“Don’t stand too close to a microwave – you’ll get cancer!” “You use antiperspirants? Don’t you know that causes cancer?” We’ve all heard these claims. But are they true? Thanks to the Cancer FactFinder, an online resource examining myths and misinformation about cancer, you can determine what is fact and what is fiction.
The Cancer FactFinder
Led by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Zhu Family Center for Global Cancer Prevention, and the Center for Cancer Equity & Engagement, the Cancer FactFinder provides accurate and reliable information about what does and does not cause cancer. The resource is available in 9 different languages, including English and Spanish, because health misinformation affects everyone, especially Latinos. Users ...
Susan G. Komen, a national breast cancer research and advocacy organization, has launched its Navigation Nation interactive learning community for patient navigators – those who help guide cancer patients to overcome barriers toward quality healthcare. The program brings individuals through a Patient Navigation Training Program and access to courses, webinars, and other educational events. “The training program gives navigators the tools and resources to overcome barriers for those experiencing breast health inequities and provides a peer network and support system,” according to the Komen website. Learn more about this free program and what it entails, and how you can join.
What is Komen’s Patient Navigation Training Program?
This program was designed ...
As more healthcare systems consider implementing a social determinants of health (SDoH) screening program to care for patients’ non-medical needs, we at Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio are sharing important tips in developing such a program. Today, we’re highlighting how often patients should be screened for social needs. While there is no evidence-based gold standard for how often screening should be conducted, lived experiences from clinics that have successfully implemented a SDoH screening program can help healthcare facilities make critical decisions in designing their own screening program. Let’s explore the lived experiences of several of these clinics today!
Considerations in Determining Screening Frequency
Initially, it may seem most effective to ...
Medicare can be a complex topic for anyone. Getting health insurance coverage through Medicare has many moving parts, from knowing where to start, to searching through plans, to choosing the right plan for you. Let's dive into Medicare and a few helpful tips to consider when choosing your plan.
What is Medicare?
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, regardless of income, medical history, or health status. The program also covers certain younger people with disabilities and people with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD; permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant). “Medicare plays a key role in providing health and financial security to 60 million older people and younger people with ...
UT Health San Antonio, including Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, and seven regional collaborators will leverage $46 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) over the next five to seven years to translate scientific discoveries into therapeutic benefits for human health and well-being. A key focus will be reducing health disparities among Latinos (particularly Mexican Americans), active military personnel, and veterans. Dr. William L. Henrich, president of UT Health San Antonio, recently announced the funding from the NIH Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program. Henrich thanked partners including The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School and College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at San Antonio and the Texas Biomedical Research Institute for ...
A young Rosa Escalante Lopez curiously looked around the therapist’s room as her mother and the therapist chatted in Spanish. “The elementary school thinks she may have a learning disability,” Rosa’s mother said. “She’s struggling in math.” “According to my evaluation, your daughter is developing normally,” the therapist said with a smile. “She can continue to the next grade; she may just need extra tutoring in her math class.” As the two continued to talk, Rosa reflected on her session with the therapist. She was fascinated with the idea of helping people heal a wound that may not be visible, such as a learning disability or a mental health condition. “In my last year of elementary school, I remember thinking, ‘I'm going to be a psychologist and ...
Latinos have the second-highest rate of dying from liver cancer among racial/ethnic groups. Understanding the reasons why this is happening can reveal how to address this suffering and prevent liver cancer among Latinos, which can improve health for the broader population. “Understanding the causes of Latino liver cancer rates in South Texas and across the nation is critical. We must develop interventions and identify high-risk individuals who may be screened and treated with the best available care,” said Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, leader of Salud America! and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio. So, why does liver cancer hurt Latinos in particular?
1. Aflatoxin Exposure
Aflatoxins are a family of toxins produced by certain fungi ...
Researchers at The Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases at UT Health San Antonio are recruiting participants for the VIVA-MIND study to learn whether a new drug therapy for Alzheimer’s disease can help people experiencing mild memory problems. Volunteers ages 50 to 89 with a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or probable mild Alzheimer’s may ask about eligibility for VIVA-MIND, said Dr. Sudha Seshadri, professor of neurology and director of the Glenn Biggs Institute. Half of volunteers will be given the new drug therapy, an oral pill called varoglutamstat. The other half will receive a placebo pill that looks just like the study drug. “The first people who will benefit from a new Alzheimer’s disease treatment are those who are ...
We know many types of cancer deeply and disproportionately affect U.S. Latinos. Liver cancer is a particular problem. In fact, Latinos have the second-highest rate of dying from liver cancer among racial/ethnic groups, according to the CDC. Let’s examine the data and unpack this rising crisis for Latinos.
What is Liver Cancer?
The liver has many important jobs in the body. It plays a role in digestion, supporting healthy blood flow, breaking down needed nutrients, and more. Liver cancer can start at any part of the liver. The most common type of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). “Liver cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the liver. The liver is one of the largest organs in the body. It has ...
