3 Important Studies on How Cancer Affects Latinos and All People


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Cancer continues to be a top cause of death for those living in the US, including Latinos, who suffer disproportionate rates of certain cancer types, are diagnosed at later stages, and are more likely to die from the disease.   This is because many Latinos and other people of color are face living disparities that impact their access to healthcare, education, quality affordable housing, and more.  These factors can establish what kind of healthcare and treatments someone can get.  That’s why researchers choose to keep studying the intersection between race/ethnicity and healthcare so that science and medicine can improve cancer outcomes for these individuals and everyone.   Here are three cancer studies that focus on racial/ethnic disparities and cancer.   1. ...

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Researchers Work to Improve Treatment for Uveal Melanoma


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Researchers at the Mayo Clinic are working to better understand and find treatment for uveal melanoma, also called melanoma of the eye. Uveal melanoma is a type of cancer that involves one of the three parts of the eye that comprise the uvea: the iris, the ciliary body, and the choroid. The researchers have developed organoid models, or 3D models grown from patient tissue, which accurately reflects a patient’s unique genetic and biological characteristics. “When derived from a patient’s cancer tumor, an organoid will behave and respond to treatments outside the body in a lab (in vitro) just like the original tumor would inside the body (in vivo),” according to a Eureka Alert news release. Let’s look further into this research and how it can impact Latinos and all ...

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Webinar: The Thing that Could Save Your Life


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Cancer screening can save lives by detecting cancer early, when it’s most treatable or before it starts. Find out what you should know about cancer screening at UT Health San Antonio’s webinar, “The Thing that Could Save Your Life,” at 1 p.m. Central on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. The webinar will feature experts from the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio, Genentech, and a Latina cancer survivor, who will explore available cancer screenings and how to access them in South Texas and beyond. Panelists will examine common myths and barriers to routine cancer screening, including the non-medical drivers of health, and strategies to overcome those myths and barriers. Panelists will also share other cancer prevention strategies from risk reduction and participating in ...

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How Does Alcohol Contribute to Cancer Risk?


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Alcohol use is the third-leading preventable cause of cancer in the US, behind only tobacco and obesity, contributing to nearly 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths each year. Consuming alcohol increases the risk of developing at least 7 types of cancer including: Mouth (oral cavity) Esophagus Breast (for women) Liver Throat (Pharynx) Voice Box (Larynx) Colon and Rectum Let’s dig deeper into this issue and what actions can be taken to decrease the risk! Warning Labels on Alcoholic Beverages With the many health risks that come with alcohol consumption, the U.S. Surgeon General has called for updating alcoholic beverage labels to include a warning about the risk of cancer associated with alcohol consumption. “Pursue changes to label ...

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Report: Cancer Is Second-Leading Cause of Death for Latinos in US


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From 2009 and 2019, cancer was the top cause of death in the US for Latinos. Now, while new data show that cancer has become the second-leading cause of death in Latinos, only slightly behind heart disease, cancer remains a big threat to Latino health. Every year, heart disease and cancer cause 17% of Latino deaths in the US, according to the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Facts & Figures for Hispanic/Latino People 2024-2026 report. Let’s dive into the key highlights of the report and go over some of the reasons why Latinos are disproportionately affected by cancer. Cancer Incidence Among Latinos The American Cancer Society estimates 195,300 cancer cases would be diagnosed in Latinos in 2024 with another 50,400 Latino individuals dying from the disease. Among the ...

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Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings


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Cancer is a big health issue for Latinos and all people. That’s why Dr. Amelie Ramirez, director of Salud America! and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, partnered with the Mays Cancer Center to create the Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos (ASCL) biennial conference. Read the proceedings from the 2018, 2020, and 2022 ASCL Conferences. The 2024 ASCL Conference on Feb. 21-23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas, welcomed over 280 prominent researchers, physicians, healthcare professionals, patient advocates, and students from across the globe to address cancer health disparities among Latinos. Conference sponsors included: platinum supporters Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Genentech, and Gilead; silver supporters GMaP Region 3, ...

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Big Recommendations for Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos


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With cancer still rising in the US Latino population, UT Health San Antonio leaders and national cancer experts have published an online book with innovative recommendations to reduce Latino cancer. The book, "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings," highlights results of the same-named conference that brought 300 researchers, advocates, and survivors to San Antonio in February 2024. A follow-up conference is planned for Feb. 18-20, 2026, in San Antonio. Included in the book are promising research findings on Latino cancer and strategies for new research covering the entire cancer continuum, from advances in risk assessment, prevention, screening, detection, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and policy. “Our book, Advancing the Science of ...

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The Importance of Latino Representation for Advancing Population Health


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This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings." Demographics and Public Policy: Implications for Latino Cancer Dr. Elena V. Rios is President & CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA) and president of NHMA’s National Hispanic Health Foundation. Inequity in the healthcare system Dr. Rios’s presentation began by focusing on the changing demographics in the US. By 2035, Latino individuals will make up 1 out of every 4 Americans, meaning that the future of the country is intertwined in the Latino experience. The current 63 million Latino individuals in the US make up 19% of the population; however, only 9% of oncologists are Latino, and only 1/3 of those are women. This is important in light of the high ...

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ASCL 2024: A Fire-side Chat with Cancer Center Directors


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This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings." Cancer Center Priorities for Addressing Latino Cancer Health Disparities: A Fire-side Chat with Cancer Center Directors This special session occurred at 9:00 a.m., Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, at the 4th biennial Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos conference. Dr. Yolanda Sanchez is the Maurice and Marguerite Liberman Distinguished Chair in Cancer Research, Professor in the University of New Mexico (UNM) Department of Internal Medicine Division of Molecular Medicine, and UNM Cancer Center Director and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Sanchez discussed the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center (UNMCCC) and its mission to reduce the cancer burden and overcome the ...

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