Just north of the Mexico-California border, the San Ysidro community is where nearly 1 in 5 people enter the U.S. by land to work, shop, learn, and see family. The result is a dynamic cultural exchange and a vibrant binational economic hub. Yet amid the hustle and bustle, environmental change has crept into this predominantly Latino community, adding pollution from heavy traffic, sewage contamination, and more. That is why community members came together to protect and educate their neighbors, leading to accomplishments in environmental justice that are chronicled in English and Spanish “story maps” by Community Voices for Action, a storytelling project from the AAMC Center for Health Justice. Let’s explore how community power led to a big change.
What Is Environmental ...
It’s National Cancer Survivor Month and we are honoring survivors in South Texas and beyond by reminding them that their journeys matter. In fact, they can even help future cancer survivors. That’s the hope of the Avanzando Caminos Hispanic/Latino Cancer Survivorship Cohort Study, which is based at UT Health San Antonio and the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center based at the University of Miami. This study gathers cancer survivors’ unique stories to explore the familial, behavioral, mental, biological, medical, and other impacts on life after cancer. Let’s break down how each of these cancer types impacts the Hispanic/Latino population and how hearing from survivors helps make a difference for future generations of survivors.
Latina Breast ...
South Texas faces many challenges when it comes to brain cancer, such as struggles with non-medical drivers of health like housing, food, and transportation. To help your family and community deal with this issue, join a new presentation, “Brain Cancer Awareness,” at 11 a.m. Central on June 18, 2026. The presentation will feature Dr. Andrew Brenner, a brain health expert and professor of medicine at UT Health San Antonio. He will discuss what brain cancer is, risks and myths, recognizing symptoms, and the importance of early intervention. The presentation is part of the “Every Cancer, Every Story: A Series of Conversations” webinar series, a collaboration of the Mid Rio Grande Border Area Health Education Center (AHEC) and Mays Cancer Center Office of Community Outreach ...
Cancer is a serious health threat in South Texas. To improve cancer education and care for these communities, the Mid Rio Grande Border Area Health Education Center (MRGB AHEC) is launching the “Every Cancer, Every Story: A Series of Conversations” in collaboration with the UT Health San Antonio Mays Cancer Center Office of Community Outreach and Engagement (COE). The series will feature cancer-education webinars in June (brain), July (bone), September (prostate), and November (pancreas). “All cancers are equally important. They all impact on the quality of life for the individual, family, and community. The research shows that the earlier the detection, the earlier the treatment. Therefore, providing education on these types of cancer could lead to saving lives,” said ...
In 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ruled in favor of legally enforceable standards that limit toxic “forever chemicals,” also known as perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), in drinking water. Human exposure to PFAS is linked to adverse health effects, such as increased cancer risk. However, the current federal administration is revisiting the EPA’s ruling, claiming that the former administration didn’t follow proper channels to lawfully regulate the use of four key chemicals in the PFAS family, CNN reports. The EPA’s regulatory process is underway to repeal some PFAS limitations and delay implementation of others. Submit a model comment created by Salud America! to tell EPA to maintain protections for safe ...
Cuando envejecemos, nuestro cuerpo cambia. Los alimentos que nos gustan nos pueden caer mal, nos es más difícil movernos o podemos tener dificultad de recordar ciertas cosas. Aunque estos son síntomas comunes del envejecimiento, existen otros factores menos conocidos que contribuyen a cómo envejecemos y a qué tan rápido algunos de estos problemas aparecen. Un factor sorprendente es la sequía. Por ejemplo, un estudio reciente encontró que los factores estresantes del medio ambiente, como los periodos largos de sequía, pueden causar un deterioro cognitivo más rápido. Consulte nuestra nueva hoja informativa, ¿La Sequía Impacta la Salud Cerebral de los Latinos Mayores?, para ayudar a nuestros abuelos y abuelas a comprender cómo los ...
May is recognized as Bladder Cancer Awareness Month, a time to learn about the impact of bladder cancer and spread awareness about bladder cancer resources. The American Cancer Society estimates about 84,530 new cases of bladder cancer. Bladder cancer is the fourth-most common cancer in men and 1 of 4 bladder cancer patients are women. Have you or someone in your family recently been diagnosed and aren’t sure where to start? Check out the following helpful resources from the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN). 1. Bladder Cancer Support Line (Bilingual) BCAN’s Bladder Cancer Support Line offers support by connecting patients with professional oncology social workers. “The call center’s staff will address the emotional, practical and informational ...
In November 2024, Texas Governor Greg Abbott executed a new policy via executive order directing state hospitals to ask patients about their citizenship status and report responses to Texas Health and Human Services. The policy was a response to the increasing number of undocumented individuals getting health care at hospitals, claiming that it created a financial burden on Texas taxpayers. As a result of this policy, Texas hospitals are seeing fewer undocumented individuals, according to a recent analysis by The Texas Tribune. Let’s review the data and what it means for Latino health care across Texas.
Undocumented Immigrant Hospital Visits in Texas
Prior to the executive order, Texas hospitals received 30,000 visits from undocumented immigrants, according to the ...
Cancer is a rising health threat for all people. Latinos have a heavy cancer burden due to non-medical drivers, such as a lack of reliable transportation, housing, and food, to challenges with getting screening and care. Also, too few Latinos are able to push for fair cancer research. That’s where the Latino Cancer Patient Advocate Training Program comes into play. Since 2024, the program has turned cancer survivors into patient leaders who are sitting on committees, helping with drug development, and creating materials to help Latinos. The Salud Talks podcast caught up with some of the former trainees who are putting what they learned into practice. Podcast host Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, leader of Salud America! and director of the Institute for Health ...
