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 advanced 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 advanced cancer (stages 3b-4).   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 ...

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Explore Resources for National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month



The White House recently issued a presidential proclamation declaring April as National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month. “During National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month, we honor the enormous courage and strength of the millions of Americans facing the disease today and of the many millions of survivors, whose resilience inspires us all,” said President Joe Biden. 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 ...

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#SaludTues Tweetchat 5/14/24─Why Is Brain Health So Important?



Brain health is important – but we often overlook it. The World Health Organization defines brain health as the “state of brain functioning across cognitive, sensory, social-emotional, behavioural and motor domains, allowing a person to realize their full potential over the life course.” While we can take action to maintain our brain health and mental health, conditions such as brain tumors and dementia can affect the brain and disrupt our lives. As part of Brain Cancer Awareness Month in May, let’s use #SaludTues on May 14, 2024, to explore how to maintain brain health and find out what we should know about brain tumors, dementia, and mental health, especially among the Latino population. WHERE: Twitter WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat “Why Is Brain Health So ...

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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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Updated Federal Guidance on Traffic Crash Reporting – A Missed Opportunity to Improve Safety


Updated Federal Guidance on Traffic Crash Reporting – A Missed Opportunity to Improve Safety MMUCC

In December 2023, the National Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released the sixth edition of the Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria (MMUCC). The MMUCC is a voluntary guideline of standardized data for state and local agencies to collect on motor vehicle crashes. This can help compare crash trends across and between states and guide the design and assessment safety countermeasures and their effectiveness. Earlier in 2023, NHTSA had sought public comment on their revisions to the fifth edition of the MMUCC. Roughly 500 comments were submitted, most by Salud America! members. Unfortunately, it is unclear how NHTSA considered the solicited comments. Because the MMUCC is a voluntary guideline rather than a rule, NHTSA is not required to publish a summary of comments ...

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Webinar: How to Equitably Respond to Local Cancer Needs



Do you how cancer impacts your local population? How can you help? Find new strategies to address the local cancer burden at UT Health San Antonio’s webinar, “How to Identify and Equitably Respond to Local Cancer Needs,” recorded live at 10 a.m. Central on Thursday, April 25, 2024. This webinar featured experts from the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio, Moffitt Cancer Center in Florida, Genentech, as well as a patient advocate, who together explored local cancer issues. Panelists shared how to strategically listen, engage, and respond to local cancer needs to guide cancer research, care, and outreach tailored to address the needs of local communities. This is a part of a webinar series, “Let’s Address Health Equity Together.” The series is a ...

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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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Report: Number of Hispanic-Serving Institutions Increases



There are a now 600 U.S. colleges and universities designated as Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), a 5% increase over last year’s 572 recognized institutions. HSIs are accredited, degree-granting public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education with 25% or more total undergraduate Hispanic full-time equivalent (FTE) student enrollment. “The rate that Hispanic-Serving Institutions continue to grow emphasizes their importance to the communities they serve,” said Antonio R. Flores, leader of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), in a press release. Let’s observe the numbers and how this impacts Latino students. HSIs By the Number HSIs enroll 5.2 million students and two-thirds of all Latino undergraduates, according to HACU. As ...

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