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Alyssa Escalante

Articles by Alyssa Escalante

How to See If Health Information on Social Media Is Credible


Scrolling social media

Whether you’re looking for a recipe, catching up with the latest trends, or staying up with the news, social media plays a large role in people’s daily lives. In fact, people spend an average of 2 hours and 21 minutes a day on social media. While many people rely heavily on social media to get information, facts, and news, the quality of information can also be questionable. With this in mind, the Public Health Communication Collaborative (PHCC) created a guide on Evaluating Credibility on Social Media. Let’s dive deeper into this tool and find out how it can help your community! Check Credibility of Health Information on Social Media with SIFT When considering health information on social media, PHCC encourages people to review the information using the acronym ...

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Number of Cancer Survivors in the U.S. Reaches 18.6 Million


Cancer survivor with family member.

The number of people living with a history of cancer in the United States is estimated at 18.6 million as of Jan. 1, 2025, according to a report on Cancer Treatment and Survivorship Statistics from the American Cancer Society (ACS). This number is projected to exceed 22 million by 2035, according to the report. Let’s dive deeper into this report and what it says about cancer survivorship. Survivorship Stats The ACS report highlights that the 3 most prevalent cancers among males are prostate (3,552,460) melanoma of the skin (816,580), and colorectal (729,550) For women, breast (4,305,570), uterine corpus (945,540), and thyroid (859,890) were the 3 most prevalent. “The number of female breast cancer survivors is projected to reach 5.3 million by January 1, 2035 – an ...

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How Do Dietary and Lifestyle Patterns Impact Cancer Prevention?


Couple cooking meal together.

Dietary and lifestyle patterns can impact your cancer risk, according to a new report from the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) and the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR). The report, Dietary and lifestyle patterns for cancer prevention: evidence and recommendations from CUP Global, lists recommendations for dietary and lifestyle patterns for cancer prevention. The list has considerations for breast and colorectal cancer, the second- and third-most-common cancers worldwide. Recommendations include: For overall cancer prevention, follow a healthy dietary pattern, aim to be physically active, maintain a healthy body weight and avoid smoking. In such a dietary pattern, prioritize fruit, vegetables, and fiber-containing foods. For colorectal cancer prevention, ...

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CDC Project Firstline Micro-Learn: Measles



Infection control training and action is crucial for healthcare workers. With this in mind, check out the Infection Control Micro-Learns from the Project Firstline program of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Micro-learns are a series of guided infection control discussions that can be easily incorporated into team meetings or huddles led by an experienced team member with infection control expertise. Each micro-learn focuses on a single infection control topic and connects these concepts to immediate, practical value. Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases and can lead to severe illness and even death. Let’s explore the Infection Control Micro-Learns on Measles. check out the micro-learn! What Does Measles Look Like? Measles ...

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Drug Overdose and Alcohol Deaths Down Nationally


People at group therapy session indoors, closeup

Deaths due to drug overdose and alcohol misuse were down in the United States in 2023 and 2024, according to a report from Trust for America’s Health (TFAH). The data predict an unprecedented 27% one-year drop in overdose deaths, according to a TFAH press release. “The improvements are encouraging and are likely related to a number of factors including investments in primary prevention, mental health, harm reduction, and overdose prevention programs,” the report states. Let’s dig deeper into the 2025 Pain in the Nation: The Epidemics of Alcohol, Drug, and Suicide Deaths report and how it impacts others. The Decline of Drug and Alcohol Death Rates While there was an increase in drug overdoses from 2020-2022, there was an overall 4% decrease in mortality rates as of ...

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Big Drop in Routine Cancer Screenings, Survey Shows


Cancer Screening

Getting routine screenings and medical appointments can help prevent cancer, or catch it at earlier, more treatable stages. However, only 51% of U.S. adults age 21 and older say they have had a routine medical appointment or routine cancer screening in the last year, according to the 2025 Early Detection Survey from the Prevent Cancer Foundation. This number is a 10%-point drop compared to the 2024 Early Detection Survey. “While the precise reason for the change remains unclear, top reasons survey participants cited for falling behind on their routine cancer screenings center on [incorrect information or confusion],” according to the Prevent Cancer Foundation. Let’s look into the survey and learn more about how this impacts families and communities. Reasons for a Lack ...

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Explore Resources for National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month



April is recognized as National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month. This observance was led by the Prevent Cancer Foundation, along with the support of 84 additional organizations, to raise awareness and reduce the impact of cancer on individuals, families, and communities. “We hope it serves an important reminder to the public that they have the power to take charge of their health with lifestyle changes and routine screenings, because early detection equals better outcomes,” said Jody Hoyos, CEO of the Prevent Cancer Foundation, in a previous press release. Let’s dive into what resources are available and how you can speak up for cancer prevention! Resources for Raising Awareness One aim of Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month is to raise awareness by ...

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The Impact of Nurse Practitioners in Low-Income Heath Settings


nurse practitioner

Primary care practices that employ nurse practitioners (NPs) are more likely to serve low-income communities than practices with no NPs on staff, according to researchers from the Columbia University School of Nursing. Dr. Monica O’Reilly-Jacob, assistant professor and study leader, along with her colleagues looked at 79,743 primary care practices across the United States. Of these practices, 53.4% employed NPs in 2023, a large jump from 21% in 2012. Let’s go beyond the surface of these results and explore how it impacts others. The Importance of Nurse Practitioners (NPs) The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that as of May 2023, 280,140 organizations employed nurse practitioners (NPs) nationally. According to the researchers, practices with NPs were more likely ...

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4 Tasty Resources to Share During National Nutrition Month®



March is recognized as National Nutrition Month.® During this time, folks can prioritize better nutrition and take advantage of many resources that can help improve the health and nutrition of all families. Let’s dive deeper into resources that can be helpful to you and your families in achieving the best nutrition possible. 1. ‘Food Connects Us’ from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics created National Nutrition Month® in 1973. With this year’s theme of “Food Connects Us,” the Academy’s annual campaign encourages people to make informed food choices and develop strong eating and physical activity habits. “Health, memories, traditions, seasons and access can all impact our relationship with food. While these factors ...

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