In 2024, 15 Latina cancer survivors from across the US and beyond met for the first-ever Latino Cancer Patient Advocate Training Program to become cancer patient leaders.
Since then, the survivors-turned-patient leaders, like Marielle Santos McLeod and Andrea Suarez Vargas have been sharing their stories to help cancer patients, elevate their voices among decision-makers, and create new research opportunities for Latinos and all people.
However, there is still more work to do.
On the heels of the first training, program creators Dr. Barbara Segarra-Vázquez of the University of Puerto Rico and Sandi Stanford of the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation turned around to do it again.
This time the pair welcomed 16 new Latino cancer survivors to participate in the second cohort of Latino Cancer ...
Cancer persists in the US, especially in overlooked communities. Many of these groups suffer disproportionate cancer rates and worse outcomes, due to long-standing issues that formed differences in education, economic status, access to screening and care, and more. That’s why April is dedicated to bringing awareness and solutions to the challenges these communities face in areas such as cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Here are seven ways to celebrate National Minority Cancer Awareness Month.
1. Learn About Differences in Cancer Outcomes
Did you know that where you live can dictate your health and what kind of health care you receive? Where you live can increase your risk of adverse health effects, such as hypertension and diabetes, that make you ...
Durante los últimos años, Los Hispanos/Latinos que viven en el Sur de Texas han compartido sus historias de cáncer con el equipo del estudio de cohorte de supervivencia al Cáncer Hispano/Latino Avanzando Caminos Hispanic en UT Health San Antonio. Pero hasta ahora esas historias se limitaban a sobrevivientes de cáncer de próstata, colorrectal, pulmón, estómago, hígado, endometrio, mama, cuello uterino y riñón. Ahora es el momento de que los sobrevivientes de cáncer de vejiga, melanoma, ovario, tiroides y linfoma también compartan sus experiencias. El estudio Avanzando Caminos ahora está inscribiendo a participantes que hayan completado sus tratamientos primarios contra el cáncer para uno de los tipos de cáncer designados en los últimos 10 ...
As the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the US, colorectal cancer is affecting more Americans now than ever before. While scientists are working to find out why these rates are increasing, the numbers continue to grow, especially in people younger than 50. Here are 9 bilingual resources for colorectal cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and their families.
1. Colorectal Cancer Support Services
Cancer is a very costly disease in more ways than one. Not only does it create a physical and emotional burden, but also a financial one. Several organizations are working to ease the financial burden of colorectal cancer treatment, including the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. Colorectal Cancer Alliance connects patients and caregivers to financial ...
March is recognized as Colon Cancer Awareness Month. In Bexar County, more than half (57%) of colorectal cancers are diagnosed at a late stage, higher than many other Texas counties. Additionally, we see colorectal cancer mortality rates also surpassing Texas averages, along with significant issues in late-stage diagnosis among Latino populations. With this in mind, Salud America! and Precinct 1 Bexar County Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores joined forces to spread awareness when it comes to colon cancer and inform the South Texas community about importance of early detection and prevention. The episode is hosted by Rebecca Jones, PhD, an assistant Professor at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio. Dr. Jones is a researcher who focuses on colon ...
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. There are roughly 147,000 new colorectal cancer cases in the US each year as of 2022, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). What’s more, colorectal cancer was linked to 53,779 deaths in the US in 2023. These statistics make colorectal cancer the fourth-most common type of cancer and the fourth-largest cause of cancer-related deaths across all age groups, according to the CDC. Many of these cases and deaths are in individuals from overlooked populations, including Latinos, which were brought on by non-medical drivers of health, such as lack of access to quality cancer care and limitedaccess to screening. In honor of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, we are diving into the 8 ...
About 80,450 new cases of kidney cancer will be diagnosed in U.S. men and women in 2026, according to the American Cancer Society. The month of March is recognized as Kidney Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness, educate, and promote helpful tools to help people learn more about kidney cancer. With this in mind, let’s look at four free, easy-to-use resources to use and share during Kidney Cancer Awareness Month.
What is Kidney Cancer?
Kidney cancer is a disease where cells in the kidney grow out of control, according to the CDC. The main types of kidney cancer include renal cell cancer (RCC), transitional cell cancer (TCC), and Wilms tumor. “RCC is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults. It forms in the lining of the tiny tubes in the kidney that ...
For the last several years, instances of colorectal cancer have been on the rise in the US, especially in younger populations. As cases rise, so too does the number of deaths caused by colorectal cancer. American Cancer Society (ACS) researchers recently found that colorectal cancer moralities have risen by at least 1.1% in people younger than 50 every year since 2005. What’s more, a sharp decrease in other cancer mortalities has placed colorectal cancer as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among people young than 50 in the US, according to an ACS study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Let’s go over the study findings and learn why colorectal cancer moralities have increased.
Study Findings on Colorectal Cancer
For the ...
Cancer can have a big cost. That cost is physical and emotional – but also financial. From lack of insurance to access to affordable care, the financial strain of cancer can keep patients from getting the care they need, resulting in worse health outcomes and higher risk of death. Dr. Mateo Banegas appeared on an episode of the What I Wish I Knew: A Cancer Podcast on Jan. 27, 2026, to discuss the financial challenges of getting fair cancer treatment. Banegas is an associate professor and co-director of CHEER in the Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences (RMAS) at the UCSD School of Medicine. Let’s take a look at the topics he covered and how they can help you or someone you know who is dealing with cancer.
The Hidden Cost of Cancer
In ...
