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 the health of the US population (19.5% Latino). 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.
Cancer Incidence
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. Here are some key facts from the American Cancer Society report: Among ...
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, ...
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. Unfairness 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 ...
This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings."
Residence in a Latino Enclave and Clinical Outcomes in Texas Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Dr. Jeremy Schraw is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Schraw began by pointing out the higher incidence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) among Latino children, and the poorer overall survival (OS) following diagnosis. Non-medical drivers of health (NMDoH) likely contribute to these inconsistencies. In fact, children living in Latino enclaves, defined as neighborhoods with a high proportion of Latino residents, recent immigrants, and linguistically isolated households, have poorer OS after ...
This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings."
Latino Cancer Survivors’ Quality of Life and Survivorship Care
Dr. Kristi D. Graves is a tenured Professor of Oncology, Cancer Prevention and Control Program leader at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Associate Dean for Faculty Development at Georgetown University Medical Center. Latino cancer survivorship Dr. Graves’s presentation began by discussing cancer survivorship across the cancer continuum. The National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Office of Cancer Survivorship states that “an individual is considered a cancer survivor from the time of diagnosis through the balance of life. There are many types of survivors, including those living with cancer and those ...
This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings."
Adapting NCI’s Clinical Trials System to a Changed Clinical Research Environment
Dr. James H. Doroshow is Deputy Director for Clinical and Translational Research at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). This plenary session occurred at 8:30 am., Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, at the 4th biennial Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos conference. COVID’s impact on cancer clinical trials Dr. Doroshow’s presentation began by discussing the initial and continuing effects of the pandemic environment on cancer clinical trials. From the start of the pandemic, several aspects of clinical trials were altered, including informed consent and in-person study activities. One major ...
This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings."
The NCI Community Oncology Research Program: Opportunities to Increase Latino Participation in Clinical Trials
Dr. Brenda Adjei is Associate Director of the HDRP at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Center for Cancer Research. The NCI Community Oncology Research Program Dr. Adjei’s presentation began with a discussion of Latino participation in cancer clinical trials. Variety in clinical trials is critically important because it generates biomedical knowledge relevant to all, builds trust and trustworthiness, and contributes to reductions in health gaps and fair research participation. Current limits in clinical research is due to multilevel hurdles and requires tailored, ...
This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings."
Conclusion
To eliminate gaps in cancer care in Latino populations, Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos brought together researchers, scientists, physicians, healthcare professionals, patient navigators, and students from across the US and Latin America. These presenters shared research advancements, identified gaps, developed actionable goals, updated clinical best practices, described effective community interventions, and detailed professional training programs aimed at addressing inequity. In the process, most of the speakers made recommendations, either specific to their field of study or more broadly. The following are some key recommendations abstracted from their conference ...
This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings."
Healthcare Gaps in the Latino Community
The Latino population both within and outside the US has significant heterogeneity. [Velazquez-Villarreal] After all, Latin America has been a melting pot of mixed populations for 500 years, with over 20 heritage groups recognized by the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. These groups are distinct, with unique backgrounds, language, and US influence, but are also connected by more similarities than differences. [Perez-Stable] Latino individuals are the largest and youngest overlooked community in the US and are projected to account for more than half of the overall growth through 2060. Compared to non-Hispanic White individuals, ...
