Para Su Familia: Entendiendo El Glioma de Bajo Grado



El soldado del Ejército Estadunidense,Tony Rentas, oriundo/originario de Puerto Rico, quien había soñado toda su vida con servir en el Ejército, sufrió una convulsión durante una misión en Kosovo. A Tony le diagnosticaron un glioma de bajo grado, un tipo raro de tumor cerebral. No tenía ni idea de lo que era un glioma de bajo grado. Así que empezó a buscar en Google. Encontró poco que le ayudará a entender este diagnóstico y lo que significaba para él y su familia, y aún menos estaba disponible en español. Por eso Tony está compartiendo su historia y participando en el Registro Internacional de Glioma de Bajo Grado, que tiene como objetivo  aprender más sobre las mejores formas de tratar estos tumores en diferentes grupos de personas, incluyendo a miembros ...

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For Your Familia: Understanding Low Grade Glioma



U.S. Army soldier Tony Rentas, a native of Puerto Rico who dreamed of serving in the military all his life, had a seizure while on a mission in Kosovo. Tony was diagnosed with a low grade glioma, a rare type of brain tumor. He had no idea what a low grade glioma was. So, he started Googling. He found little that helped him understand this diagnosis and what it meant for him and his familia, and even less was available in Spanish. That is why Tony is sharing his story and participating in the International Low Grade Glioma Registry, which hopes to learn more about the best ways to treat these tumors across different groups of people, including members of the Hispanic/Latino community. “One of the biggest things that I wanted to do is help people as much as I can,” Tony ...

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Tony Rentas: Un “Soldado” Ayudando a Otros a Pelear la Batalla en Contra de Tumores Cerebrales



Durante su niñez en Puerto Rico, Tony Rentas soñaba con unirse al ejército de Estados Unidos. Quería servir a su país, dar un buen ejemplo a su hijo, y asegurarse que su familia tuviera el cuidado adecuado. En el 2009, se unió al Ejército de los Estados Unidos, haciendo realidad su sueño. Tony ejerció como especialista de inteligencia militar. A lo largo de una docena de años, fue desplegado dos veces, viajó alrededor del mundo, formó grandes amistades, experimentó diferentes culturas, ayudó a personas y proveyó para su familia. Luego, obtuvo una desgarradora noticia. Después de sufrir una convulsión del lóbulo temporal, Tony, -esposo y padre de dos hijos- fue diagnosticado con un glioma de bajo grado, un tipo de tumor cancerígeno en el cerebro, en junio del ...

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Social Determinants of Health Keep Latinas from Breast Cancer Screenings



Every year, 240,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That’s why healthcare providers recommend women ages 50 to 74 get a mammogram – an X-ray of the breast that can help screen and diagnose cancer – every two years.   However, only about 3 in 4 women in that age group has had a mammogram in the past two years, as of 2022, according to a new study by the CDC.  For women who experience health-related social needs, even fewer haven’t gotten one.  This is alarming because, while mammograms can reduce the number of breast cancer deaths by 22%, this cancer is the top cause of death among Latinas.  Let’s explore the social determinants of health (SDoH) that are creating barriers to ...

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Webinar: How to Make Your Voice Heard in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment



Sadly, breast cancer impacts our Latina community. Latinas are more likely than White women to be diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive type, according to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Join us for “Making Your Voice Heard in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment,” our 30-minute webinar that is available on-demand starting on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in English with Spanish subtitles. Hear the latest TNBC treatments and how Latinas deal with the difficult cancer journey. A doctor who specializes in treating breast cancer, a nurse practitioner, and a patient with breast cancer will explain how to manage side effects, connect with others in the breast-cancer community, and be your own best advocate. Webinar speakers include: ...

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Explore Resources for National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month



The White House recently issued a presidential proclamation declaring April as National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month. “During National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month, we honor the enormous courage and strength of the millions of Americans facing the disease today and of the many millions of survivors, whose resilience inspires us all,” said President Joe Biden. This observance was led by the Prevent Cancer Foundation, along with the support of 84 additional organizations, to raise awareness and reduce the impact of cancer on individuals, families, and communities. “We hope it serves an important reminder to the public that they have the power to take charge of their health with lifestyle changes and routine screenings, because early detection ...

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Recap: The 2024 Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos Conference



Why is cancer the top cause of death for Latinos? To unpack this question, Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez of Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio hosted the 4th biennial Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos conference on Feb. 21-23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos drew 280 researchers, doctors, leaders, patient advocates, and students for an open dialogue on Latino cancer. Discussion covered new research advances on clinical best practices, effective community interventions, system-change advocacy, and professional training to eliminate cancer disparities in Latinos. “Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos is where we can come together and find equitable solutions for cancer prevention, treatment, and survivorship among Latinos,” ...

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The Devastating Cost of Cancer in Latinos



This year, over 2 million American will get a cancer diagnosis, including many Latinos. As one of the leading causes of death in Latinos in the U.S., one in five men and one in seven women who are Latino will die from the disease. Cancer also takes a heavy financial toll on patients, whose survival is dependent upon a variety of factors, including access to quality, often costly, healthcare treatments. Let’s explore the cost burden of cancer, and what to do about it. The Cost Burden of Cancer In 2018, patients and their families paid $5.6 billion out of pocket for cancer treatments, such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy drugs, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Americans spent a total of $183 billion on cancer-related healthcare in 2015 - an amount ...

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New Cancer Cases Projected to Surpass 2M Historical High



New cancer cases are projected to surpass 2 million in 2024 - a first in for the U.S., according to American Cancer Society’s Cancer Facts & Figures 2024 report.  The landmark projection amounts to 5,500 diagnoses a day.  The American Cancer Society attributes the rise in cases to a growing and aging population along with an increase in diagnoses of six common cancers – breast, prostate, endometrial, pancreatic, kidney, and melanoma.  In addition, the organization is projecting over 611,000 deaths from cancer in 2024, a .19% increase from 2023. That is more than 1,600 deaths each day!  While cancer is prevalent across people of all races, ethnicities, ages, genders, and backgrounds, it disproportionately continues to affect people of color, such as Latinos.  Cancer in ...

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