This content is from UT Health San Antonio’s book, “Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations: 2026 Conference Proceedings,” which highlights results of the same-named conference in February 2026.
Clinical Research as a Lifeline: Navigating Relapse and Remission Through Evidence-Based Care
Arnoldo Rodriguez is a cancer survivor and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy recipient. A cancer story Mr. Rodriguez’s presentation relayed lessons he learned as a cancer survivor. In 2010, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Both his primary care doctor and oncologist were unempathetic and terse, leaving him feeling alone in his cancer journey. After conducting his own research, he chose to seek treatment at MD Anderson in Houston because of its ...
This content is from UT Health San Antonio’s book, “Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations: 2026 Conference Proceedings,” which highlights results of the same-named conference in February 2026.
Effects of the Affordable Care Act on Cancer Care and Outcomes
Dr. Xuesong Han is Scientific Director of Health Services Research at the American Cancer Society. History of the Affordable Care Act Dr. Han’s research focuses on how health policies like the Affordable Care Act (ACA) affect access to care and cancer outcomes. The ACA was signed into law in March of 2010 and is the largest healthcare system change in the US since the establishment of the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Its goals are to improve health insurance coverage, quality of care, and ...
This content is from UT Health San Antonio’s book, “Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations: 2026 Conference Proceedings,” which highlights results of the same-named conference in February 2026.
Therapeutic Yoga Improves Quality of Life and Reduces Perceived Stress in Women with Breast Cancer: 6-Month Intervention in South Texas Communities
Dr. Gustavo J. Almeida at UT Health San Antonio Yoga for breast cancer survivors Dr. Almeida began the presentation by highlighting the persistent physical, emotional, and psychosocial challenges faced by breast cancer patients. In South Texas, access to supportive, holistic survivorship services is limited, and many women lack resources to manage long-term symptoms and stress. Quality-of-life impairments can ...
This content is from UT Health San Antonio’s book, “Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations: 2026 Conference Proceedings,” which highlights results of the same-named conference in February 2026.
Bridging International and National Latino Research to Serve its Populations
Dr. Mariana Chávez Mac Gregor is Chair ad interim and Professor in the Health Services Research Department and in the Breast Medical Oncology Department at University of Texas MD Anderson, as well as Executive Officer for International Affairs at the SWOG Research Network. Latin American and US Latino populations Dr. Chávez Mac Gregor began the presentation by describing the need to bridge cancer research in the United States and Latin America. According to Global Cancer Statistics, ...
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Such and such causes cancer,” more than a handful of times in your life. Some of these claims are true. Others are myths. False claims of using products or engaging in alleged cancer-causing behaviors can be detrimental for your health and contribute to the spread of incorrect information. But how do you know if a claim is true? Public health leaders created a helpful database, called Cancer FactFinder, that can help you determine if something is truly linked to cancer or if it’s simply a myth. Let’s go over the tool, how to use it, and its many applications.
Cancer FactFinder
Cancer FactFinder is a free, evidence-based database to address the spread of incorrect information about ...
Cervical cancer continues to harm women across the globe, including Latinas, who are twice as likely to be diagnosed than other women. The good news is that cervical cancer is highly preventable. Along with routine screenings, the HPV vaccine can prevent or minimize the risk of getting the virus that causes cervical cancer. In fact, a new study out of the UK has discovered that since the introduction of a national program to promote the HPV vaccine, cervical cancer deaths have dropped dramatically. This study highlights the effectiveness of the vaccine when given at the appropriate age. Let’s dig into the study findings and what they mean for the future of cervical cancer.
Study Findings
In Cervical cancer mortality trends ...
Blood cancer, which includes lymphoma, leukemia, and multiple myeloma, is on the rise in the U.S., impacting 1.7 million Americans and accounting for 10% of all new cancer diagnoses in the U.S., according to Blood Cancer United. With the rise of diagnoses, researchers are scrambling to find ways to tackle blood cancer, but they need help from volunteers for clinical trials. Clinical trials are studies with volunteers that enable advances that can prevent, slow, manage, and treat diseases like blood cancer. But not everyone has access to clinical trials. Language hurdles, complex medical jargon, unpredictable costs associated with participation, and lack of access to reliable transportation all keep clinical trials out of reach from those who would ...
The blare of firetruck sirens, the glow of buildings ablaze, and the thick smell of smoke are all too familiar for Neil Meade. As a seasoned firefighter in San Antonio, he’s faced many dangers and helped others through life-threatening situations. But nothing could prepare him for a cancer diagnosis. Meade, a devoted family man and veteran of countless emergency calls, suddenly found himself battling a personal, silent, unpredictable opponent — thyroid cancer.
A Passion for Serving People
Meade, a native of Chicago, moved to San Antonio with his parents, returned to Chicago, but eventually returned to San Antonio and lives here now. He started his service career in the Air Force. “I spent eight years on active duty in the Air Force, and when I got out ... I tested ...
Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, a cancer researcher at the Institute for Health Promotion Research and the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio, is receiving a 2-year, $400,000 leadership grant to study cancer survivorship from Susan G. Komen, the world’s leading breast cancer organization. Ramirez aims to enhance recovery for cancer survivors. In a group of Latina breast cancer survivors in South Texas, Ramirez will compare two rehabilitation approaches — standard physical therapy and therapeutic yoga — to see how they impact health-related quality of life, fatigue, and physical function over 16 weeks. Therapeutic yoga involves controlled movement, breath regulation, and meditative practices. "By focusing on the whole person and listening to survivor experiences, we hope ...
