Search Results for "cancer"

New Cancer Cases Projected to Surpass 2M Historical High



New cancer cases are projected to surpass 2 million in 2024 - a first in for the U.S., according to American Cancer Society’s Cancer Facts & Figures 2024 report.  The landmark projection amounts to 5,500 diagnoses a day.  The American Cancer Society attributes the rise in cases to a growing and aging population along with an increase in diagnoses of six common cancers – breast, prostate, endometrial, pancreatic, kidney, and melanoma.  In addition, the organization is projecting over 611,000 deaths from cancer in 2024, a .19% increase from 2023. That is more than 1,600 deaths each day!  While cancer is prevalent across people of all races, ethnicities, ages, genders, and backgrounds, it disproportionately continues to affect people of color, such as Latinos.  Cancer in ...

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Take Action to Lower Your Risk for Cervical Cancer



Today is a great time to protect yourself and others cervical cancer.    For Latinos, cancer is the leading cause of death. Latinos also are more likely than their peers to develop cancer in the liver, stomach, and cervix.  The good news is you can lower your cervical cancer risk!   In celebration of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month in January, let’s dive deeper into how we protect against cervical cancer.   Cervical Cancer Risk Factors and Symptoms   Almost all cervical cancers are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus that can be passed from one person to another during sex, according to the CDC.   There are different types of HPV. Some cause changes on your cervix that can lead to cervical cancer.   Other risk factors include having HIV (the ...

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San Antonio: Learn How Cancer Impacts Latinos (En Español)!


san antonio latino cancer event LLS

You are invited to join the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) for a free Spanish-language event in San Antonio to help Latinos learn and respond to their cancer risks! The event, "Aprendiendo Sobre Los Cánceres Que Afectan a Los Latinos y Cómo Enfrentarlos," is set for 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, 76 NE Interstate Loop 410, San Antonio. Dinner is free! Registration is required. "This is a unique opportunity for patients, caregivers, and the community to learn from experts on topics, including learning what cancers that most affect our Latino community," according to LLS. REGISTER FOR THE EVENT! About the Event on Latino Cancer Latinos are a dynamic, diverse, rising population. But cancer threatens the future health of the U.S. Latino ...

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“I Couldn’t Feel More Blessed”: How Amber Lopez Found Hope Through Her Cancer Journey



News of a cancer diagnosis is the last thing anyone wants to hear.   It can be especially devastating for a teenager with no family history of cancer.   That was reality for Amber Lopez.  Lopez, a San Antonio resident who began experiencing symptoms around age 14, was eventually diagnosed with cervical cancer a few years later at 18.   “When you hear that word cancer, you’re kind of like, 'Oh, my God. OK. So, does that mean like, I’m going to pass away? How does this work?'” Lopez said.  Since her diagnosis, Lopez has overcome many challenges in her cancer journey.   Now she’s sharing her story through the Avanzando Caminos study at UT Health San Antonio to give hope to other Latino cancer survivors.   Navigating Her Cancer Diagnosis   Latinas ...

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Watch: Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez on the Importance of Cancer Screening for Latinos


Chasing Cancer Screening Amelie Ramirez Washington Post

Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, leader of Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio, joined The Washington Post's live show to share how cancer screening can help patients get diagnosed and treated earlier The show, "Chasing Cancer: The Path Forward," sponsored by AstraZeneca, took place Nov. 8, 2023. In the first part of of the show, Renee Wegrzyn, director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), and Eric Topol, executive vice president of Scripps Research, discussed how technological advancements and AI are changing how cancer is diagnosed and treated. In the second part of the show, Ramirez teamed with Dr. Gladys I. Rodriguez, a medical oncologist with the START Center for Cancer Care, to discuss innovative initiatives make it easier to access early screenings, ...

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Speed the Search for Better Treatments by Joining the GO2 Lung Cancer Registry!



Researchers need your help as they seek to better understand how lung cancer impacts people differently and how to improve treatment and quality of life.  That’s why the GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer started its Lung Cancer Registry.   The international Lung Cancer Registry, available to join now, aims to double the 5-year survival rate of lung cancer patients from 20% to 40% by 2025.   “By sharing your lung cancer story, contributing your experiences as a person with lung cancer or a caregiver of someone with lung cancer, you are helping the research community develop new treatments,” according to GO2.  Let’s dive into more about the registry, how you can join, and how it can help Latinos.   Joining the Lung Cancer Registry   Participants interested in ...

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From Fluke to Survivor: How Angelina Vazquez Felsing is Contributing to Latino Cancer Research



“It was kind of a fluke.”  That’s how Angelina Vazquez Felsing describes the events that led to her diagnosis of lung cancer.   Like many, Vazquez Felsing maintained a healthy lifestyle. She didn’t smoke. She ate healthy, ran regularly, and had no family history of cancer.   Vazquez Felsing, who immigrated from Mazatlán, Mexico, in 1972, grew up in the Floresville area and has lived in San Antonio for many years.   It all started when Vazquez Felsing went to her yearly checkup through the wellness program at her job, where she has worked as a systems analyst for 17 years.  “They found something that was a little bit odd. They said, ‘Well come back in a year, and we'll do another CT scan,’” she said. “And when I went back, they found that whatever ...

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Liver Cancer Resources Latinos Should Know About



Did you know 1 in 5 people with liver cancer in the United States are Latino?   The rise of liver cancer in Latinos is happening for many reasons. Some of the big reasons include excess body weight, alcohol use, smoking, and metabolic disorders. Latinos are often diagnosed at more advanced stages of liver cancer.   With this in mind, let’s explore helpful resources for Latinos on liver cancer.   Liver Cancer Connect  With liver cancer disproportionately impacting Latinos, it’s crucial that they have educational tools and resources to help navigate through their diagnosis.   Liver Cancer Connect is a program by the Hepatitis B Foundation that provides liver cancer patients and their families with information and support.   “Although this is a serious diagnosis, ...

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Adan Reinosa: Colorectal Cancer Survivor Pays it Forward with Study Participation


Adan Reinosa Rivera NCI colorectal cancer survivor - featured

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer death among people of Hispanic and Latino descent in the United States. Adan Reinosa Rivera, a retired electrical engineer in Los Angeles, is doing his part to change that. Mr. Reinosa has been living with metastatic colorectal cancer for more than a decade. The cancer was detected in his lungs a few months after a tumor was removed from his colon. He’s been managing the disease with his doctor ever since. Now, as the first participant in a genetic study called ENLACEExit Disclaimer, Mr. Reinosa is helping to build a body of knowledge about the molecular features of colorectal cancers in Hispanic and Latino people. The study, supported by the Cancer MoonshotSM, aims to learn more about the disease in people of Hispanic and ...

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