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 ...
On July 11, 2025, researchers and community members joined together for the first Pancreatic Cancer Retreat to explore the impact of this disease in South Texas. The retreat, at UT Rio Grande Valley in South Texas, was a collaboration among the community outreach and engagement team (COE) and the community advisory board (CAB) at Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio, and the Canopy Cancer Collective, a nonprofit focused on pancreatic cancer. At the event, clinicians, researchers, patient liaisons, and industry leaders had collaborative discussions on topics including clinical trials, tumor boards, biobanks, educational resources, and screening initiatives on pancreatic cancer. Event participants from Mays Cancer Center included Dr. Lei Zheng, director, and Mary Jimenez, ...
July is recognized as Sarcoma Awareness Month, which encourages communities to raise awareness and show support for those affected by sarcoma. Let’s explore resources for you and your loved ones to support!
What is Sarcoma?
Approximately 17,000 people are diagnosed with sarcoma each year in the United States. Sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that “begins in bone or in the soft tissues of the body, including cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, fibrous tissue, or other connective or supportive tissue,” according to National Cancer Institute. With over 100 different subtypes, sarcomas are categorized as soft tissue or bone sarcomas, depending on where they develop in the body. Most sarcomas are within the limbs because this is where most of the body’s connective ...
The number of people living with a history of cancer in the United States is estimated at 18.6 million as of Jan. 1, 2025, according to a report on Cancer Treatment and Survivorship Statistics from the American Cancer Society (ACS). This number is projected to exceed 22 million by 2035, according to the report. Let’s dive deeper into this report and what it says about cancer survivorship.
Survivorship Stats
The ACS report highlights that the 3 most prevalent cancers among males are prostate (3,552,460) melanoma of the skin (816,580), and colorectal (729,550) For women, breast (4,305,570), uterine corpus (945,540), and thyroid (859,890) were the 3 most prevalent. “The number of female breast cancer survivors is projected to reach 5.3 million by January 1, 2035 – an ...
Just like fingerprints are tailored to the individual they belong to, no two cancer survivor stories are the same. Yet, every single one is important. “Every story is unique, and every story is worth understanding and learning from,” said Dr. Derek Rodriguez. Dr. Rodriguez is the research scientist helping lead the Avanzando Caminos Hispanic/Latino Cancer Survivorship study team at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio. Everyone’s cancer journey is different and paved with unique challenges and obstacles that define treatment, quality of life, and long-lasting health impacts, he explained. And that’s exactly what the dedicated Avanzando Caminos team is trying to get to the bottom of by collecting the stories of survivors. Let’s ...
Cancer survivors are more than their diagnosis. They are an example of resilience, courage, and unwavering determination brought on by a fight — well fought and won. Throughout the month of June, for National Cancer Survivors Month, we at Salud America! are honoring survivors by sharing their stories of sacrifice and triumph and focusing on ways to improve cancer outcomes for those battling the disease. To kick off the month we are celebrating National Cancer Survivors Day. Let’s explore what National Cancer Survivors Day is all about and learn about ways to participate!
What is National Cancer Survivors Day?
Every year National Cancer Survivors Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of June. This year it will take place on Sunday, June 1, 2025. Led by the National ...
South Texas is home to one of the largest populations of Hispanic/Latinos in the nation. Many people in this region face challenges that jeopardize their health and make them more susceptible to risk factors and diseases, such as cancer. These challenges can also hinder cancer care, resulting in worse cancer outcomes. That’s why one the Avanzando Caminos Hispanic/Latino Cancer Survivorship study at UT Health San Antonio aims to address some of these issues and find ways to intervene so that survivors can have an improved quality of life. The Avanzando Caminos study was recently highlighted in a podcast produced by Salud America! for BioMedSA, a non-profit that advances health in San Antonio. For the podcast, Avanzando Caminos program manager and research ...
Getting routine screenings and medical appointments can help prevent cancer, or catch it at earlier, more treatable stages. However, only 51% of U.S. adults age 21 and older say they have had a routine medical appointment or routine cancer screening in the last year, according to the 2025 Early Detection Survey from the Prevent Cancer Foundation. This number is a 10%-point drop compared to the 2024 Early Detection Survey. “While the precise reason for the change remains unclear, top reasons survey participants cited for falling behind on their routine cancer screenings center on [incorrect information or confusion],” according to the Prevent Cancer Foundation. Let’s look into the survey and learn more about how this impacts families and communities.
Reasons for a Lack ...
