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Latinas Wait Longer for Confirmatory Breast Cancer Diagnosis



White women with private insurance waited an average of 15.9 days between breast cancer testing and confirmatory diagnosis, while privately insured black women waited 27.1 days and Latinas 51.4 days, according to a new study. The study, which involved almost 1,000 women examined for breast cancer, indicates that race/ethnicity plays a larger role than insurance in getting a timely breast cancer diagnosis. For women on Medicare or Medicaid, the wait between testing and diagnosis was 11.9 days for whites, 39.4 days for blacks and 70.8 days for Latinas. Among those without insurance, the wait was 44.5 days for whites compared with 59.7 days for blacks and 66.5 days for ...

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Fotonovela Tackles Latino Obesity, Diabetes



The New Mexico Office of Border Health (OBH) has received an award for its bilingual fotonovela (photo novel), “I Wish I had Known,” which tells of one Latino family's struggle with obesity and diabetes. This fotonovela was recognized by the National Public Health Information Coalition for the Bronze Award of Excellence in Public Health Communication/In-House Health Literacy. View the fotonovela in English or Spanish. View the film version here. For additional information, contact Liz Gutierrez at (575) 528-5146 or ...

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Watch Podcast Videos on Minority Cancer Issues



The highly successful third American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved was held from Sept. 30-Oct. 3, 2010, in Miami Beach, FL. The conference was well-received, with more than 500 attendees, 200 presented posters, and several highly meritorious abstracts selected for proffered paper presentations. We encourage you to watch the AACR's short video podcasts that interview these and other health experts: Sanya A. Springfield, Ph.D., NCI Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities; Howard K. Koh, M.D., M.P.H., U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Eddie Reed, M.D., University of South Alabama Miller Cancer Center; and Timothy R. Rebbeck, Ph.D., University of ...

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‘Day of the Dead’ Celebration Provides Inspiration for Healthy Eating



During Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) on Nov. 2, Latino families gather to remember relatives who have died and often honor their memory by preparing the relative’s favorite foods. This is an opportunity to celebrate and incorporate traditional, healthy Mexican eating patterns into American diets. Studies show that, as U.S. Latinos become more “Americanized,” eating patterns shift to include more fast food and sugar-sweetened beverages and less fruit. Coupled with less active lifestyles, these new eating patterns can lead to weight gain, obesity and diabetes in adults and children. “Día de los Muertos is an opportunity for families to celebrate their culture and improve their health with more traditional eating patterns,” said Monica Montes, registered dietitian ...

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Link Between Environment and Cancer Is Going Mainstream



Presidential advisors, lawmakers and the largest breast cancer research group in the country are all simultaneously broadening their agendas to include prevention, and the link between environment and cancer is going mainstream, the Valley Advocate reports. The report cites a new collaboration between Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world's largest breast cancer group, and the Institute of Medicine, a health policy group, on environmental toxins and breast cancer: "The public is invited to observe our upcoming meeting, which will include presentations from leading breast cancer researchers and organizations," said Dr. Amelie Ramirez [of the Institute for Health Promotion Research at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio at the start of a Komen-IOM meeting held July 6-8 in San ...

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5 Tips Latinos Can Do to Fight Childhood Obesity



Childhood obesity is one of the biggest health problems in the nation, especially among Latinos. About 20% of Latino children between ages 12-19 are obese, compared to 18% of all American children. "You can say it's the main problem facing our community," said Dr. Felipe Lobelo, who specializes in nutrition, physical activity, and obesity at the CDC. "Unfortunately, we (Hispanics) are among the groups with the highest rates of obesity in both adults and children, and we have to do something about it." Dr. Lobelo offered these tips to help parents get started on preventing obesity: 1) Eat more fruits and vegetables. Eating fruits and vegetables is essential to fighting childhood obesity. Parents and guardians can add fruits to their kids' diet by chopping them up and ...

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Get Moving with “Muévete Hoy!” Exercise Video



The new "Muévete Hoy!" exercise video infuses Latin dance moves and a catchy beat to motivate Latinos of all ages to get more physically active. We created the English and Spanish exercise video to get participants up and moving at a recent conference. Now we're asking you to stand up, get ready and "Muévete Hoy!" E-mail us to request a DVD copy. Watch below or on YouTube in English: Watch below or on YouTube in Spanish: The video was produced by the Institute for Health Promotion Research at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, the team behind SaludToday. Learn more about us at ...

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New Speaker Series Focuses on Cancer Health Disparities; Starts Oct. 20



The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio and UT San Antonio are teaming up to launch the San Antonio Life Sciences Institute (SALSI) Distinguished Health Disparities Lecture Series, which will periodically bring some of the top U.S. health disparities experts to San Antonio to offer the latest trends, tools and advancements in the fight against cancer health disparities among the underserved. The series starts Oct. 20 and runs until August 2011. The series will feature speakers who can enhance the knowledge and abilities of local doctors and researchers, who then can apply learned techniques and strategies in their labs, clinics and communities. South Texas residents, particularly Hispanics/Latinos, experience many health disparities—the disproportionately higher incidence and ...

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IHPR’s Ramirez Weighs in on Latino Childhood Obesity Epidemic



Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research at The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, recently discussed challenges and solutions to Latino childhood obesity as a guest on “Conversations on Health Care,” a weekly radio show airing in Connecticut, Minnesota and Michigan made possible by the Connecticut-based Community Health Center, Inc. The show features experts in health care innovation and reform. Dr. Ramirez talks about the Latino childhood obesity epidemic and her Salud America! program’s efforts to reduce the epidemic. Dr. Ramirez has spent 30 years directing many research programs focused on human and organizational communication to reduce chronic disease and cancer health disparities affecting Latinos. Listen to the ...

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