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Catherine Stewart

Catherine Stewart 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 Stewart

10 Positive Changes that Can Minimize Your Risk for Cognitive Decline


Retirement, thinking and old woman in house, sad and depression in living room, mental health and sofa. Contemplating, unhappy and mature person with anxiety, sickness and thoughts of senior care

One in 10 US adults older than 65 will experience dementia, and another 22% will have some form of mild cognitive impairment, according to Columbia University researchers.  The good news is that you can reduce your risk of Alzheimer's Disease and dementia.   Here are 10 positive changes that you can make to lower your risk for cognitive decline and improve your overall health, according to the Alzheimer's Association.   1. Protect Yourself from Brain Injuries  Traumatic brain injuries have been linked to an increased risk for developing dementia.   According to a published study examining the relationship between injury and cognitive decline, traumatic brain injuries can increase dementia risk between 2-and 4-fold.   One of the best ways of preventing traumatic ...

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Comparta su historia de cáncer de vejiga, melanoma, ovario, tiroides y linfoma con Avanzando Caminos


Avanzando Caminos

Durante los últimos años, Los Hispanos/Latinos que viven en el Sur de Texas han compartido sus historias de cáncer con el equipo del estudio de cohorte de supervivencia al Cáncer Hispano/Latino Avanzando Caminos Hispanic en UT Health San Antonio.   Pero hasta ahora esas historias se limitaban a sobrevivientes de cáncer de próstata, colorrectal, pulmón, estómago, hígado, endometrio, mama, cuello uterino y riñón.    Ahora es el momento de que los sobrevivientes de cáncer de vejiga, melanoma, ovario, tiroides y linfoma también compartan sus experiencias.  El estudio Avanzando Caminos ahora está inscribiendo a participantes que hayan completado sus tratamientos primarios contra el cáncer para uno de los tipos de cáncer designados en los últimos 10 ...

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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 challenges Latinos face in getting 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 health leader 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.  Update 03/16/2026: After the initial publication of her story ...

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9 Bilingual Resources for Colorectal Cancer Patients and Survivors


Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

As the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the US, colorectal cancer is affecting more Americans now than ever before.  While scientists are working to find out why these rates are increasing, the numbers continue to grow, especially in people younger than 50.   Here are 9 bilingual resources for colorectal cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and their families.  1. Colorectal Cancer Support Services Cancer is a very costly disease in more ways than one.  Not only does it create a physical and emotional burden, but also a financial one.   Several organizations are working to ease the financial burden of colorectal cancer treatment, including the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.   Colorectal Cancer Alliance connects patients and caregivers to financial ...

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Parents with Cancer: Seek Kid on Kid Support for Your Child


Daughter visiting mother in hospital after successful surgery, hugging her. Emotional support from family for patients in hospital.

It’s often said that a cancer diagnosis doesn’t just affect the person that has cancer, it affects the entire family.   That’s especially true in today’s landscape when cancer is starting to affect younger people in their 30s, 40s, and early 50s.   The people being diagnosed with cancer today often have young children.  In a lifetime, one in 20 kids will experience a parent’s cancer diagnosis before they graduate high school, according to the Pickles Group.   These young children often struggle to comprehend cancer and how it might change a family dynamic.   Not only do lifestyles change, so do increasing thoughts of mortality and the fear of losing a parent to the disease.   The experience of having a parent with cancer can be extremely difficult ...

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8 Things You Should Know About Colorectal Cancer


Doctor holding Blue ribbon with human Colon anatomy model. March Colorectal Cancer Awareness month, Colonic disease, Large Intestine, Ulcerative colitis, Digestive system and Health concept

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.  There are roughly 147,000 new colorectal cancer cases in the US each year as of 2022, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).   What’s more, colorectal cancer was linked to 53,779 deaths in the US in 2023.  These statistics make colorectal cancer the fourth-most common type of cancer and the fourth-largest cause of cancer-related deaths across all age groups, according to the CDC.  Many of these cases and deaths are in individuals from overlooked populations, including Latinos, which were brought on by non-medical drivers of health, such as lack of access to quality cancer care and limitedaccess to screening.  In honor of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, we are diving into the 8 ...

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Colorectal Cancer Is Top Cancer-Related Killer of People Younger than 50


Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

For the last several years, instances of colorectal cancer have been on the rise in the US, especially in younger populations.  As cases rise, so too does the number of deaths caused by colorectal cancer.  American Cancer Society (ACS) researchers recently found that colorectal cancer moralities have risen by at least 1.1% in people younger than 50 every year since 2005.  What’s more, a sharp decrease in other cancer mortalities has placed colorectal cancer as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among people young than 50 in the US, according to an ACS study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).   Let’s go over the study findings and learn why colorectal cancer moralities have increased.   Study Findings on Colorectal Cancer  For the ...

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Seniors: Get Your Pneumococcal Vaccine Today!


Happy senior woman, nurse or plaster for injection, vaccine or protection from virus germs. Elderly patient, smile or caregiver with bandage for inoculation, wellness or healthcare in retirement home

Did you know that as you get older your immune system weakens?  This can increase your risk of illness resulting in hospitalization and diseases like cancer.  That’s why it’s important to stay up to date on your vaccinations once you hit a certain age.  For instance, at age of 50 it’s recommended you get a pneumococcal vaccine to protect you against serious infections leading to worse health outcomes and even death.   To spread the word about the importance of getting the pneumococcal vaccine, Salud America! is partnering with CVEEP.  CVEEP is a leading vaccine education platform that seeks to improve vaccine accessibility and spread vaccine awareness with helpful resources, including a vaccination site locator tool.   Let’s go over the vaccine and how it ...

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Early Career Investigators: Learn to Effectively Communicate Aging-Related Issues


ESCAAR Program

When it comes to making an impact in research, communication is key!  But not everyone has the right tools to effectively communicate research into solutions that can drive health outcomes for adults living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias.   The University of Maryland School of Graduate Studies wants to close the knowledge gaps in research communication by offering a program to doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars with backgrounds in aging and aging-related research.  The Entrepreneurship and Science Communication for Aging and Aging-Related Research (ESCAAR) program aims to improve aging-focused research communication with a cohort of trainees for a 10-month program.   Let’s discuss how the ESCAAR program, supported by the National Institute on Aging ...

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