By Eric Moreno, Research Area Specialist Salud America! The U.S. Department of Education has compiled a checklist of 7 things every high school graduate needs to do before leaving for their first semester of college. Make sure your school has your financial aid ready. Many students fill out an application for financial aid. Early and/or mid-summer is an opportune time to check with the financial aid office to make sure all your paperwork is complete. It is also important to make sure that you have enough money to cover any gaps between the cost for school and your financial aid award. Find a part-time job. If this is something you’d be interested in, it would be a good idea to start checking out opportunities in the area of campus before classes start. Working during school ...
Soda consumption is high among Latinos, and it’s one of the main causes of diabetes and obesity in the United States. A new study from Sweden reveals this sugary drink may cause gallbladder cancer, NBC Health reports. For the study, investigators surveyed more than 70,000 individuals and tracked them for more than 13 years and concluded that those who consume more than two sodas a day “had more than twice the risk of developing gallbladder tumors and 79% higher odds of biliary tract cancer.” “The current study is the first study to show a strong link between consumption of sweetened beverages, such as soda, and risk of biliary tract cancer,” lead researcher Susanna Larsson told NBC news. To stay healthy and fit doctors recommend to avoid sodas and all sugary ...
Cancers linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV) are on the rise according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Slate reports. The report by the CDC found that, between 2008 and 2012, an average of 39,000 cancers related to HPV were diagnosed each year; 28,500 of these yearly HPV cases could have been prevented by vaccination. What cancers are linked to HPV? Some of the cancers linked to HPV are cervical cancer and oropharynx cancers ( tongue, tonsils, and back of the throat). Doctors recommend the HPV vaccine for boys and girls between the ages of 11-12 years old. “Every parent should ask the question: If there was a vaccine I could give my child that would prevent them from developing six different cancers, would I give it to them?,” Electra ...
Breast cancer is the leading cause of death in Latina women, especially those who are BRCA1 positive, but according to researchers a drug commonly used to treat osteoporosis may prevent breast cancer, CNN reports According to results from a study published in the journal Nature Medicine, the drug, denosumab, “can stop certain breast tissue cells with the mutation from morphing into cancerous tumors.” "If this is an effective prevention strategy, then our hope is that it will be possible to prevent or delay breast cancer in women with a BRCA1 mutation and possibly other women at high genetic risk," said Jane Visvader a co-author of the study. "It would be great if this strategy could 'buy time' for women considering having ...
For millions of Latinos having a cup of cafecito (coffee) every morning is an important part of their routine, but drinking it too hot may cause cancer according to cancer experts, CNN reports. In a recent review, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) confirmed coffee may not cause cancer but they warn drinking it at temperatures above 150-160 Fahrenheit (typical in Latino culture) may cause the disease. "The Working Group noted that the epidemiological evidence for very hot beverages and human cancer has strengthened over time,” the report ...
If you’re Latino between the ages of 15-29, then you're 75% more likely than whites to die of cancer, according to a new study by the University of Colorado Cancer Center, LatinPost reports. “This is a population that shouldn't be getting cancer and it's devastating when they do. Knowing that a disparity exists allows us to ask questions that can help ensure everyone receives the best possible care,” said study author Meryl Colton, a medical student at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. What are the roots of this disparity? According to Colton, this disparity could be attributed to three factors: “disadvantages of the patient's socioeconomic level, the possibility that for genetic reasons a cancer might pose a greater danger for certain populations, and the ...
A study by the American Cancer Society estimated that nearly 6,000 Latino men and 5,000 Latino women could be diagnosed with colon cancer each year. Colorectal cancer is the second-most commonly diagnosed cancer for both Latino men and women. However, eating a particular “superfood” may help prevent this dreaded disease. UConn Health and The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, reported in the Cancer Prevention Research journal, found that eating walnuts may change a person’s gut bacteria in a way that suppresses colon cancer. The researchers studied mice and found that those that at 7-10% of their daily total calories as walnuts developed fewer instances of colon cancer. These findings are the equivalent of a human eating one ounce of walnuts a day. Walnuts are loaded with ...
Women with genes that are linked to breast cancer can significantly cut the risk for the disease by following a healthy lifestyle, according to a new study published in the Journal of American Medical Association, ABC News reports. The key lifestyle factors, researchers found to be the most important were: “Maintaining a healthy weight; not smoking; limiting alcohol; and not using hormone therapy after menopause.” “For women in the highest decile of risk owing to non-modifiable factors, those who had low BMI, did not drink or smoke, and did not use MHT [menopause hormone therapy] had risks comparable to an average woman in the general population,” the authors ...
Summer will be here soon, and to be honest, I can’t wait to go picnic with the family, take a trip to the beach and enjoy the sun. As we enjoy all these great summer time activities, let’s keep in mind the risks of sun overexposure, including skin cancer. Melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, is responsible for 79% of skin cancer-related deaths and is the leading cause of cancer death among women ages 25-30. All skin types and colors, including Latinos, are at risk. But, you don’t have to hide from the sun. Doctors say you can protect from skin cancer by following these simple tips from SkinCancer.org:
• Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day
• Cover up with clothing, including UV-blocking sunglasses
• Apply 1 ounce of sunscreen to your ...
