by Arnoldo Rodriguez Para la mayoría de las personas, septiembre es simplemente la frontera entre el verano y el otoño. Pero para quienes hemos sido tocados por el cáncer, es un mes de gran peso. Para mí, ese peso se duplica. Septiembre es a la vez el Mes de Concientización sobre el Cáncer de Próstata y el Mes de Concientización sobre el Cáncer de la Sangre. Como sobreviviente tanto de cáncer de próstata como de linfoma folicular, este mes siempre llega con una compleja mezcla de emociones. Actúa como un doble espejo, obligándome a mirar atrás hacia las luchas distintas y agotadoras de dos diagnósticos completamente diferentes. Reaviva los fantasmas de ansiedades pasadas, el frío clínico de las salas de tratamiento y la profunda vulnerabilidad de ser paciente. Ese ...
by Arnoldo Rodriguez For most people, September is simply the boundary between summer and autumn. But for those of us whose lives have been touched by cancer, it is a month of heavy significance. For me, that weight is doubled. September is both Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and Blood Cancer Awareness Month. As a survivor of both prostate cancer and follicular lymphoma, this month always arrives with a complex rush of emotions. It acts as a double mirror, forcing me to look back at the distinct, grueling struggles of two entirely different diagnoses. It reawakens the ghosts of past anxieties, the clinical chill of treatment rooms, and the profound vulnerability of being a patient. That is the bitter side of September—the visceral reminder of what was endured. If you are ...
“Para bailar La Bamba se necesita una poca de gracia.” There’s a strong chance you’ve heard this song, “La Bamba,” on the radio, on TV, walking through the grocery store, or somewhere else at least once in your life. While there are several different versions of this song, one of the most well-known was recorded by Ritchie Valens, a rock ‘n’ roll icon who had a short but impactful career. During Hispanic Heritage Month, Salud America! is celebrating Latino trailblazers, historical figures, and inspirational stories. This year we are highlighting the career and contributions of Ritchie Valens, a Mexican American singer and songwriter who blazed a trail for rock musicians for decades to come.
Ritchie Valens: Early Life Before Fame
Richard Steven Valenzuela ...
In 13 minutes, audiences caught a glimpse into the vibrant colors, unique island sounds, and iconic cultural symbols synonymous with Puerto Rico. Viewers traveled through the towering sugar cane fields to la casita for a party de marquesina then to Castillo San Felipe del Morro for a wedding followed by a trip to Toñitas in New York for drinks and fixing downed power lines. For many, the 2026 Super Bowl Half Time Show was a performance, but for others it was a love letter to Puerto Rico on center stage at the biggest musical event of the year. And Bad Bunny was the conductor. As the show came to a close, Bad Bunny wielded a football at the screen that bared the words, “Together we are America,” and uttered the phrase, “Seguimos aquí.” We’re still ...
For Claudia Perez-Favela, cancer has always been the elephant in the room. Claudia has seen her Latino family members endure cancer and even perish from the disease over the years. Yet they never openly shared their experiences. “In my family, cancer is like the flu,” she said. Because cancer is such a taboo subject in her family, when Claudia got cervical cancer from the HPV virus, she couldn’t turn to her family for support. “They are gonna say ... I got cancer because I did something wrong ... we don’t talk about cancer,” she said. Instead of staying silent, Claudia shook off the stigma behind her diagnosis and started to share her story and challenge the harmful falsehoods behind HPV so women like her can stay informed against ...
Our life experiences can shape who we are and what we strive to be in the future. This can certainly be said about Dr. Antonia Novello, the first woman and Latina to be appointed as Surgeon General in the United States. During Hispanic Heritage Month, Salud America! is celebrating Latino trailblazers, historical figures, and inspirational stories. This year we are recognizing Dr. Antonia Novello, a physician and public health administrator with a strong legacy for promoting health for all.
What Was Early Life Like for Antonia Novello?
Antonia Novello was born Antonia Coello in 1944 in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As the eldest of 3 siblings, Novello experienced health challenges early in her life. “As a child, Novello ...
Whether it’s in hospitals and clinics, out in the community, or online, there are many Salud Heroes who have helped improve health for all the people in their communities. During Hispanic Heritage Month, Salud America! recognizes figures both throughout history and today who serve as health role models. Let’s look at 10 Salud Heroes who have championed Latino health.
1. Dr. Jose Celso Barbosa
Dr. José Celso Barbosa Alcalá, also known as José Celso Barbosa, was the first Afro-Latino to obtain a medical degree in the United States. Born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Barbosa valued education. He graduated in 1880 from the University of Michigan Medical School as the valedictorian of his class, becoming the first Puerto Rican to earn a medical degree in the continental ...
It’s Hispanic Heritage Month and we are honoring the pioneers, activists, silver screen darlings, and songstresses who put their unique stamp on Hispanic historia and the lasting impact they’ve had on Latino community. Here are 9 icons who influenced Latino culture and inspired future generations to continue their legacy.
Rita Moreno
Rita Moreno danced and sang her way into our hearts with her role in the movie musical West Side Story. Before stepping into the spotlight, there was no one that looked or sounded like her on screen. “I had no real role model. There was nobody that I could look up to and say that’s somebody like me. There was no such person. Which is probably why I’m now known in my community as La Pionera, ‘the ...
Before stepping into the cancer advocacy and support space, the only thing José Adorno knew about cancer was that it killed people and he hated it.
It started when on a vacation.
He had met some family friends, and their daughter had given birth to a baby girl.
“Her sister had given birth to this little baby ... and she had cancer when [her baby] was not even two years old,” he recalled. “She passed away a few months after her diagnosis. [The] mom couldn't even carry [her baby] at times because she was in so much pain, so that's the picture of cancer that I had in my head ... just how ugly it can get.”
José’s perception of cancer changed when he was unexpectedly offered a position to help Spanish-speaking cancer patients find resources they needed to keep up with ...
