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2025 was filled with plenty of ups and downs in the world of health for Latinos and all people.
However, there were some significant highs that drove health in 2025.
For instance, 2025 gave us two campaigns that put readers in the driver’s seat of country-wide change and Salud America! received several opportunities to help make a difference in the lives of all people.
But most of all this year gave us hope in the form of stories of survivorship and perseverance.
Here were the top 10 stories driving Latino Health in 2025.
1. Linda Mota Shares Her Breast Cancer Survivorship Story
Breast cancer was the last thing on Linda Mota’s mind.
She was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer — a disease that greatly affected her family, especially her young son.
Since her diagnosis, Linda has found strength in her family and truth in her story, which she shares often to bring awareness of how important it is to get regular health screenings and participate in research.
2. Preventing the Spread of Measles Takes Center Stage
Measles broke out in many parts of the US this year, sparking the need for resources to prevent the spread of the disease.
This is especially true for those working in hospitals where immunocompromised and other vulnerable individuals are treated.
That’s why Salud America! partnered with the National Hispanic Medical Association and CDC’s Project Firstline to create a resource for healthcare workers to navigate measles.
3. Britney Ortiz Finds Strength in Her Father’s Cancer Diagnosis
Britney Ortiz used to spend her time interviewing cancer survivors as a research assistant in the Avanzando Caminos Hispanic/Latino Cancer Survivorship Cohort Study by UT Health San Antonio.
But that changed when her father was diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
Britney traded interviews with survivors to help her father through his cancer journey as a full-time caregiver.
The experience renewed her purpose of helping cancer survivors and the need for more support for Hispanic/Latino survivors.
4. Thousands Stand Up for New Nutrition Guidelines
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a new proposal to require front-of-package nutrition labels on most foods that have a Nutrition Facts label on back.
The proposal would require a compact informational box, also referred to as the “Nutrition Info Box,” with nutrient information on the front (or principal display panel) of products. The box would also contain information on saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars content in a simple format showing whether the food has “Low,” “Med,” or “High” levels of these nutrients.
The aim is to help consumers quickly, easily identify healthy foods and drinks.
More than 13,000 people submitted a comment, including 36 who submitted a comment through the Salud America! comment campaign.
5. Rick Alvarado’s Teaching Moment Through Prostate Cancer
Rick Alvarado has always enjoyed teaching.
In fact, he dedicated his life to teaching.
But everything changed when he got a life altering cancer diagnosis.
Rick now uses his battle with stage 2 prostate cancer as the ultimate teaching moment for friends and family.
He’s even shared his story with the Avanzando Caminos Hispanic/Latino Cancer Survivorship Cohort Study.
6. Women With Dense Breasts Have a Higher Risk for Cancer
Salud America! partnered with Novartis to educate readers about breast density by publishing 8 things to know about how dense breasts affect your risk for breast cancer.
Dense breasts are common with about half of the US female population having them.
Dense breasts can only be detected by a mammogram and, due to the way they show up on a mammogram, they can often hide tumors.
That’s why people with dense breasts benefit from more cancer screenings.
7. Yoli Day’s Transformative Cancer Journey Leads Her to Health Leadership
From cancer diagnosis to living without a stomach, Yoli Day’s cancer journey hasn’t been an easy one.
Each day brings a new challenge, but Yoli meets each one head on so that she can be a role model for others.
Despite not having a stomach, Yoli works to raise money and awareness for stomach cancer through the organization Debbie’s Dream Foundation.
8. Thousands Take a Stand Against the Addictiveness of Nicotine
As a prominent risk factor for many diseases, including cancer, smoking remains an addictive habit that hurts the health of millions of people, including Latinos.
To address the addictiveness of nicotine, which is the primary substance found in cigarettes, the FDA proposed a rule to significantly cut back on the addictive chemical.
Over 4,000 spoke up to reduce nicotine levels in cigarettes, including 409 who submitted a comment through the Salud America! comment campaign.
9. Joaquin Castro Perseveres Through Cancer to Help Make a Difference
US Congress Representative Joaquin Castro has always put the local Hispanic/Latino community in the forefront of his political career.
But a life-long cancer diagnosis gave him a new understanding and appreciation for Hispanic/Latino cancer survivors like himself.
Since his diagnosis, Representative Castro has used his political platform to support cancer research in his home of South Texas.
10. Salud America! Makes Waves in Cancer Prevention, Survivorship, and Alzheimer’s Disease
Salud America! has been on the cutting edge of research, education, and healthcare promotion.
This year, Salud America! was thrilled to usher in UT Health San Antonio’s latest program focused on cancer prevention at local firefighters.
Firefighters are disproportionately affected by cancer due to their sacrifices on the front lines of emergencies.
The San Antonio Firefighters Cancer Prevention Program aims to better understand and reduce the burden of cancer among local first responders.
In the same vein, Salud America! continues to support local cancer survivors through its work with the Avanzando Caminos Hispanic/Latino Cancer Survivorship Cohort Study, which is designed to help make a difference in the lives of cancer survivors living in South Texas.
While the study examines the lives of survivors of prostate, colorectal, lung, stomach, liver, endometrial, breast, cervical, and kidney cancers, this year the study added bladder, melanoma, ovarian, thyroid, and lymphoma cancers, giving them an opportunity to share their stories.
Lastly, Salud America! was awarded funding to help promote UT Health San Antonio’s newest Alzheimer’s and dementia research center called the San Antonio Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) Population Aging and Social Studies (CAPAS).
The center focuses on different aspects of life and their influence on the health of the Latino population, specifically those dealing with Alzheimer’s or related dementias.
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Healthy Neighborhoods & CommunitiesBy The Numbers
1
Supermarket
for every Latino neighborhood, compared to 3 for every non-Latino neighborhood
