Patricia Medina-Ramirez: An Èxito! Grad With a Passion for Cancer Research



Editor’s Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2015 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply now for 2016. Patricia Medina-Ramirez Tampa, Florida Just as her Guida instrument represents her roots in the Dominican Republic, Patricia Medina-Ramirez is dedicated to learning about the culture and the community she works in. Cultural competency is key for her as she begins to focus on Latino health issues, such as her work exploring the experience of Latino cancer survivors. Despite moving from the Dominican Republic at age 15, Patricia was the first member in her family to pursue a graduate education, and potentially a doctoral degree. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences, with a minor in Public Health, from the University of ...

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New Study Uncovers Latino Cancer Prevalence



 New research suggests, cancer has surpassed heart disease as the leading cause of death among Latinos in the U.S. A new study attempted to uncover the data regarding the prevalence of cancer and the risk factors that affect Latinos. Over 16,000 Latinos participated in the study and it was found that 4% of the population had instances of some type of cancer. The rates of cancer varied by Hispanic ancestry group. Overall, the lack of significant findings regarding risk factors, such as smoking, contributed to the findings of the survey. With the prevalence of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a growing number of Latinos now have access to healthcare. As more and more Latinos take part in this healthcare, this will give future evaluations of cancer prevalence more data to sort from. This ...

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3 Cancer-Fighting Foods



Cancer is the No.1 killer of U.S. Latinos, accounting for 22% of deaths. Prostate cancer (22%) and breast cancer (29%) are among the most common types of cancer afflicting Latinos. While in some instances cancers are genetically inherited in the majority of cases, they’re preventable with a good diet and plenty of exercise. Here are top cancer-fighting superfoods, according to Health: 1. Berries Berries are packed with phytonutrients, especially black berries which contain a high concentration of phytochemicals called anthocyanins “which slow down growth of premalignant cells and keep new blood vessels from forming (and potentially feeding a cancerous tumor).” 2. Walnuts Phytosrerois—cholesterol like molecules “have been shown to block estrogen receptors in ...

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Rose A. Treviño-Whitaker: An Èxito! Grad With a Passion for Cancer Research and Health Promotion



Editor’s Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2015 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply now for 2016. Rose A. Treviño-Whitaker Houston, Texas Unpaved roads. Lack of proper sewage. Inadequate water. Rose A. Treviño-Whitaker grew up among these third-world conditions that plague some colonias—mostly Latino unincorporated settlements in South Texas. That’s why she dedicated her career to preventing disease and promoting public health as a researcher at the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio. Born in the Valley of South Texas Rose is a high achiever and already up to her eyeballs in cancer research and health promotion. Rose has also helped create culturally relevant educational ...

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Únete a la campaña #AmoMiCorazón



Únete a la campaña #AmoMiCorazón de la Oficina de Salud de las Minorías de la FDA (@FDAOMH), Salud Today (@SaludToday) y la Association of Black Cardiologists (@ABCardio1) y ¡muestra lo mucho que amas tu corazón! En honor del Mes de la Salud del Corazón durante el mes de febrero, toma una foto con una pizarra o hoja y dinos cómo cuidas tu corazón  para que esté sano o comparte tus fotos preparando comidas saludables, haciendo alguna actividad física, tomando tus medicamentos o haciendo otra actividad que mantiene tu  corazón sano. Comparte tus fotos en Facebook, Twitter o Instagram con el hashtag #AmoMiCorazón. Todos los lunes, vamos a elegir los tres mejores fotos y las publicaremos en la página de Facebook de la ...

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Join the #ILoveMyHeart Campaign



Join the #ILoveMyHeart campaign by the FDA Office of Minority Health (@FDAOMH), Salud Today (@SaludToday) and the Association of Black Cardiologists (@ABCardio1) and show us how much you love your heart! In honor of the American Heart Month during the month of February, take a picture with a dry erase board or poster board describing how  you keep your heart healthy or share your pictures preparing healthy meals, engaging in a physical activity, taking your medication or doing any other activities that keep your heart healthy. Share your photos on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the #ILoveMyHeart hashtag. Every Monday, we will pick the best three photos and post them in the FDA Facebook ...

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High Fiber Diet May Lower Breast Cancer Risk



Teenagers who eat fruits and vegetables high in fiber may significantly lower their risk of developing breast cancer (a leading cause of death among Latinas), later on in life, according to a new study, CBS News reports. Researchers at Harvard’s T.H Chen School of Public Health analyzed data from 44,000 women and concluded that those who consumed about 28 grams of fiber a day “had a significantly lower risk of breast cancer before menopause compared with those who said they ate less than 15 grams a day.” "The results of this study emphasize the role of an early life high-fiber diet on prevention of breast cancer in later life. High consumption of foods rich in fiber such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains in early life may help to reduce breast cancer incidence," lead ...

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Cancer Centers Urge HPV Vaccination for the Prevention of Cancer



All 69 National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Centers, including the Cancer Therapy & Research Center (CTRC) at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio, issued a joint statement on Jan. 27, 2016, urging all children and young adults receive the vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection, affecting 79 million U.S. residents, and causing the vast majority of cervical and other genital cancers, which disproportionately affect Latinos. Even though HPV-related cancers are preventable through a safe and effective vaccine, HPV vaccination rates remain low—a "serious public health threat," according to the Cancer Centers' statement. “HPV vaccination represents a rare opportunity to prevent several types of cancer in ...

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Zika Virus to Spread Across the Americas



The World Health Organization(WHO) predicts the Zika virus will spread to all countries in the Americas, including the U.S., except Canada and Chile, Reuters reports. “Twenty-one countries and territories of the Americas have reported cases of the virus since Brazil reported the first cases of local transmission in May 2015,” WHO's regional office for the Americas said in a statement. In the U.S. three cases have been confirmed in Florida, Texas and Illinois "These imported cases might result in local human-to-mosquito-to-human spread of the virus in limited areas of the continental Unites States that have the appropriate mosquito vectors," according to a new report on the spread of the virus issued by the CDC Friday. According to doctors the symptoms of the virus ...

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