Enrollment was by families (households). All family members age 30 years and over were recruited if at least one participating household member was 45 years or older.
http://www.cancer.org/Research/ResearchP...-overviews
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Heredity and Cancer
Cancer is such a common disease that it is no surprise that many families have at least a few members who have had cancer. Sometimes, certain types of cancer seem to run in some families. This can be caused by a number of factors. Often, family members have certain risk factors in common, such as smoking, which can cause many types of cancer.
But in some cases the cancer is caused by an abnormal gene that is being passed along from generation to generation. Although this is often referred to as inherited cancer, what is inherited is the abnormal gene that can lead to cancer, not the cancer itself. Only about 5% to 10% of all cancers are inherited. This document focuses on those cancers.
DNA, genes, and chromosomes
Cancer is a disease of abnormal gene function. Genes are pieces of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). They contain the instructions on how to make the proteins the body needs to function, when to destroy damaged cells, and how to keep the cells in balance. Your genes control things such as hair color, eye color, and height. They also can affect your chance of getting certain diseases, such as cancer.
An abnormal change in a gene is called a mutation. The 2 types of mutations are inherited and acquired (somatic).
Inherited gene mutations are passed from parent to child through the egg or sperm. These mutations are in every cell in the body.
Acquired (somatic) mutations are not present in the egg or sperm. These mutations are acquired at some point in the person's life, and are more common than inherited mutations. This type of mutation occurs in one cell, and then is passed on to any new cells that are the offspring of that cell.
http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CancerCause...and-cancer
Join Our Cancer Prevention Study - 3 (CPS-3)
If you've ever known someone with cancer, you know that birthdays are a very significant milestone. There are nearly 12 million people in America who have survived cancer - and countless more who have avoided it - who will be celebrating birthdays this year. You can join the movement for more birthdays and fight back against cancer by enrolling in a new research study called the Cancer Prevention Study - 3 (CPS-3). The American Cancer Society's Epidemiology Research Program is inviting men and women between the ages of 30 and 65 years who have no personal history of cancer to join this historic research study. The ultimate goal is to enroll at least 300,000 adults from various racial/ethnic backgrounds from across the U.S. By joining CPS-3, you can help us understand how to prevent cancer, which will save lives and give people more of their most precious resource: time. More time with their families and friends, more memories, more celebrations . . . and more birthdays.
http://www.cancer.org/Research/ResearchP...dy-3/index
Cancer Prevention Study Overviews
Cancer Prevention Study I
The Cancer Prevention Study I (CPS-I) is a prospective mortality study of approximately 1 million adult men and women enrolled between October 1, 1959 and February 15, 1960, and followed up through September 1972. Participants were recruited into the study in 25 states by approximately 68,000 volunteers for the American Cancer Society. Enrollment was by families (households). All family members age 30 years and over were recruited if at least one participating household member was 45 years or older.
http://www.cancer.org/Research/ResearchP...-overviews
*********************************************************************************************************
Heredity and Cancer
Cancer is such a common disease that it is no surprise that many families have at least a few members who have had cancer. Sometimes, certain types of cancer seem to run in some families. This can be caused by a number of factors. Often, family members have certain risk factors in common, such as smoking, which can cause many types of cancer.
But in some cases the cancer is caused by an abnormal gene that is being passed along from generation to generation. Although this is often referred to as inherited cancer, what is inherited is the abnormal gene that can lead to cancer, not the cancer itself. Only about 5% to 10% of all cancers are inherited. This document focuses on those cancers.
DNA, genes, and chromosomes
Cancer is a disease of abnormal gene function. Genes are pieces of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). They contain the instructions on how to make the proteins the body needs to function, when to destroy damaged cells, and how to keep the cells in balance. Your genes control things such as hair color, eye color, and height. They also can affect your chance of getting certain diseases, such as cancer.
An abnormal change in a gene is called a mutation. The 2 types of mutations are inherited and acquired (somatic).
Inherited gene mutations are passed from parent to child through the egg or sperm. These mutations are in every cell in the body.
Acquired (somatic) mutations are not present in the egg or sperm. These mutations are acquired at some point in the person's life, and are more common than inherited mutations. This type of mutation occurs in one cell, and then is passed on to any new cells that are the offspring of that cell.
http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CancerCause...and-cancer