For seniors and other immunocompromised individuals, the best way to protect against severe effects from COVID-19 is to stay up-to-date with the CDC's vaccine recommendations and available treatments. But antivirals are underused. That's why our friends at CVEEP have resources to help protect against infectious respiratory diseases across the lifespan. CVEEP recently featured Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, leader of Salud America! and cancer health researcher at the Mays Cancer Center at the University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center, in a radio campaign for early treatment. The campaign, in English and Spanish, aired on 899 stations and generated 45.2 million impressions. "Please don't wait. Early treatment [of respiratory illnesses] makes a big difference," ...
Today, the Mays Cancer Center at The University of Texas San Antonio Health Science Center, along with 61 National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Cancer Centers with leading national organizations and the University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center have endorsed a joint statement urging the nation’s health care systems, physicians and other health care providers and professionals, parents, and caregivers, and the public to promote and choose human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for cancer prevention. HPV vaccination is safe and works to prevent six types of cancer (oropharyngeal, cervical, anal, vaginal, vulvar, and penile). Recently released National Immunization Survey (NIS)-Teen data show no gains in HPV vaccination over the last few years indicating urgent ...
Since coming to the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, research scientist Dr. Derek Rodriguez has gotten to live his dream. From a young age, Derek had dreams of becoming a doctor and attending medical school. That dream took a turn when his health did. At 8 years old, he was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of childhood cancer. Derek’s experience inspired him to pursue cancer research and ultimately led him to a position with the university, where he serves as program manager for the Avanzando Caminos study, which aims to improve the Latino cancer survivorship journey. “I am now serving my community as well as those that are cancer survivors, so it’s pretty much a full circle moment,” he told Salud ...
Stomach cancer accounts for about 1.5% of all new cancers diagnosed in the US each year, and Latinos have a high risk, according to the American Cancer Society. With this in mind, it’s important for communities to learn about stomach cancer risk and have resources and tools to support themselves or loved ones experiencing this issue. To raise awareness about stomach cancer, Debbie’s Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer will host the first-ever Gut Check for Stomach Cancer 5K Run & 1 Mile Walk from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 at Greenline Park in San Antonio, Texas. The event will include activities, such as health and wellness booths, local medical resources, a DJ and music, youth dance teams, face painting, and more. Register here for the ...
On July 11, 2025, researchers and community members joined together for the first Pancreatic Cancer Retreat to explore the impact of this disease in South Texas. The retreat, at UT Rio Grande Valley in South Texas, was a collaboration among the community outreach and engagement team (COE) and the community advisory board (CAB) at Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio, and the Canopy Cancer Collective, a nonprofit focused on pancreatic cancer. At the event, clinicians, researchers, patient liaisons, and industry leaders had collaborative discussions on topics including clinical trials, tumor boards, biobanks, educational resources, and screening initiatives on pancreatic cancer. Event participants from Mays Cancer Center included Dr. Lei Zheng, director, and Mary Jimenez, ...
Cancer is tied with heart disease as the top cause of death for Latinos. To help us address cancer in Latinos and all people, register now for the 2026 Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations conference on Feb. 18-20, 2026, at the Plaza San Antonio, Texas, led by the Institute for Health Promotion Research and Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio. The 2026 ACR conference will unite cancer survivors, caregivers, researchers, doctors, and others to discuss the latest in Latino cancer research, knowledge, and action. The health of Latinos is important for the nation, where nearly one in three people are expected to be Latino within 30 years. "We hope to present timely research on every stage of the cancer continuum to improve research, clinical best ...
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recently signed a law that mandates the first-ever warning labels on foods like chips and candies that contain dyes and additives not allowed in other countries. “The law mandates disclosures for more than 40 ingredients, including food dyes and additives commonly used in food processing to help with texture, taste or shelf life,” according to AP News. Let’s dig deeper into what this law means and how it impacts families and communities.
What Does This Law Entail?
The newly signed law will require foods made with any of more than 40 dyes or additives to have warning labels starting Jan. 1, 2027. The labels will include verbiage saying the products’ contain ingredients “not recommended for human consumption” in Australia, Canada, Europe, or ...
Dietary and lifestyle patterns can impact your cancer risk, according to a new report from the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) and the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR). The report, Dietary and lifestyle patterns for cancer prevention: evidence and recommendations from CUP Global, lists recommendations for dietary and lifestyle patterns for cancer prevention. The list has considerations for breast and colorectal cancer, the second- and third-most-common cancers worldwide. Recommendations include: For overall cancer prevention, follow a healthy dietary pattern, aim to be physically active, maintain a healthy body weight and avoid smoking. In such a dietary pattern, prioritize fruit, vegetables, and fiber-containing foods.
For colorectal cancer prevention, ...
The new San Antonio Firefighters Cancer Prevention Program aims to better understand and reduce the cancer burden among local firefighters and emergency medical services personnel, thanks to the partnership of the San Antonio Fire Department, UT Health San Antonio, and Sylvester’s Firefighter Cancer Initiative at the University of Miami. The program, launched in April 2025, is gaining media coverage: Firefighter with cancer praises new research partnerships between SAFD and cancer center, KSAT-12 TV
New UT Health program aims to prevent cancer in San Antonio firefighters, Texas Public Radio
UT Health Science Center leading research into cancer rates among firefighters, Spectrum News
Héroes sin capa y entre llamas: la lucha silenciosa de los bomberos, KVDA-TV ...
