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 ...
Good health is important for all people! With this in mind, Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, leader of Salud America!, is sharing an important comment to focus on many aspects of health for Latinos and all people as part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2027-2031. Endorse Dr. Ramirez’s comment here. Comments must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. May 2026 UPDATE: 97 Salud America! members submitted comments in support of Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez’s comment to prioritize many aspects of health and research for Latinos and all people. Endorese the Comment
Endorse Dr. Ramirez’s Comment on the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan
Dear NIH leaders, As the leader of Salud America!, an organization that promotes health improvement ...
In 2024, 15 Latina cancer survivors from across the US and beyond met for the first-ever Latino Cancer Patient Advocate Training Program to become cancer patient leaders.
Since then, the survivors-turned-patient leaders, like Marielle Santos McLeod and Andrea Suarez Vargas have been sharing their stories to help cancer patients, elevate their voices among decision-makers, and create new research opportunities for Latinos and all people.
However, there is still more work to do.
On the heels of the first training, program creators Dr. Barbara Segarra-Vázquez of the University of Puerto Rico and Sandi Stanford of the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation turned around to do it again.
This time the pair welcomed 16 new Latino cancer survivors to participate in the second cohort of Latino Cancer ...
Cancer persists in the US, especially in overlooked communities. Many of these groups suffer disproportionate cancer rates and worse outcomes, due to long-standing issues that formed differences in education, economic status, access to screening and care, and more. That’s why April is dedicated to bringing awareness and solutions to the challenges these communities face in areas such as cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Here are seven ways to celebrate National Minority Cancer Awareness Month.
1. Learn About Differences in Cancer Outcomes
Did you know that where you live can dictate your health and what kind of health care you receive? Where you live can increase your risk of adverse health effects, such as hypertension and diabetes, that make you ...
April is National Parkinson’s Awareness Month, a great time to share helpful resources that can spread awareness about Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s affects more than 1.1 million people in the U.S. and is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease. With this in mind, let’s learn more about Parkinson’s, how it impacts patients and families, and resources to share during Parkinson’s Awareness Month.
What Is Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s disease is defined as a “type of neurologic movement disorder, affecting the brain and causing difficulty with movements, or motor symptoms.” While Parkinson’s can be characterized by its most common motor symptoms like tremors, stiffness or rigidity of the muscles, and slowness of ...
Dr. Rebecca Jones, assistant director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, shared important community engagement strategies at the 2026 AACI Catchment Area Data Excellence (CADEx) Conference on March 9, 2026, in Atlanta. The event brought together National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center data experts, geospatial statisticians, and representatives from government and industry to address emerging topics in cancer prevention and control analytics. Jones was part of a panel that explored how to use catchment-area data to improve access and outcomes. "Panelists discussed how data inform their choices, focusing on the importance of community engagement for understanding where barriers exist and how access can be improved. Listening sessions ...
Marielle Santos McLeod thought she knew a lot about cancer care. Years as a health professional had given her time to learn about cancer care and gain a closer look at the challenges Latinos face in getting treatment. That’s why, when the mother of four was diagnosed with colon cancer at age 36, she was shocked by just how little she really knew. However, it was enduring the disease as a young Latina that guided her toward her life's purpose – serving as a patient health leader to uplift the voice of Latino cancer survivors. “I love advocacy .... It's like one of the things that I'm convinced that I was put on this earth to do. I just had to get cancer to get to it first,” Santos McLeod said. Update 03/16/2026: After the initial publication of her story ...
More than 59 million Americans provide care for an adult with a complex medical condition or disability. When it comes to Latinos, 17% of caregivers in the U.S. are Latino. A recently published report from the Pew Research Center found that lower-income adults with an aging parent, spouse, or partner are more likely to be caregivers than those in higher income tiers. “What we found is that the caregiving burden increases as aging family members get to be 75 and older. And, among Americans with an aging parent, spouse or partner, those with lower incomes are much more likely to be caregivers than those with middle and upper incomes,” according to the Pew Research Center. Let’s dig deeper into this study’s key takeaways that can impact families.
10% of All U.S. Adults ...
As the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the US, colorectal cancer is affecting more Americans now than ever before. While scientists are working to find out why these rates are increasing, the numbers continue to grow, especially in people younger than 50. Here are 9 bilingual resources for colorectal cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and their families.
1. Colorectal Cancer Support Services
Cancer is a very costly disease in more ways than one. Not only does it create a physical and emotional burden, but also a financial one. Several organizations are working to ease the financial burden of colorectal cancer treatment, including the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. Colorectal Cancer Alliance connects patients and caregivers to financial ...
97 People Endorsed Dr. Amelie Ramirez’s Comment on NIH Strategic Plan
Good health is important for all people! With this in mind, Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, leader of Salud America!, is sharing an important comment to focus on many aspects of health for Latinos and all people as part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2027-2031. Endorse Dr. Ramirez’s comment here. Comments must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. May 2026 UPDATE: 97 Salud America! members submitted comments in support of Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez’s comment to prioritize many aspects of health and research for Latinos and all people. Endorese the Comment Endorse Dr. Ramirez’s Comment on the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan Dear NIH leaders, As the leader of Salud America!, an organization that promotes health improvement ...
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