#SaludTues Tweetchat 10/20/15: Quitting Smoking with the Help of Technology


fda cigarette graphic warning labels smoking

Technology is a promising way to help Latino smokers quit, given the dire health and cancer consequences of smoking and Latinos' adoption of new technologies and media. What technologies are working? Let’s use #SaludTues on Oct. 20, 2015, to tweet information, resources, and tips that can uncover the ways technology can help Latinos kick the habit now (and for good!): WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “Quitting Smoking with the Help of Technology” TIME/DATE: 1-2 p.m. ET (Noon-1 p.m. CT), Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015 WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues HOST: @SaludToday CO-HOST: The CDC (@CDCTobaccoFree) SPECIAL GUEST: The American Lung Association (@LungAssociation) We’ll open the floor to your stories and experiences as we explore: How much do Latinos ...

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Study: Latinas More Likely To Receive Poor Breast Cancer Treatment



Latinas are more likely to receive poor treatment regardless of tumor type, Latina Magazine reports. The study, published in the journal Cancer, Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, “looked at data from 100,000 American women, including their demographics, stage of disease, tumor grade and size, treatment and health insurance status.” According to the study, 20 to 40 percent of Latinas were more likely to receive “substandard care.“ Latinas have a 30 to 40 percent higher chance to be diagnosed with advanced breast cancer and “were more likely to have large tumors.” Researchers aren’t sure why there’s a gap in quality of treatment Latinas receive, but believe socioeconomic factors play a role as well as language ...

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Nielsen Report: Latinos are Getting Healthier & Wealthier



According to the latest Nielsen's Hispanic Consumer Report, Latinos are living longer and have more disposable income than in the past. The report shows: Hispanics have lower mortality rates in seven out of the 10 leading causes of death in the U.S. In the first few years after immigrating to the U.S., Hispanics also tend to have lower smoking rates, better diet and better general health. This is translating to Hispanics living longer and having healthier, more active lives. Today Hispanic-Americans life expectancy is 83.5 years compared to 78.7 for non-Hispanic Whites. This means more buying and viewing power, for longer. The report also found 40 percent of Latinos over the age of 50 live in multi-generational households compared to just over a fifth of the general U.S. ...

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Gloria Diaz: Latino Cancer Survivor



Getting a breast cancer diagnosis could be a shocking experience, especially when your doctor confirms your fears and tells you, you have breast cancer. “ I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “You have breast cancer. We need to set up an appointment with a surgeon as soon as possible.” I asked the doctor to proceed with whatever arrangements would be necessary. I called my husband at work. I could tell by his voice he was in shock. That evening we informed our four children,” Gloria Diaz says. The day after, Gloria, accompanied by her daughter visited her doctor and was given two options: a mastectomy or lumpectomy. “I was scared and confused. A mastectomy meant I would have my entire right breast removed along with a large number of lymph nodes, and if everything came ...

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Turn Your Phone into a Personal Coach to Help You Quit Smoking!


female not smoking

Smoking is a tough opponent to beat. Quitxt is a new free service that turns your mobile phone into a personal coach to help you quit smoking, using interactive and entertaining text messages, online support, hip-hop music, and videos designed for South Texas young adults by researchers at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio. The service’s text messages help with motivation to quit, setting a quit date, finding things to do instead of smoking, handling stress, using nicotine replacement if needed, and more. To join, text “iquit” to 57682. “Text-message applications have scientifically proven to roughly double one’s odds of quitting smoking, so we developed Quitxt specifically for young adult Latinos to capitalize on their heavy usage of texting to help them ...

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Health Insurance for All Children Under 19, in California



All children under 19 years old will be eligible for the state’s health insurance in California (Medi-Cal), Univision Noticias reports. The law signed by Gov. Jerry Brown will potentially  benefit 200,000 undocumented children who currently have access to a limited state health insurance. “In the middle of the national conversation on immigration, sometimes negative, we congratulate Governor and the legislature for recognizing the contributions of undocumented Californians and their human right to health access,” Daniel Zingale, vice president of The California Endowment told Univision. Currently, most undocumented migrants have limited access to the state’s version of Medicaid (Medi-Cal). The new law will give full health benefits to undocumented children in ...

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Mary González: Sobreviviente de cáncer de seno



Algunos meses después de la muerte de su madre, Mary González consulto con su doctor si era necesario hacerse un mamograma, el doctor le dijo que estaba muy joven. Dos años después se encontró un  bulto por debajo de su brazo y después de insistirle a su doctor que lo revisará descubrió que tenía cáncer de seno. “Era como una pesadilla. Todas las cosas pasaban muy rápidamente y yo estaba muy aturdida. Se tenían que tomar muchas decisiones en muy poco tiempo. Me aterrorizaba acordarme de mi mamá cuando estaba recibiendo su tratamiento de quimioterapia, la pérdida de su pelo, la náusea y el vómito,” nos cuenta Mary. La lucha contra el cáncer se convirtió en una batalla familiar para la familia González. “Mi esposo y yo nos educamos sobre el cáncer del seno y su ...

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Joan Treviño Lawhon: Latina Cancer Survivor



Like many breast cancer survivors for Joan Treviño Lawhon her breast cancer detection started with a gut feeling. “My basic tests were within normal limits, but I had what I can only describe as a “gut feeling, “she says. “ I had some very supportive doctors who followed through on my instincts. It took five tests to confirm a malignancy.” As soon as she heard the diagnosis from her doctors and confirmed her “gut” feeling she immediately got into fighting mode. “We can freeze and let the disease consume us, or we can fight. My choice was to fight. I was going to make sure my choice was an informed one. My husband Garey had lost his valiant battle to pancreatic cancer the year before. I lost a brother to kidney cancer. I thought I would face “my cancer” alone.” Her ...

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New Anti-Smoking Campaign Targets Minorities of Color



The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) is launching “Fresh Empire” a hip-hop themed anti-tobacco campaign targeted at Latinos and Blacks. “Unfortunately, the health burdens of tobacco use disproportionately affect minority teens – particularly African American and Hispanic youth,” said Jonca Bull, M.D., the FDA’s Assistant Commissioner for Minority Health in a press release. "The 'Fresh Empire' campaign will help reach teens at a key point in their lives when experimenting with smoking can lead to addiction." The “Fresh Start” campaign will target youth ages 12-17 with interactive content, songs and videos by up and coming hip hop artists. "We know from our research that remaining in control is an important pillar of hip-hop culture. But smoking represents a ...

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