Cancer Genesis Infographic

Everything about cancer is extremely complex. And what causes cancer varies enormously. But how it starts, while complicated, is always genetic in nature. This infographic is only intended to provide a very basic understanding of cancer genesis. For more detailed information, or if you have questions about your own cancer risk, please talk to your doctor and/or a certified genetic counselor.

Trying to explain hereditary cancer as an advocate is difficult. This is my humble attempt to explain it simply.

The infographic can be downloaded for sharing at www.genetionary.com/cancer

2026 Previvor Day Poster

Previvor Day is celebrated every year on the Wednesday of National Hereditary Cancer Week. National Hereditary Cancer Week is still several weeks away (Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2026), but in an effort to help raise awareness well ahead of time, here is this year’s poster. Download the poster and learn more about hereditary cancer and strategies for previvorship at www.genetionary.org

Hereditary Cancer Week is a yearly event that begins on the last Sunday in September. In 2010, Congress unanimously passed a resolution creating National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week and National Previvor Day. Since then, the week has been renamed National Hereditary Cancer Week to encompass all hereditary cancers.

If you have questions about your own hereditary cancer risk, please talk to your doctor and/or a certified genetic counselor.

All materials 100% human produced.

It's not Just BRCA: Hereditary Cancer Week Poster 2026

National Hereditary Cancer Week is still several weeks away (Sept. 27 - Oct 3, 2026), but an early start is needed. Why? Because there is information about dozens and dozens of genes associated with hereditary cancer to be shared and one week is hardly enough time.

Obviously, not all the genes can be shared. However, some of the more notable ones will be highlighted (in random order) every weekday starting next week. Some useful infographics will also be posted as well. The highlighted genes will be shared in posts on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/markix and Instagram at www.instagram.com/genetionary_org

To start, here’s one of this year’s Hereditary Cancer Week posters. It can be downloaded for sharing here: www.genetionary.org/HCW. 

Hereditary Cancer Week is a yearly event that begins on the last Sunday in September, with National Previvor Day being celebrated on the Wednesday of that week. In 2010, Congress unanimously passed a resolution creating National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week and National Previvor Day. Since then, the week has been renamed National Hereditary Cancer Week to encompass all hereditary cancers.

Please note: For more detailed information, or if you have questions about your own hereditary cancer risk, please talk to your doctor and/or a certified genetic counselor.

All materials 100% human produced.

What is Cancer?

It’s a horrible disease. (Actually, it’s one label for a group of many different horrible diseases). It touches almost everybody’s life in one way or another. Billions and billions and billions of dollars have been spent trying to fight it. Countless unscrupulous individuals hawk “cures” for it on social media. Corporations stage tone-deaf events around it to try and bolster their public image, or bottom line. But few understand the biological processes that give rise to it.


In an effort to help increase understanding and raise awareness, I teamed up with an assistant professor of clinical practice and medicine-medical oncology, certified genetic counselor, and fellow hereditary cancer advocate to create this basic explanation of cancer genesis. This 8.5x14 infographic poster can be downloaded for sharing at www.genetionary.org/cancer. 

Please pass it along.

The Political Press Conference I’d Like to See

In my hereditary cancer advocacy, I have interacted with several of my state politicians in person. But with important national legislation, I have only spoken with congressional aides. Seems many of our politicians think they are far too important to give even 5 minutes of time to a constituent concerning a serious subject like cancer research and care. Doesn't seem to matter that cancer is a subject that likely touches the life of almost every one of their constituents in one way or another.

The cartoon is a reminder that ALL American politicians are supposed to strive for the greater good. But sadly, that rarely happens.

Among my favorite Mark Twain quotes is this gem: “Diapers and politicians need to be changed often, and for the same reason.” Just something to keep in mind this election season.

What is a Previvor?

 

This infographic can be downloaded at genetionary.org 

Valuing Artists

Know the Peas in your Family Pod -- Degrees of Separation of Genetic Relatives.

