Alma Lopez: Better Health Through a Breast Cancer Clinical Trial


Alma Lopez-breast-cancer-clinical-trial

Breast cancer is the top cause of death for Latinas. But Alma Lopez has been a breast cancer survivor for more than 15 years. She believes participating in a clinical trial at UT Health San Antonio helped her get better treatment and better long-term health in her survivorship journey. “Clinical trials are great for finding new treatments that help people,” Lopez said. “And it helps the scientists. It gives opportunity to better medication for all populations. It builds a better future.” Lopez Chooses a Breast Cancer Clinical Trial About 15 years ago, Lopez was diagnosed with breast cancer. Lopez began weighing her treatment options. At first, she had doubts about whether to volunteer for a clinical trial. She thought it might take too much time, or cause ...

Read More

Alma López: Mejor Salud a Través de un Estudio Clínico de Cáncer de Seno


Alma Lopez-breast-cancer-clinical-trial

El cáncer de Seno es la causa principal de muerte en las latinas. Pero Alma López ha sido una sobreviviente de cáncer de seno por más de 15 años. Ella cree que su participación en un estudio clínico de UT Health San Antonio la ayudó a tener un mejor tratamiento y a largo plazo una mejor salud en su camino de supervivencia. "Los estudios clínicos pueden encontrar tratamientos nuevos que ayudan a las personas", dijo López. "Y ayudan a los científicos. Ofrecen la oportunidad de tratamientos mejores para todas las poblaciones. Construyen un futuro mejor". López Decidió Participar en un Estudio Clínico de Cáncer de Seno Aproximadamente hace 15 años, López fue diagnosticada con cáncer de seno. López comenzó a considerar sus opciones de tratamiento. Al ...

Read More

Survey: Childcare, Logistics Hold Back Latinas from Breast Cancer Clinical Trials


Cancer Screening Latino clinical trials

Simple logistics—availability, childcare, and time—stop some Latinas and other women of color from volunteering for breast cancer clinical trials, according to a new survey. The survey, led by For The Breast of Us, an online breast cancer survivor community, and Sommer Consulting, found that the anticipated time demands of a clinical trial may appear "too intimidating." Most women of color struggle with multiple demands in their lives. The perceived or real logistics of participating in a clinical trial could make it harder. One respondent said: “You still have to worry about how am I going to run my household, especially as a woman of color, who typically a lot of times are single-family or single-parent households." "The results of this survey demonstrate how ...

Read More

Been in a Clinical Trial? We Want to Share Your Story!


Clinical trial - share your story

Are you Latino? Have you participated in a clinical trial related to cancer, Alzheimer’s, or another condition? If so, we want to talk with you and share your story! Salud America! is looking to interview and write stories about heroes like you — Latinos who have participated in a clinical trial — to showcase the benefits of volunteering to inspire other Latinos to volunteer, too. Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez’s Salud America! program at UT Health San Antonio is sharing the stories of clinical trial heroes with the support of Genentech, a member of the Roche Group. “Clinical trials are studies that help researchers learn more and more to help slow, manage, and treat Alzheimer's and cancer,” Ramirez said. “Clinical trials help us fight for our familia.” To share ...

Read More

The 1st Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center in South Texas Will Tackle Dementia in Latinos



Today, the National Institute on Aging (NIA) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) designated UT Health San Antonio and UT Texas Rio Grande Valley as an Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center to boost research and reduce the Alzheimer's burden among Latinos, who suffer disparities in dementia. The new center is the first in South Texas. It joins 32 other centers nationwide that are accelerating research on effective Alzheimer’s and dementia prevention, diagnostics, and treatments, and improving support for families and caregivers. Salud America! is a center partner to promote its research and clinical trials. "This federal designation by NIA will be transformational as we seek cures and provide the best possible care, based on the most up-to-date knowledge and technology, ...

Read More

#SaludTues Tweetchat 10/5: Importance of Latino Participation in Clinical Trials in Alzheimer’s Disease


hispanic abuela grandmother with dementia alzheimers clinical trials

Sadly, Latinos are 1.5 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than whites. Across the board, Latinos are underrepresented in clinical research. Without Latino representation in Alzheimer's clinical trials, researchers cannot find treatments that work best for this population. Researchers also must understand and address the differential role of Alzheimer's among Latinos, and the impact of alcohol, sleep deprivation, diabetes, and more. Let’s use #SaludTues on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021, to tweet about the latest research and beneficial strategies and clinical trials to reduce Alzheimer's disease and promote better brain health among Latinos and all people! WHAT: #SaludTues: Importance of Latino Participation in Clinical Trials in Alzheimer’s Disease TIME/DATE: ...

Read More

Combat COVID: Promoting Clinical Trials to Help Fight COVID-19


combat covid clinical trial masks for covid-19

Combat COVID is a federal education initiative to share bilingual information and tips about vaccines, potential treatments, and clinical trials for COVID-19. A clinical trial is a research study to find a new treatment or achieve a better understand a disease. In the case of COVID-19, which has overly burdened Latinos and Blacks, clinical trials need more participants of color to ensure that COVID-19 treatments are effective for everyone. "Clinical trials are at the heart of many medical discoveries," according to the team at Combat COVID, run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "[Trials] are the key to protecting our communities now and in the future." Let's take a look at the work Combat COVID is doing. Promoting Clinical Trails for COVID-19 Combat COVID ...

Read More

Webinar 9/23/21: Metastatic Breast Cancer in the Latino Community


Breast Cancer Latino Community

Breast cancer is the leading cause of death in Latinas. Systemic health inequities contribute to lower rates of breast cancer screening among Latinos, which leads to cancer diagnoses at later disease stages. This is why we're sharing Susan G. Komen’s 2021 ongoing webinar series on metastatic breast cancer (MBC)! The next two webinars, "MBC in the Hispanic/Latino Community," are set for 6 p.m. CT Sept. 23, 2021, in English and 6 p.m. CT Sept. 30, 2021, in Spanish. Panelists are: Dr. Filipa Lynce, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Director, Inflammatory Breast Center, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Jose Pablo Leone, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Director, Program for Breast Cancer in Men, Harvard Medical School Panelists will foster a safe, collaborative space to discuss ...

Read More

Elsada Wilson: Amid Breast Cancer, Finding Hope Through a Clinical Trial


Elsada Wilson Breast Cancer Clinical Trial

Cancer is a tough, scary, life-threatening journey, especially for women of color. That is why researchers conduct clinical trials, which are studies to find more effective treatments or achieve a better understand breast cancer and survival among minorities. But, to make progress, clinical trials need diverse volunteers – like Elsada Wilson. Wilson joined a clinical trial at Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio and found hope for herself, her family, and the future. “I felt like I was helping further studies and knowledge,” she said. "If it helps me then I'll be able to help my family and help other people that need help. I wanted to help others. I said to myself, ‘It might be that small thing that might help another person.’ Right?” Wilson’s Breast ...

Read More