The number of people living with a history of cancer in the United States is estimated at 18.6 million as of Jan. 1, 2025, according to a report on Cancer Treatment and Survivorship Statistics from the American Cancer Society (ACS). This number is projected to exceed 22 million by 2035, according to the report. Let’s dive deeper into this report and what it says about cancer survivorship.
Survivorship Stats
The ACS report highlights that the 3 most prevalent cancers among males are prostate (3,552,460) melanoma of the skin (816,580), and colorectal (729,550) For women, breast (4,305,570), uterine corpus (945,540), and thyroid (859,890) were the 3 most prevalent. “The number of female breast cancer survivors is projected to reach 5.3 million by January 1, 2035 – an ...
Just like fingerprints are tailored to the individual they belong to, no two cancer survivor stories are the same. Yet, every single one is important. “Every story is unique, and every story is worth understanding and learning from,” said Dr. Derek Rodriguez. Dr. Rodriguez is the research scientist helping lead the Avanzando Caminos Hispanic/Latino Cancer Survivorship study team at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio. Everyone’s cancer journey is different and paved with unique challenges and obstacles that define treatment, quality of life, and long-lasting health impacts, he explained. And that’s exactly what the dedicated Avanzando Caminos team is trying to get to the bottom of by collecting the stories of survivors. Let’s ...
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, ...
Cancer survivors are more than their diagnosis. They are an example of resilience, courage, and unwavering determination brought on by a fight — well fought and won. Throughout the month of June, for National Cancer Survivors Month, we at Salud America! are honoring survivors by sharing their stories of sacrifice and triumph and focusing on ways to improve cancer outcomes for those battling the disease. To kick off the month we are celebrating National Cancer Survivors Day. Let’s explore what National Cancer Survivors Day is all about and learn about ways to participate!
What is National Cancer Survivors Day?
Every year National Cancer Survivors Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of June. This year it will take place on Sunday, June 1, 2025. Led by the National ...
South Texas is home to one of the largest populations of Hispanic/Latinos in the nation. Many people in this region face challenges that jeopardize their health and make them more susceptible to risk factors and diseases, such as cancer. These challenges can also hinder cancer care, resulting in worse cancer outcomes. That’s why one the Avanzando Caminos Hispanic/Latino Cancer Survivorship study at UT Health San Antonio aims to address some of these issues and find ways to intervene so that survivors can have an improved quality of life. The Avanzando Caminos study was recently highlighted in a podcast produced by Salud America! for BioMedSA, a non-profit that advances health in San Antonio. For the podcast, Avanzando Caminos program manager and research ...
Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, leader of Salud America! and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, was named to Susan G. Komen's Scientific Advisory Board. Komen's 10-member Scientific Advisory Board provides strategic guidance and direction for its research and scientific programs. It also plays a key role in guiding and prioritizing Komen’s global research investment and serves as the executive committee of the Komen Scholars. Dr. Ramirez's appointment is effective April 1, 2025. “I am honored to serve on Susan G. Komen's Scientific Advisory Board. I look forward to being a part of Komen’s extensive activities to address breast cancer and the non-medical drivers of health among people of all backgrounds," Ramirez said.
Dr. Ramirez & Her Health ...
As we continue to deal with COVID-19, the seniors in many of our familias are still at high risk for the virus’ serious health impacts. Between 2020 and 2025, seniors ages 65 and older were among those with the highest rates of death due to COVID-19, accounting for 936,523, or 76%, of all COVID-19 deaths in the US, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine has significantly slowed and reduced cases, many seniors remain burdened by complications from the virus for several reasons. These include vaccine hesitancy, challenges to vaccine access, and the spread of incorrect information about the vaccine. That’s why our friends at CVEEP are reminding seniors and other immunocompromised individuals ...
Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, leader of Salud America! and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, joined Coastal Living TV in Corpus Christi, Texas, to share how cancer survivors can join the Avanzando Caminos study. Avanzando Caminos is a study that aims to help cancer survivors. The study aims to enroll 1,500 Latino cancer survivors in South Texas and 1,500 more in Miami to help unpack the behavioral, mental, biological, and medical influences on life after cancer. As part of the study, volunteers share their cancer journeys. "So far, the individuals who've participated have been really grateful. They said, 'I've never had a chance to tell my story about what I went through,'" Ramirez said. "It will help us take a deeper look into how we can help our ...
A lot can change in the wake of a cancer diagnosis, especially for a daughter. “When a person gets sick, the whole family gets sick, especially in the Hispanic and Latino community ... It is really a family effort when it comes to going through cancer treatment and a cancer diagnosis,” Britney Ortiz said. Being a research assistant in the Avanzando Caminos Hispanic/Latino Cancer Survivorship research study at UT Health San Antonio, Britney Ortiz thought she knew a lot about cancer. But her father's unexpected cancer diagnosis gave her a true understanding of the disease. In a short period of time, Britney went from interviewing survivors about their cancer journey to being a caregiver for a loved one.
A Shocking Cancer Diagnosis
Britney said her father’s ...