Don’t think ancestors separated from you by many degrees could have passed down influential genes? Oh, do I have some true stories for you. But ahead of International Day of Families on May 15th, I’ll skip that (for now) and just post this infographic for anyone interested.

You can download a PDF of the poster here. 

Germline Mutations: Illustrating the Cycle of Hereditary Cancer in Families.

Germline Mutations are genetic changes that are present in genes in sperm or eggs (germ cells) at the time of conception. Some germline mutations in tumor suppressor genes can increase the risk for developing hereditary cancer. 

Genetic testing looks for changes in genes that have been linked to hereditary cancer. These particular inherited genetic changes are called pathogenic germline mutations.

To learn more about germline mutations and to download the infographic, go to genetionary.org.

Do You Know Peas about DNA?

For Deoxyribonucleic Acid Day!

Download a PDF version of this free coloring/activity book at www.markix.net/DNA

A poster for DNA Day and Every Day.

This poster can be downloaded at
www.markix.net/dna-poster

A Short Story about DNA, Genes, Mutations, and Hereditary Cancer Prevention.

You can download a poster at www.genetionary.org/story

Using humor to reduce information avoidance of cancer risk? It actually works. In a 2024 study they used comics and humor to reach people who otherwise avoid colorectal cancer or other health messaging.*

Trust me, as a hereditary cancer advocate, I’d love to be sharing scorched-earth, profanity-filled rants about how my wife died horribly and needlessly of a cancer that was very, very preventable. But I have found that using a simple, lighthearted approach can garner more attention that a more serious, fact-heavy one. Or an angry one.

Anything related to cancer can be very scary. And, unfortunately, a lot people simply don’t understand basic genetics. To make things worse, these topics are often presented in ways that are too complicated and detached for many to understand. The way genetics and hereditary cancer are talked about desperately needs to change.

With DNA Day coming up on the April 25th, I figured this would be a good time to share this reworked and updated version of this simple and lighthearted introduction to DNA and its relationship to hereditary cancer. Please pass it along if you know of someone or some family that needs to see it.

*Reducing Information Avoidance: The effectiveness of humour, cute animals and coping messages from The British Psychological Society
https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjhp.12748 

National Banana Day

Forget about your taxes, today is National Banana Day. Go bananas – it’s in your DNA!

Available at most online bookstores. See www.MendelCat.com for more info. For ages 6 and up.”

KOKOBUNNY -- The Arizona Version of the Easter Bunny

Being a Native Arizonan, I envision the Easter Bunny a little differently. 

 

Originally created in what seems a lifetime ago, when life was a little more carefree (yeah, there’s kind of a double meaning to that), I thought I’d post it just because I think a lot of kids (and a lot of grown-ups) need a whimsical distraction right now. 

 

You can download the coloring page here. 

 

BTW, the Kokobunny typeface was also designed by me. It was a winner years ago in a Chartpak International Typeface Design Competition. It was originally called La Fiesta but might be called "Tijuana" or something else on your system or elsewhere because it was pirated several years ago by a software company and unofficially renamed. (It’s another one of my long stories about life as a professional artist.)

Peas and Q's -- A Hereditary Cancer Resource

Some of my late wife’s relatives knew about a pathogenic BRCA2 mutation in the family for years, but did not share the information until after her advanced-stage cancer diagnosis. It was painfully evident that her relatives' lack of understanding of genetics and genetic inheritance had left them unable to communicate the risk to other relatives.

But I quickly realized that my wife's relatives were not the exception. Many adults have a knowledge gap and communication problem when it comes to genetics and family cancer history. So, being a professional creative with many years of experience producing educational materials, I started creating materials to try and help explain genetic mutations and cancer risk to those unfamiliar with the subject. This resource is just one of those efforts.

Download a free PDF copy at www.genetionary.org. And share it! Please.

You have an astronomical amount of DNA!