10/29/25

National Cat Day & DNA

Photo of calico cat reading book with thought bubble that says, “Whoa! I share 90% of my DNA with humans!” With the caption below that says, “Amazing what cats learn when you give them a book. Little humans might find this book fascinating too! Available at most online bookstores. Go to www.MendelCat.com for more info.”

 

Today is National Cat Day. It’s a great day to celebrate all that deoxyribonucleic acid we share with our feline friends!

More info about the book at www.MendelCat.com.

For kids 6-years and up. (For cats 6-months and up.)


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10/22/25

Now Available at SCBWI's BookStop!

A screenshot of “Yay Yay DNA” SCBWI’s BookStop Page. Featuring an image of the book cover and inside pages, and more.  

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ annual showcase of books by members is now live. At this time every year, BookStop brings book creators and thousands of book buyers together. My latest book about the tiny thin thread that connects all life is featured at https://www.scbwi.org/bookstop/book/yay-yay-dna-do-you-wonder-what-makes-you-you-with-mendel-g-cat

Yay Yay DNA!


(Sales from the book help me to continue to produce more free materials about hereditary cancer awareness and prevention.)

 

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10/12/25

What Breast Cancer Awareness Month Ignores

infusion center. Caption: ”The breast cancer awareness walk was terrific! There were balloons, food booths, prizes, and musicians. There was even a bouncy castle for the kids!” Also, an image of the original story on CURE’s website. 

On an October day in 2018, I sat anxiously holding my late wife’s hand to comfort and calm her as she waited for a brain scan. Her doctor suspected her triple-negative breast cancer had spread to her brain (it had).

Earlier I had seen a promotion for a breast cancer awareness walk that looked more like an ad for an Oktoberfest party than an event to raise awareness about a truly horrific disease. It was both angering and heartbreaking to see. At the time, I wanted to write and draw something to express my feelings, but caregiving took priority.

More than a year after my wife’s horrible death in 2021 I wrote this story for CURE, a resource for patients with cancer, survivors and their caregivers. I was surprised CURE published the cartoon and my diss of pinkwashing month events. But I was even more surprised at the hundreds of passionate responses, in messages and as comments on CURE’s social media, who agreed with what I was saying.

Here’s the link to the story: 
https://www.curetoday.com/view/thoughts-on-breast-cancer-awareness-month-the-disease-is-no-stroll-through-the-park-

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10/4/25

Talking About Hereditary Cancer

National Hereditary Cancer Week starts this Sunday, September 28th Hereditary cancer is a complicated subject. Starting the conversation about it does not have to be. An increased risk for some cancers can be inherited. Genetic mutations that may increase the risk of cancer can be passed down for generations. Many genetic relatives might share the same mutation, even relatives separated by many degrees. But knowing and sharing family health history and genetic testing can help prevent hereditary cancer. Let’s change the way we talk about hereditary cancer. Info & Infographics about Genes, Germline Mutations, and Hereditary Cancer Prevention www.genetionary.org

When my late wife was diagnosed with hereditary cancer, I often found myself trying to explain her cancer and genetic mutations to friends and acquaintances. But hereditary cancer and inherited genetic variants are really complicated subjects. In addition, I soon learned that many people have limited knowledge of basic genomic science. Knowing many people might not understand much about genetics often left me unsure on how to start the conversation. To be honest, it took me a while to figure it out.

So, as National Hereditary Cancer Week draws to a close, I’d like to offer what I eventually came up with. Here are four simple sentences that can be used as the script to start the conversation with those unfamiliar with hereditary cancer and genetics. 

Tens of thousands of cancer cases could be prevented every year. Thousands of deaths could be averted every year. And millions and millions of dollars in treatment costs could be avoided. But the conversation about hereditary cancer risk and the importance of knowing family health history needs to improve drastically if we hope to accomplish any of that.

Let’s change the way we talk about hereditary cancer.
 

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9/18/25

Mendel G. Cat's DNA Book is Now Available

 Photograph of the children’s book “Yay Yay DNA! Do You Wonder What Makes You You? with Mendel G. Cat.” Shown is the cover and several open pages.

Now available at most online bookstores in paperback and hardbound editions!

The book is a fun little introduction to genomic science for readers six and up featuring Mendel G. Cat. (A lot of adults might benefit from reading it too.)

Every $1 I make off the book (which, literally is about the royalty per copy) will go to fund my hereditary cancer advocacy work and to help me to provide free copies of the book to classrooms, school libraries, and nonprofits.

Go to www.MendelCat.com

Paperback ISBN 979-8-218-77999-3 
Hardbound: ISBN 979-8-218-79986-1
(Probably will not be available in local bookstores for a while, unfortunately. But they can order it for you.)

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9/16/25

Previvor Day Poster

 Previvor Day Poster graphic. Previvor Day is a celebration of the courage and strength of those at higher risk for cancer due to certain inherited genetic mutations. Being a previvor does not mean you will get cancer. Previvorship is about being informed, proactive, and monitored regularly to significantly reduce the risk. Knowledge is power. Learn more about hereditary cancer at www.genetionary.org

 Previvor Day is still a couple weeks away, but I want to release this now to help raise awareness and understanding of previvorship ahead of the day. As a parent of a previvor, I celebrate Previvor Day as well as all the science that is giving my child a chance at full life cancer-free. 

This poster can be downloaded at: https://genetionary.org/poster/index.html 

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9/8/25

First Contact Revisited

 Cartoon with aliens in spaceships and humans standing in a group: “Attention human in habitants of what you call Earth, We have watched you for millennia and are so now so deeply disappointed to the point we have given up on you ever becoming contributing members of the universe. This short visit will be our last. Your arrogance is annoying and your stupidity overwhelming. You think you are so smart but yet you let ignorance, superstition, and imaginary deities rule your judgement. The lack of compassion for your fellow inhabitants is utterly depressing. For ages and ages you have killed millions of other humans just because they are different or don’t agree with your particular philosophy. And you continue to squander your small planet’s limited resources while destroying the natural beauty of its flora, fauna, and geography with no regard for future inhabitants. should you ever evolve to become peaceful, intelligent beings before you destroy your world we might welcome you back into our cosmic family. Sincerely, The Aliens. P.S. We never probed your butts.” One male figure is saying, “It’s a government conspiracy!” Another is saying, “Damn ugly foreigners!” Another is saying, “Kill em!” Another is saying, “I wonder is the TV gets sports?” A women character is saying, “World is ending!!” Another male figure is saying, “Did too probe my butt!” Copyright Mark A. Hicks. www.MARKiX.net. 2016

This cartoon seems more relevant than ever, so I thought I'd repost it.

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