Find Cancer Resources in Spanish!

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The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) provides a multitude of cancer-related resources thought its NCCN Guidelines for Patients.

With the guidelines, patients and others can get easy-to-understand information about prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, and supportive care for nearly every type of cancer.

Now these resources are available in Spanish!

Let’s dive deeper into these resources and how they can benefit Latinos and their loved ones with cancer.

The Importance of Spanish-Language Resources for Cancer Patients

Many Latinos experience challenges when it comes to accessing healthcare, including finding Spanish-language content.

“Language barriers in healthcare lead to miscommunication between the medical professional and patient, decrease the quality of healthcare delivery, and adversely impact the relationship between the physician and patient,” according to the Cincinnati School of Medicine.

Similarly, language barriers can hinder Latinos and other non-English-speakers from seeking healthcare, ultimately spurring distrust in the healthcare system.

“Language is therefore a critical component of any effort to improve communication and access to quality health care for patients, their family members, caregivers, and friends,” according to the National Institutes of Health.

With this in mind, the NCCN provides its Guidelines for Patients with the goal of improving the quality of cancer care for all.

Exploring the NCCN Guidelines for Patients

Through the NCCN Guidelines, people going through cancer can find help.

“The NCCN Guidelines for Patients present expert recommendations in plain language to help people discuss options with their cancer care team,” according to the NCCN resources page.

The guidelines are free and accessible to the public. Guidelines are also frequently updated to ensure that accurate information is available.

The newest versions of the Spanish guidelines include:

• Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer – Metastatic
• Ovarian Cancer
• Pancreatic Cancer
• Prostate Cancer: Advanced Stage
• Prostate Cancer: Early Stage
• Small Cell Lung Cancer
• Thyroid Cancer
• Uterine Cancer

“NCCN translates these patient resources into multiple languages so that they may be accessed by patients and care providers around the world,” according to the NCCN Guidelines for Patients Translations.

Additional Spanish-language Guidelines for Patients include Melanoma: Cutaneous – Melanoma, Myeloproliferative Neoplasms, and Colorectal Cancer Screenings among others.

All of the Spanish Guidelines for Patients can be found here or through the NCCN Patient Guidelines for Patients app.

“We always strive to improve how we deliver crucial health guidance and expand the reach for any resources that can help us improve and facilitate quality, effective, equitable, and accessible cancer care worldwide,” said Dr. Crystal S. Denlinger, leader of NCCN.

Exploring Clinical Trials as an Option for Cancer Patients and Survivors

It’s clear that culturally relevant and language-specific resources are important when it comes to healthcare access and education.

This includes information about clinical trials as a cancer treatment option.

Clinical trials are studies with volunteers that explore ways to find, prevent, and treat diseases, like cancer. Latinos are underrepresented in clinical trials.

Find information about clinical trials at Salud America!’s clinical trial research page, including stories about Latino role models who have participated in a trial.

“Latinos who participate in clinical trials have the potential to help themselves, and contribute to the development of new treatments for people in the future,” said Dr. Amelie Ramirez, director of the Salud America! program at the Institute of Health Promote Research at UT Health San Antonio.

Those looking for clinical trial opportunities based in San Antonio can search the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio’s Find a Clinical Trial database to learn more about available clinical trials and eligibility requirements.

On a national level, visit clinicaltrials.gov to find a clinical trial near you.

FIND A CLINICAL TRIAL!