The Prevent Cancer Foundation has designed, developed and pilot-tested “Campeonas contra el cáncer de seno” (Champions Against Breast Cancer), a culturally appropriate, peer-to-peer outreach effort to improve breast cancer screening among Latinas. By sharing their own experiences with being screened for breast cancer, “Campeonas” encourage their female friends and family members over the age of 40 to get mammograms. “Campeonas” training and free-standing community educational materials are now available for free on the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s website (in both Spanish and English) for community health organizations. One of these materials is an illustrated novela, “Un Encuentro Oportuno: Conversando Sobre el Cancer de Seno” (A Timely Encounter: Talking About ...
Editor's Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2012 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply by April 1, 2013, for the 2013 Èxito! program. Roger Figueroa
San Antonio, Texas Puerto Rico native Roger Figueroa could be called a modern-day pioneer. With limited resources and limited knowledge of English, he ventured to the U.S. seeking better career opportunities and a better life. He’s already having great success, completing his master’s degree in health and kinesiology at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and he working as a research assistant on several studies, including one testing faith-based methods of preventing obesity and another to reduce barriers to physical activity among Latino children. Through his career networks he ...
New data is available on the number of new cancer cases and cancer deaths, cancer incidence and mortality trends, cancer survival rates, and prevalence of cancer risk factors and screening utilization, according to a recent report by the American Cancer Society (ACS) The report provides a detailed summary of information about cancer in the U.S. Hispanic population for community leaders, public health and health care workers, and others interested in cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment for Hispanics/Latinos. Check out this video of Angelina Esparza, ACS director of health equity, as she explains the findings of the ...
Editor's Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2012 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply by April 1, 2013, for the 2013 Èxito! program. Steven Lopez
San Mateo, Calif. Steven Lopez’s migrant parents beamed with pride as they dropped him off for his first year at Stanford University—in the same region of California which they had picked fruit from years before to make a living. Appreciating the sacrifices and hard work of his parents to give him a better life and opportunities, Lopez dedicated himself to his studies and earned a bachelor’s degree in urban studies from Stanford University. In addition, Lopez obtained a master’s degree in public health and public policy from the University of California, Berkeley. With this level of ...
Editor's Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2012 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply by April 1, 2013, for the 2013 Èxito! program. Rossy Belle Perales
Houston, Texas Rossy Belle Perales pursues opportunities with great confidence and inspiration from the quote, “Shoot for the moon. Even If you miss you will land among the stars.” Identifying herself with the people of Puerto Rico, her native land, and with the Hispanic community of Houston, Ms. Perales has embraced the culture and traditions of both ethnic groups, which have made her the person she is today. Perales earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public health (epidemiology and biostatistics) from the University of South Florida, and she spent time coordinating research ...
Editor's Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2012 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply by April 1, 2013, for the 2013 Èxito! program. Delana Gonzales
San Antonio, Texas Delana Gonzales, born and raised in New Mexico’s Land of Enchantment, did not leave her education to chance. Through the guidance of her mentor and strong Latino family support, she applied herself diligently and advanced as a scholar in the field of psychology at the University of New Mexico (UNM). During her time at UNM, Gonzales assisted on various research projects examining breast and cervical cancer screening behaviors among Latinas on campus. She also investigated breast and cervical cancer screening practices among Latino women along the U.S./Mexico border. Wanting ...
Check out this great infographic on heart health risk factors, which indicates that 75% of Hispanics have at least one risk factor related to heart health and 65% of Hispanics have at least one oral health issue. The infographic is from United HealthCare, Balsera Communications and Alex Izaguirre ...
In 2003, the American Heart Association faced a challenge: cardiovascular disease claimed the lives of nearly 500,000 American women each year, yet women were not paying attention. In fact, many even dismissed it as an “older man's disease.” To dispel these myths of heart disease as the No. 1 killer of women, the American Heart Association, along with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute created National Wear Red Day to raise awareness of this critical issue. Each year, on the first Friday in February, millions of women and men come together to wear red, take action and commit to fighting this deadly disease. Join the Wear Red Day event on Facebook. Or go here to learn more about what to do for Wear Red Day, or learn more about heart disease in English at Go Red ...
Cancer just surpassed heart disease as the No. 1 killer of Latinos. Yet, as the Latino population surges, there aren't enough Latino researchers who are working to uncover new ways to treat cancer or pave way for novel studies of cultural, linguistic and socioeconomic issues to prevent Latinos from suffering worse cancer outcomes. But there is good news. The number of Latino cancer researchers is starting to grow, thanks to Éxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training, a program that encourages master's-level students and professionals to pursue a doctoral degree and careers studying how cancer affects Latinos differently. Éxito! participants attend a five-day summer institute that enhances understanding of cancer and research, encourages networking among peers and leaders in ...
