While cancer continues to be a leading cause of death among those living in the US, 2001 to 2022 saw a steady drop in cancer cases, according to a the Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer. The decline can be attributed to the decrease in incidence and deaths due to lung cancer and other cancers related to smoking, according to researchers. Alternatively, cancers related to obesity, which is linked to an increased risk of cancer, have risen over the past 20 years. This has led to higher rates of female breast, uterus, colon and rectal, pancreatic, kidney, and liver cancers, according to the report. Let’s break down the report and discuss what the data means for Latinos and all people.
Cancer by the Numbers
The new report, supported by the National ...
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, ...
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 ...
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, ...
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 ...
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 ...
Despite advances in modern medicine, the US continues to have one of the worst infant and maternal mortality rates in the developed world. In 2021, there were 32.9 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Fast forward to 2022 and the maternal mortality rate is down to 22.3 deaths for every 100,000 live births, according to a new March of Dimes report. The new rate marks a significant departure from the time of the pandemic when maternal mortality rates were at an all-time high. However, not everything is back to pre-pandemic levels. Here are the five key takeaways from the 2024 March of Dimes Report Card and what they mean for the health of mothers across the country.
1. ...
Cancer continues to be tied with heart disease as the top cause of death for all people, including Latinos. People of different backgrounds suffer higher rates of certain cancer types, are diagnosed at later stages, and are more likely to die from the disease. This is often due to issue with non-medical drivers of health in communities. That’s why researchers choose to keep studying the intersection between background and health issues so that science and medicine can improve cancer outcomes for these individuals and everyone. Here are three cancer studies that focus on cancer and background.
1. Trends in Incidence of Testicular Cancer
Testicular cancer remains the second -most common cancer in men aged 15-39 worldwide, according to a study published in the National ...
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing a new rule that, if finalized, would make cigarettes and certain other combusted tobacco products minimally or nonaddictive by limiting the level of nicotine in those products. Smoking cigarettes, which contain nicotine, an addictive chemical, is estimated to kill nearly half a million people in the U.S. each year. The proposed rule aims to make cigarettes less addictive, prevent young people from starting smoking, and promote quitting smoking among all groups. The FDA wants your comment on the proposed rule. You can submit a model comment created by Salud America! urging the FDA to make cigarettes and other tobacco products less addictive. This comment period closed Sept. 15, 2025. November 2025 ...
Over 4,000 Speak Up to Reduce Nicotine Levels in Cigarettes
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing a new rule that, if finalized, would make cigarettes and certain other combusted tobacco products minimally or nonaddictive by limiting the level of nicotine in those products. Smoking cigarettes, which contain nicotine, an addictive chemical, is estimated to kill nearly half a million people in the U.S. each year. The proposed rule aims to make cigarettes less addictive, prevent young people from starting smoking, and promote quitting smoking among all groups. The FDA wants your comment on the proposed rule. You can submit a model comment created by Salud America! urging the FDA to make cigarettes and other tobacco products less addictive. This comment period closed Sept. 15, 2025. November 2025 ...
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