To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, the Prevent Cancer Foundation hosted an Instagram Live on prevention and cancer screening featuring Dr. Derek Rodriguez of the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio. On behalf of the Salud America! program, Dr. Rodriguez chatted with Kyra Meister, Prevent Cancer Foundation’s Senior Communications Manager, about the importance of preventative measures like screening and cancer survivorship. Watch on Instagram Live as the two talk about preventative health measures to better understand and detect cancer, health gaps that impact care, and cancer survivorship. Watch Now! WHAT: An Instagram live video focusing on cancer screening and survivorship WHERE: Available on the Instagram accounts of the Prevent Cancer ...
Cancer death rates have dropped 34% over the past three decades, saving the lives of more than 4.5 million people. And it’s all thanks to cancer research. Research is the foundation of critical public health efforts, including prevention, screenings, and advancements in cancer treatment, according to the latest progress report on cancer from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). Every year the AACR puts out its progress report to discuss the latest achievements in research while keeping a watchful eye on the future, including the need for ongoing scientific research to one day eradicate cancer. Here are 7 key takeaways from the report and how it will impact the future of cancer research.
1. The Number of Survivors is Projected to Rise
Between ...
Blood Cancer United, formerly known as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), is hosting a free Spanish-language event in San Antonio to educate and empower those in the community to learn about cancer types that affect Latinos. The event, “Aprendiendo Sobre Los Cánceres Que Afectan a Los Latinos y Cómo Enfrentarlos,” is set for 5-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, at Paesanos Lincoln Heights, located at 555 E. Basse Road, San Antonio, TX 78209. Dinner is free! Registration is required. REGISTER FOR THE EVENT!
About the Event on Latino Cancer Latinos are a dynamic, rising population. But cancer threatens the future health of Latinos and the entire U.S. population. The Spanish-language cancer event in San Antonio will cover topics about: ...
Cancer is not a disease that happens overnight. It often creeps up slowly, silently, and without warning — revealing itself in some of the most unlikely ways. That’s exactly what happened to U.S. Congress Rep. Joaquin Castro. Amid a car accident involving a Spanish boar in Spain, Castro received some devastating news — he had neuroendocrine cancer. While a treatable form of cancer, Castro won’t get to ring the bell signaling the end of his treatment. For Castro, treatment continues at UT Health San Antonio. "Unless something changes, I’ll have cancer for the rest of my life, but thankfully, and hopefully, cancer won’t take my life,” he said during an address to the 2024 Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos And All Populations ...
Rick Alvarado has always prioritized education. As a child, the San Antonio-area resident remembers often “playing school” with his neighborhood friends and many of his 10 siblings. “I always knew from very young that I [wanted] to be a teacher,” said Rick. Following in his older brother’s footsteps, Rick would do just that, spending 38 years teaching K-12 and serving in other roles like assistant principal, principal, interim superintendent, and assistant superintendent. He retired a few years ago. But Rick’s life would change on January 7, 2017, when he was diagnosed with stage 2 prostate cancer.
Rick’s Cancer Diagnosis
Prior to his diagnosis, Rick’s doctor told him he had high prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. PSA tests measure the level of ...
Hispanic Heritage Month is a month when we celebrate the milestones and achievements of Hispanic and Latinos. Some of those individuals overcame countless hurdles, such as health issues, societal unfairness, and mistreatment to carve out a better path for future generations. One of the ways we honor the past is to preserve the future. Hispanic/Latino cancer survivors can honor those who came before them by paving the way for future survivors by joining the Avanzando Caminos Hispanic/Latino Cancer Survivorship Study at UT Health San Antonio. JOIN AVANZANDO CAMINOS!
What Is the Avanzando Caminos Study?
The Avanzando Caminos Hispanic/Latino Cancer Survivorship Study takes a deeper look at some of the factors that survivors experience that may influence long-term ...
Since coming to the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, research scientist Dr. Derek Rodriguez has gotten to live his dream. From a young age, Derek had dreams of becoming a doctor and attending medical school. That dream took a turn when his health did. At 8 years old, he was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of childhood cancer. Derek’s experience inspired him to pursue cancer research and ultimately led him to a position with the university, where he serves as program manager for the Avanzando Caminos study, which aims to improve the Latino cancer survivorship journey. “I am now serving my community as well as those that are cancer survivors, so it’s pretty much a full circle moment,” he told Salud ...
Despite cancer deaths declining, cancer continues to be a top cause of death among Latinos and all people in the US. One of the most prevalent forms of cancer is breast cancer. Every year, 240,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Many of these women are Latina. What’s more, breast cancer is the top cause of death among Latinas. That’s one of the reasons that a researcher at Liberty University is looking for Latina breast cancer survivors to participate in a research study. Let’s explore the research study and discover ways to contribute to research to ensure better breast cancer outcomes for Latinas and all women.
Research Study on Breast Cancer
The study aims ...
While cancer continues to be a leading cause of death among those living in the US, 2001 to 2022 saw a steady drop in cancer cases, according to a the Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer. The decline can be attributed to the decrease in incidence and deaths due to lung cancer and other cancers related to smoking, according to researchers. Alternatively, cancers related to obesity, which is linked to an increased risk of cancer, have risen over the past 20 years. This has led to higher rates of female breast, uterus, colon and rectal, pancreatic, kidney, and liver cancers, according to the report. Let’s break down the report and discuss what the data means for Latinos and all people.
Cancer by the Numbers
The new report, supported by the National ...
