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In 2024, an estimated 195,300 cancer cases will be diagnosed in U.S. Latinos, according to Cancer Facts & Figures for Hispanic/Latino People 2024-2026.
This makes it important that cancer treatments work for Latinos.
Clinical trials – studies with volunteers that explore ways to find, prevent, and treat diseases, like cancer – are a treatment option that could help people.
With clinical trial participation in mind, Dr. Eneida Nemecek and her team at the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) Knight Cancer Institute created Proyecto Mi Opción, a series of Spanish-language videos that tackle different cancer-related topics.
The Lack of Latino Participation in Clinical Trial Research
Latinos face several challenges when it comes to cancer including access to care, language barriers, and educational disparities, and distrust in the healthcare system.
“Another challenge comes in the form of access to clinical trials, with only about 5 percent participation. These disparities are multifactorial and heavily influenced by systemic inequities and discrimination,” according to the Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI).
While clinical trials are an important treatment option for many Latinos who have a cancer diagnosis, getting Latinos to enroll in clinical research isn’t always easy.
That’s why Nemecek and her OHSU team worked to connect with the Latino community to provide video resources to further encourage clinical research participation.
The Work Behind Proyecto Mi Opción
Nemecek had a goal of developing strategies to increase participation of the Latino community in cancer clinical trials.
They were able to do just that after Nemecek and her team were awarded a grant from the Genentech Foundation HealthEquity Innovation Fund in 2022.
That’s how the idea of the Mi Opción project was born.
As the project rolled forward, Nemecek and her team visited Latino communities across Oregon and moderated conversations and Q&As on cancer and healthcare.
This allowed the team to identify knowledge gaps and barriers and help create culturally relevant education and information.
“Everybody wanted to hear about alternative medicine, everybody wanted to hear of finances, everybody wanted to hear about caregiver and psychosocial health, so we added all of those,” Nemecek said.
Following this, the project team took six months to compile all the information and formulate what they wanted the videos to focus on.
With the help of Latino-owned media company Elemento Latino, the team got to work producing the videos, partnering with Latino community members, medical students, and educators among others to be the voices and faces of the videos.
Videos include:
- Psychosocial Support & Cancer
- Prostate Cancer
- Melanoma & Cancer
- Colon Cancer
- Language Services & Healthcare
- Childhood Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Cervical Cancer
- Environmental Exposure & Health
- Clinical Research and Cancer
- Survivorship Facing Cancer with Hope
- Liver and Pancreatic Cancer
- Bone Marrow Transplants and Cellular Therapies
- Alternative and Complementary Medicine & Cancer
- Lung Cancer
- Financial Resources & Cancer
- Blood Cancers
- Palliative Care & Cancer
They released the videos in early 2024 with the hope they will serve as resources that cancer centers across the nation can use to help other underserved communities.
The Future of Mi Opción
While the task of creating and releasing the videos have been completed, Nemecek and her team don’t wish to stop now.
“As the third initiative, we have recently recruited a dedicated navigator to support Hispanic/Latino patients referred to our center for cancer care,” according to Nemecek.
Nemecek also hopes to continue to share the videos so that they are as easily accessible to all who could benefit from them.
“The project just keeps growing and growing, now I’m branching out I don’t think we planned for this to go as big as it’s gotten, what it tells me is that there was a need,” Nemecek said.
“We all have a role and responsibility to improve access to cancer care and research for all members of our communities beyond socioeconomic and other barriers.”
All 18 videos can be accessed for free through the Mi Opción YouTube channel and are available with both Spanish and English captions.
Clinical Trial Opportunities for Latinos
Culturally relevant, Spanish-language resources are crucial when it comes to encouraging Latinos to participate in clinical research.
But how can Latinos find open clinical trials to participate in?
Look to Salud America’s clinical trial page to find a research opportunity or learn from Latino role models who have participated in a trial.
“Latinos who participate in clinical trials have the potential to help themselves, and contribute to the development of new treatments for people in the future,” said Dr. Amelie Ramirez, director of the Salud America! program at the Institute of Health Promote Research at UT Health San Antonio.
Those looking for opportunities based in San Antonio can search the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio’s Find a Clinical Trial database to learn more about available clinical trials and eligibility requirements.
On a national level, visit clinicaltrials.gov to find a clinical trial near you.
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