‘Fatalism’ a Reason Latinas Don’t Get Cancer Screening



"Fatalism," a belief that life's events are predetermined, may be one reason why Latinas have some of the lowest cancer screening rates in the U.S., new research suggests. Hispanic women are much more likely than white women to believe that cancer is not preventable, and that death is inevitable in those diagnosed with cancer, the researchers found in the study, scheduled for publication in the online edition of the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine. Researchers identified a statistically significant link between fatalism and reduced use of cancer screening services. Further studies are needed to learn more about this association, the authors noted. "Improving our understanding of the importance of fatalism in explaining underutilization of cancer screening services among ...

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Link Between Environment and Cancer Is Going Mainstream



Presidential advisors, lawmakers and the largest breast cancer research group in the country are all simultaneously broadening their agendas to include prevention, and the link between environment and cancer is going mainstream, the Valley Advocate reports. The report cites a new collaboration between Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world's largest breast cancer group, and the Institute of Medicine, a health policy group, on environmental toxins and breast cancer: "The public is invited to observe our upcoming meeting, which will include presentations from leading breast cancer researchers and organizations," said Dr. Amelie Ramirez [of the Institute for Health Promotion Research at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio at the start of a Komen-IOM meeting held July 6-8 in San ...

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New Speaker Series Focuses on Cancer Health Disparities; Starts Oct. 20



The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio and UT San Antonio are teaming up to launch the San Antonio Life Sciences Institute (SALSI) Distinguished Health Disparities Lecture Series, which will periodically bring some of the top U.S. health disparities experts to San Antonio to offer the latest trends, tools and advancements in the fight against cancer health disparities among the underserved. The series starts Oct. 20 and runs until August 2011. The series will feature speakers who can enhance the knowledge and abilities of local doctors and researchers, who then can apply learned techniques and strategies in their labs, clinics and communities. South Texas residents, particularly Hispanics/Latinos, experience many health disparities—the disproportionately higher incidence and ...

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IHPR Reaches into Community to Raise Cancer Awareness



Reaching into the community to raise cancer awareness is a big priority of the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, the team behind SaludToday. That's why IHPR researcher Sandra San Miguel and promotora Guadalupe Cornejo worked hard to bring vital health information to more than 350 Latinos on Oct. 1 at the Consulate General of Mexico in San Antonio during Binational Health Week, a series of free health events across the nation to improve Latino health. The pair, representing the IHPR and the Lance Armstrong Foundation's LIVESTRONG campaign, passed out 100 brochres for the LIVESTRONG Survivorcare program, several “What’s Next” booklets and hundreds of yellow LIVESTRONG wristbands. Overall, San Miguel and Cornejo had ...

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IHPR’s National Latino Cancer Research Network Gets $5.6M to Expand Fight Against Cancer



After a decade of success reducing Latino cancer through research, training and education, locally based Redes En Acción: The National Hispanic/Latino Cancer Research Network has received a new $5.6 million grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to bolster and expand its cancer-fighting efforts. Redes En Acción, launched in 2000, is led by the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, the team behind SaludToday. Redes has regional sites in Miami, New York, San Diego and San Francisco along with its online network of more than 1,800 researchers and advocates from across the U.S. In 10 years, Redes has successfully tested novel interventions to improve access to cancer care and screening. It’s trained the ...

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Do You Have Warning Signs for Gynecologic Cancer?



The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Inside Knowledge: Get the Facts about Gynecologic Cancer campaign has launched English and Spanish resources to educate the public about the different types of gynecologic cancer, warning signs, etc. Each year in the U.S., 76,500 women are diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer (cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal and vulvar cancer) and 26,500 die from it. The campaign urges people to: Pay attention to your body and know what is normal for you. Gynecologic cancers have warning signs. When gynecologic cancers are found early, treatment is most effective. If you notice any vaginal bleeding that is unusual for you, or you have any other unexplained signs or symptoms that last for two weeks or longer, see a doctor right away. Get a Pap ...

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Roundup: San Antonio Health Events on ‘Sexting,’ Health Care Reform



Check out these health-related events coming up in the San Antonio area: At 5:30 p.m. today (Sept. 8), the community is inivted to attend a discussion panel, Sexting: Educating Youth on Safe Texting, at Girls Inc. of San Antonio, 1209 S. St. Mary’s, an affiliate of the national Girls Inc. organization that delivers programs that help empower local girls ages 6-18 and increase their self-esteem. Panelists include San Antonio Police Chief William McManus. The community also is invited to attend another panel, Health Care Reform and the Cancer Patient, at 10 a.m. Sept. 25, 2010, in Room 3.104 of the School of Medicine at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive. The panel, supported by the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR), the team behind ...

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Workshop: The Latest in Metastatic Breast Cancer Care & Treatment



CancerCare, in partnership with Redes En Acción, which is led by the Institute for Health Promotion Research at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, will offer a free Connect Education Workshop, Update on Metastatic Breast Cancer: What's New?, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. EST on Oct. 14, 2010. In the tele-workshop, expert speakers will discuss updates on metastatic breast cancer, the current standard of care and new treatment approaches, how clinical research improves care, diagnostic testing and technologies, communicating with your health care team, and more. Other upcoming CancerCare workshops include: The Importance of Clinical Trials, Sept. 24; The Importance of Taking Your Pills on Schedule, Oct. 5; Update on the Treatment of Liver Cancer, Nov. 9.  The breast cancer ...

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‘Insider’ Training Program to Increase Number of Latino Researchers Studying Latino Cancer



Question: Who might have insider information about Latinos that would pave the way for novel studies of cultural, linguistic and socioeconomic issues to prevent Latinos from suffering worse cancer outcomes? Answer: A cancer researcher who also is a Latino. To that end, the new Latino Training Program for Cancer Control Research (LTPCCR), led by the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio thanks to a new five-year, $1.57-million grant from the National Cancer Institute, aims to motivate Latinos to get their doctoral degree and become “insider researchers” in the field of cancer control among Latinos. Right now, few Latinos pursue doctoral degrees or cancer research careers, causing a gap in the amount of ...

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