MISS-cohort, Melanoma in Southern Sweden

The MISS cohort started in 1990 when 40 000 women between 26 and 65 in Skåne were randomly selected to participate in an interview about the risk factors for malignant melanoma and breast cancer. 29 508 (approximately 74%) of women surveyed chose to participate. None of the women had a history of cancer. The interviews were conducted between 1990 and 1992 and the questions concerned, among other things, the time for the woman's first menstruation, number of pregnancies, age at entry into menopause, contraception, alcohol, smoking, sun exposure and constitutional factors. The cohort was interviewed one more time in year 2000 and again 2011. Re-interviews are scheduled for every ten years. During 2011 to 2013 DNA was collected from the cohort through saliva. Follow-up of morbidity and mortality are made annually through the national registry. Purpose: The aim of this study was to create a prospective population-based cohort of women from Southern Sweden with information regarding environmental and genetic factors.