Study: HPV Increases Risk for Head Or Neck Cancer By At Least Sevenfold


HPV vaccine shot

A new study suggests oral human papillomavirus (HPV) increases someone’s risk for head or neck cancer, UPI reports. For the study, researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York analyzed records of more than 96,000 cancer-free patients taking part in a big study. Of the more than 96,000 patients 132 developed neck or head cancer during the follow-up period, “matching them with 396 controls and analyzing their mouthwash samples for several types of oral HPVs.” “People with HPV-16 detected in their samples were 22 times more likely to develop oropharyngeal cancer than those with no HPV-16 detected. The researchers also found that beta- and gamma-HPVs, normally found on the skin, could be linked to the development of cancer.” Doctors recommend that all ...

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Natalicio Serrano: An Èxito! Grad With A Passion to Tackle Health Issues



Editor’s Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2015 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply now for 2016. Natalicio Serrano San Diego, Calif. Drawing inspiration from famous distance runner Steve Prefontaine, Natalicio decided to give his all in his education and his efforts to tackle the health issues he saw while growing up in a low-income food desert in San Diego. Now he works diligently to promote physical activity, travel behaviors, and obesity prevention in that same city. Natalicio obtained a Bachelors  in Health Science (Public Health)  and is working on his Masters Public Health with a concentration in Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences from San Diego State University. "This [Éxito!] program gave me tremendous insight into ...

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Comienzan ensayos clínicos para vacuna que previene la reincidencia del cáncer



Investigadores mexicanos han comenzado ensayos clínicos para un tratamiento que podría prevenir la reincidencia del cáncer, reporta Latin Times. El nuevo tratamiento entrena al sistema inmunológico a que detecte y elimine células cancerígenas , después del tratamiento convencional, según el Dr. Juan Pablo Manriquez. En la primer etapa de sus investigaciones el Dr. Manriquez y su equipo probaron las vacunas en ratones que fueron modificados genéticamente para que desarrollaran cáncer. “Los ratones que recibieron las vacunas no desarrollaron cáncer del colon, páncreas y de ovarios, explica el Dr. Marquez. Los ensayos clínicos se llevaran acabo en Cd. De Mexico, Sonora y Cd.Obregon. Los investigadores estiman que el tratamiento va ser aprobado en Mexico y EE.UU ...

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Study Links Gum Disease to Elevated Breast Cancer Risk



SaludToday Guest Blogger Jefferson Dental Clinics Women with gum disease have up to a 36% higher risk of breast cancer, according to a recent study. That’s alarming given that 6 in 10 Latinos have gum disease (known as periodontal disease)—the highest rates of this condition among all racial/ethnic groups—and Latinas are 20% more likely to die from breast cancer than non-Latinas. Gum disease, which is mainly caused by poor oral health and smoking, occurs when pockets in the gums form around teeth, allowing the growth of bacteria that can cause teeth to loosen and even fall out. The connection between gum disease and cancer is profound. “Women with periodontal disease who were former smokers had a 36% higher risk of breast cancer, women who were smoking at the time ...

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Rafael Lopez: ACA is Working for Latinos



Editor’s Note: This blog post was originally published here and written by Rafael López, Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families (ACF), and is republished with the courtesy of HHS ACF. For many people, January is a time to make resolutions and set goals for a healthier New Year. January 2016 is an especially important month. Open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace ends on January 31, 2016. Since open enrollment began on November 1, over 8.6 million people have signed up for affordable health care coverage just this year and it is estimated that about 17.6 million uninsured people have gained health insurance since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Of them, over 4 million Latinos (ages 18-64) gained health insurance, and the uninsured ...

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The Guardian Interviews Dr. Daisy Morales-Campos



Recent data shows Latinos and communities under the U.S. poverty line are more aware of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and rates of the vaccine in these communities are higher than in more affluent ones, The Guardian reports. For the article The Guardian interviewed Dr. Daisy Morales-Campos, a research instructor at the Institute for Health Promotion Research, the team behind SaludToday. Dr. Campos directs Entre Familia, an HPV campaign aimed at Latinos in south Texas. According to Campos, there are still a lot of barriers to access. “People there often do not have the transportation needed to easily travel to a clinic, especially three times, and that many people rely on nurse clinics, which usually close before the school day ends. Sometimes, clinics do not have the ...

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Infographic: Shared Use Agreements & Latino Kids



Schools often have physical activity facilities, but many are not open to the public. Shared use agreements—contracts between a school and a city, county, or sports league that outlines rules for sharing existing facilities can help Latino neighborhoods have more access to active spaces and help Latino kids stay active and healthy, according to our new infographic on shared use agreements which is part of the new Salud America! Active Spaces and Latino Kids research package on the latest science and policy recommendations on the Latino physical activity environment. Share this infographic today! Salud America! is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded national Latino childhood obesity prevention network based at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, the team ...

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Study: The Reasons Minority Women Don’t Get Genetic Testing for Breast Cancer


breast-cancer-screening latino

Why are racial/ethnic minority populations less likely than whites to get genetic testing, which can help a woman learn if she has an abnormal gene that is linked to higher breast cancer risk? The answer may lie in their attitudes toward genetic testing. Latina, black, Asian, Native American, and Appalachian women all had a generally positive attitude toward genetic testing, but several key differences emerged among these minority groups, according to a new study led by Dr. Amelie Ramirez of Redes En Acción, a national cancer research network based at the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio. The study, which sought to better understand attitudes toward genetic testing to guide development of culturally sensitive ...

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Infographic: Safe Streets & Latino Kids



The majority of Latino kids who live in inner city neighborhoods lack access to active spaces and safe streets where they can be physically active. Streets in Latino neighborhoods are often plagued with speeding cars and lack of sidewalks. Research shows that when communities adopt a “complete streets” policy and organize events such as “Open Street” more Latino kids and their families become physically active, according to our new infographic on safe streets which is part of the new Salud America! Active Spaces and Latino Kids research package on the latest science and policy recommendations on the Latino physical activity environment. Share this infographic today! Salud America! is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded national Latino childhood obesity ...

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