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Catherine Wilson

Catherine Wilson is a digital content curator for Salud America! and its home base, the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio. She is a graduate of the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland College Park, and hopes to utilize her skills to help people find their voices and inspire change in their communities.

Articles by Catherine Wilson

All of Us Data Sheds Light on Health of Young Cancer Survivors



Cancer is often associated with an aging population, but something is changing in the demographics of cancer survivors — they are younger. There are projected to be 85,980 new cases of cancer in individuals between ages 15 and 39, according to the National Cancer Institute. Decade trends show that this number has been rising an average of 0.3% each year.  Even though most young adults and teens with cancer are expected to survive for five years following their diagnosis, researchers are trying to understand why young survivors often face long-term health impacts, such as nerve pain and memory loss.   For example, a recent study – using All of Us Research Program data – found that four conditions that affect the brain or nerves were more common in young cancer survivors ...

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EPA Draws Line Against PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Drinking Water



The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking another step forward in its campaign against “forever chemicals,” also known as perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS). On April 10, 2024, the EPA announced its final ruling on the first-ever PFAS drinking water standard in the country. The EPA ruled in favor of the legally enforceable standard that limits PFAS, which has been linked to adverse health effects such as impacts to fetal growth and increased cancer risk, in drinking water. The final ruling on the matter comes nearly a year after closing public comment on the issue, which garnered 121,969 comments — 832 of them from Salud America! members who submitted a model comment in support of the regulation. Read all comments. PFAS Drinking Water ...

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The Critical State of Alzheimer’s and Dementia in Latinos



Alzheimer’s disease is a condition that impairs brain function and, over time, can cause memory, cognitive, and behavioral issues and eventually lead to death. The condition greatly impacts the health of the aging — especially Latinos. 14% of the American Latino population older than 65 are living with Alzheimer’s, compared with 10% of the White population. Alzheimer’s is projected to increase in older Latinos by 175% between 2018 and 2040, compared with a 32% increase in the White population, according to a new report, 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures, from the Alzheimer’s Association. Let’s explore the data from the report. Alzheimer’s in America Nearly 7 million older Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease as of 2024. That’s about the same ...

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Study: Only 1 in 5 Diagnosed with Cancer Seeks a Clinical Trial



The last thing a person wants to hear from their doctor is “You have cancer.”  Unfortunately, that’s the reality for the thousands of Americans, including many Latinos, diagnosed with cancer each year. After a diagnosis, people dealing with cancer discuss treatment options with their medical care team, which may include participation in clinical trials.  Clinical trials are studies with volunteers that test ways to find, prevent, and treat cancer and other diseases. They may also help improve the quality of life for volunteers affected by cancer or reduce the side effects of treatment.  Despite the benefits of participating in clinical trials, only about one out of every five (21.9%) people with cancer enroll in clinical research, according to a new study in the ...

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Latinos: Share Your Cancer Journey or Caregiver Experience 



Researchers at Texas Tech University are interested in learning more about you and your family caregiver's experience with cancer. The research team is seeking participation from people who are 18 or older, speak English, identify as Latino or non-Hispanic White, and have been diagnosed with any form of cancer at any stage. Caregivers who want to participate must be 18 years or older, speak English, and identify as Latino or non-Hispanic White.  If you or your loved one meets these qualifications, you may be eligible to take part in this study, which consists of three different surveys.  These surveys will be spaced out and take 30 to 45 minutes to complete, and can be done online, by mail, or over the phone with the help of a research assistant.  The first will be given ...

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New Federal Racial, Ethnic Categories Reflect Latino Diversity



For over 25 years, Americans have been asked to categorize themselves as one of five races standardized by the federal government.   However, the United States is one of the most culturally, racially, and ethnically diverse countries in the world.   For instance, those who identify as Hispanic or Latino or Latinx are comprised of many different nations, cultures, dialects, and races, making it nearly impossible to capture an accurate picture of Latinos in a single check box.  The narrow selection of choices doesn’t reflect this diversity, limiting our understanding of race and ethnicity, especially when it comes to socioeconomic and health data.   To ensure that collected data accurately reflects the people who live in the US, the White House Office of Management and ...

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Data: Unlocking America’s Screen Time Habits



As technology has evolved, so has the way we receive, view, and disseminate information.   With the invention of the smart phone and devices like tablets, access to the outside world can be done with the touch of a button.  But, as convenient as it is to unlock a phone and type something into the search engine or open an app is, we can’t help but wonder what kind of effect staring at a screen for hours on end is having on our health?  The average American between the ages of 16 and 64 spends over seven hours a day online, according to an article by AllConnect.  This amount of time is well over the two-hour recommended screen time for adults.  Screen Time by the Numbers  65.7% of the world population is online. During the third quarter of 2023, people spent an ...

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More Than Meets the Eye: How Surviving Colon Cancer Transformed Marielle Santos McLeod’s Advocacy Work



Marielle Santos McLeod thought she knew a lot about cancer care.  Years as a health professional had given her time to learn about cancer care and gain a closer look at the barriers Latinos face in getting equitable treatment.  That’s why, when the mother of four was diagnosed with colon cancer at age 36, she was shocked by just how little she really knew.  However, it was enduring the disease as a young Latina that guided her toward her life's purpose – serving as a patient advocate to uplift the voice of Latino cancer survivors.  “I love advocacy .... It's like one of the things that I'm convinced that I was put on this earth to do. I just had to get cancer to get to it first,” Santos McLeod said.  Spanish-Language Influence  Santos McLeod doesn’t believe ...

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907 Told EPA to Add PFAS to List of Hazardous Chemicals 


PFAS toxin clean water epa regulation scientists water

From what you wear and sit on to the ingredients found in products you use to clean your home; chemicals are all around us.  For example, a range of “forever chemicals” – known as per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – are found in many industrial and consumer products, such as paints, fire-fighting foam, metal plating, and cleaning agents.  PFAS have been linked to major health problems in humans and animals, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  That’s why the EPA is proposing to add several PFAS chemicals to its hazardous waste management list under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act regulations, in an effort to protect “communities and drinking water supplies” near hazardous waste facilities.  Before any action is ...

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