Marielle Santos McLeod thought she knew a lot about cancer care. Years as a health professional had given her time to learn about cancer care and gain a closer look at the challenges Latinos face in getting treatment. That’s why, when the mother of four was diagnosed with colon cancer at age 36, she was shocked by just how little she really knew. However, it was enduring the disease as a young Latina that guided her toward her life's purpose – serving as a patient health leader to uplift the voice of Latino cancer survivors. “I love advocacy .... It's like one of the things that I'm convinced that I was put on this earth to do. I just had to get cancer to get to it first,” Santos McLeod said. Update 03/16/2026: After the initial publication of her story ...
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. There are roughly 147,000 new colorectal cancer cases in the US each year as of 2022, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). What’s more, colorectal cancer was linked to 53,779 deaths in the US in 2023. These statistics make colorectal cancer the fourth-most common type of cancer and the fourth-largest cause of cancer-related deaths across all age groups, according to the CDC. Many of these cases and deaths are in individuals from overlooked populations, including Latinos, which were brought on by non-medical drivers of health, such as lack of access to quality cancer care and limitedaccess to screening. In honor of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, we are diving into the 8 ...
For the last several years, instances of colorectal cancer have been on the rise in the US, especially in younger populations. As cases rise, so too does the number of deaths caused by colorectal cancer. American Cancer Society (ACS) researchers recently found that colorectal cancer moralities have risen by at least 1.1% in people younger than 50 every year since 2005. What’s more, a sharp decrease in other cancer mortalities has placed colorectal cancer as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among people young than 50 in the US, according to an ACS study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Let’s go over the study findings and learn why colorectal cancer moralities have increased.
Study Findings on Colorectal Cancer
For the ...
When it comes to making an impact in research, communication is key! But not everyone has the right tools to effectively communicate research into solutions that can drive health outcomes for adults living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias. The University of Maryland School of Graduate Studies wants to close the knowledge gaps in research communication by offering a program to doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars with backgrounds in aging and aging-related research. The Entrepreneurship and Science Communication for Aging and Aging-Related Research (ESCAAR) program aims to improve aging-focused research communication with a cohort of trainees for a 10-month program. Let’s discuss how the ESCAAR program, supported by the National Institute on Aging ...
Cancer can have a big cost. That cost is physical and emotional – but also financial. From lack of insurance to access to affordable care, the financial strain of cancer can keep patients from getting the care they need, resulting in worse health outcomes and higher risk of death. Dr. Mateo Banegas appeared on an episode of the What I Wish I Knew: A Cancer Podcast on Jan. 27, 2026, to discuss the financial challenges of getting fair cancer treatment. Banegas is an associate professor and co-director of CHEER in the Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences (RMAS) at the UCSD School of Medicine. Let’s take a look at the topics he covered and how they can help you or someone you know who is dealing with cancer.
The Hidden Cost of Cancer
In ...
Turning 40 is a big milestone for many women in their career, lifestyle, and familia.
It’s also a big year for health – like scheduling your first mammogram.
An annual mammogram, starting at age 40, is important because it can tell you a lot about your breast health, including if you have dense breasts.
Women with dense breasts, including Latinas, have a higher risk for breast cancer and may require more screenings.
What do you need to know about breast density?
Check out our new guide, The Breast Density Road Map, to help you navigate breast density and what it means for your breast health.
The guide was created by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez of UT Health San Antonio with expertise from Dr. Jessica Treviño Jones, a breast medical oncologist at Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San ...
A little over 40% of US adults are impacted by obesity, including many Latinos, putting them at higher risk for diabetes, heart issues, and cancer. But when people with obesity try to get help, negative stigma can curb progress. Often, they hear advice from healthcare providers like; “Eat healthier” or “Work out.” While these are key parts of a healthy life, other factors and underlying conditions are involved. When a healthcare provider is quick to dismiss a patient with this advice, it can make the patient feel like they are to blame and may even make matters worse. That’s why the Endocrine Society is launching interactive listening sessions to enable patients and people who have experience with obesity to help shape best practices and clinical ...
From recruiting study participants to seeking approval from a university’s Institutional Review Board (IRB), there are so many facets of clinical research. When considering how to navigate it, look no further than the University of Texas at Austin’s Dell Medical School's Nuts and Bolts of Executing a Clinical or Population Research Study virtual series. This series aims to help researchers achieve research success by giving them the tools they need to make a positive impact in healthcare.
About the ‘Nuts and Bolts’ Program
The series consists of one-hour discussion forums spanning several topics aligned with running a clinical or population research study. Previous topics include recruitment and retention, navigating IRBs, HIPAA ...
Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, leader of Salud America! and cancer health researcher at the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio, has been selected for the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA). The award honors individuals who have "demonstrated a significant and lasting impact on improving the lives of older adults, particularly Hispanic older adults," by promoting health and building healthy communities. Ramirez received the award at the 2025 NHCOA Awards Ceremony on Dec. 18, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Watch the livestream of the award ceremony. "I am truly humbled to be selected," Ramirez said. "NHCOA’s work is deeply meaningful, and to be recognized by an organization so dedicated to advancing the well-being and dignity of our ...
