When Sandi Stanford was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993, everything was vastly different from how we view, treat, measure, and research the disease today.
Much of that has to do with innovations in medicine, science, and technology.
However, there were far more powerful players steering the ship — survivors.
This new breed of survivors weren’t standing on the sidelines; they were educating themselves, inserting themselves in research, and having conversations that would benefit future generations of survivors.
They called themselves cancer patient advocates.
One such advocate, Sandi Stanford of San Antonio, Texas, helped pioneer programs and initiatives that transformed a cancer diagnosis into action.
Unfortunately, Sandi passed away on Aug. 29, 2026, at age 82.
While the ...
Dental hygiene and education are important parts of our daily life. However, nearly 26% of adults and 46% of children have untreated or restored dental caries (better known as cavities), according to the CDC. October is National Dental Hygiene Month, a time to not only honor dental hygienists, but also raise awareness and promote good oral hygiene. Let’s take a look into some resources that can help educate families and communities when it comes to oral health and hygiene.
1. Mouthy Health
Mouthy Health, created through the American Dental Association, provides resources like tips on choosing a dentist, nutrition, nicotine use, and paying for dental care. Mouthy Health also has steps and tools on daily dental routines. The website’s Find-a-Dentist tool allows ...
Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related death in U.S. women and the leading cause of cancer-related death in Latina women. Despite advancements in preventative care and early detection, Latinas and all women continue to be diagnosed at later stages when treatment is more taxing and outcomes aren’t as optimistic. This situation is a result of issues with non-medical drivers of health, such as low access to health insurance, preventive screenings, transportation, healthy food, and more. More resources, better education, and research can help make a difference! It’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and whether you’re a survivor, currently in treatment, health professional, caregiver, family member, or at risk for breast cancer, here are ...
Los latinos enfrentan una carga alta de cáncer. Debido a barreras relacionadas con el idioma, los recursos económicos, el transporte y otros factores, los latinos con frecuencia reciben un diagnóstico de cáncer en etapas avanzadas, cuando las probabilidades de sobrevivir son menores y los costos del tratamiento son más altos. Para abordar el impacto del cáncer en los latinos y brindar esperanza, Salud America! creó la campaña “Nuestras Voces”, una iniciativa que ofrece a los sobrevivientes latinos de cáncer una plataforma para compartir sus historias y experiencias. Como parte de esta campaña, los sobrevivientes de cáncer latinos pueden escribir y enviar sus propias historias para que sean publicadas en nuestro sitio web, en inglés o español. “Cuando ...
A lot of the time a cancer survivor’s story goes: “I felt a lump in my breast, I got it checked out, and it was breast cancer.”
That’s not the story of Deb Blake-Ontiveros.
The single mother visited a doctor after she felt a lump in her breast. But her doctor dismissed it as something else.
Two years passed before Deb was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“If we go back in time ... and I would have been maybe a little bit less distracted with the baby and more like, ‘Hey, I think I would like further screening’ that could have been the change there. But that's the reality, though,” Deb told Salud America!
That reality is that some women with breast cancer, especially young Latinas whose symptoms often go ignored or misdiagnosed, never get to ring the bell.
For Deb, ...
As we celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, Salud America! is having important conversations about how breast cancer trends impact communities and populations in South Texas and beyond. Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in Latinas and top cause of cancer-related death among Latinas. With this in mind, Salud America!’s Salud Talks Podcast collaborated with Dr. Marcela Mazo Canola, breast medical oncologist at the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio, and Dr. Angel Rodriguez, senior medical director of oncology for Natera, to discuss new technologies to care for people who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. This episode is hosted by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San ...
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Latinas. Despite advances in prevention and treatment, Latina breast cancer continues to be detected at advanced stages when the prognosis isn’t optimistic. There are several contributing factors to why Latinas face worse outcomes when it comes to breast cancer. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and to honor all who have been impacted by the disease, we are discussing the top eight things to know about Latina breast cancer.
1. Latina Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Latinas, impacting U.S. Latinas at a rate of 106.6 per 100,000 people, according to the American Cancer Society’s 2026 Cancer Facts & Figures report. This equates to roughly 1 out ...
Flooding accounts for about 11% of all billion-dollar weather and climate disaster events in the U.S., according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. That makes it important to have a plan to deal with severe weather, storms, and flooding. “Prepare for floods by getting flood insurance, gathering your disaster supplies, and staying informed on potential weather alerts,” the Texas General Land Office states. Let’s look at how you can gear up when it comes to severe weather locally and protect your familia, neighbors, and communities.
1. Know Your Risk & Staying Informed amid Potential Flooding
During times of severe weather and potential flooding, it is important to stay informed and know what is happening in your area. Staying up to date with ...
Latinos face a heavy cancer burden. Driven by issues with language, finances, transportation, and more, Latinos are often diagnosed with cancer when survival chances are lower and costs higher. To address Latino cancer and inspire hope, Salud America! created the “Nuestras Voces” campaign to give Latino cancer survivors a platform to share their stories. As part of the campaign, Latino cancer survivors can write and submit their own stories to publish on our website in English or Spanish. “When Latino cancer survivors tell their stories, they can help future cancer survivors who go through what they went through,” said Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, leader of Salud America! and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio. “Sharing can ...
