Study: The Reasons Minority Women Don’t Get Genetic Testing for Breast Cancer


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Why are racial/ethnic minority populations less likely than whites to get genetic testing, which can help a woman learn if she has an abnormal gene that is linked to higher breast cancer risk? The answer may lie in their attitudes toward genetic testing. Latina, black, Asian, Native American, and Appalachian women all had a generally positive attitude toward genetic testing, but several key differences emerged among these minority groups, according to a new study led by Dr. Amelie Ramirez of Redes En Acción, a national cancer research network based at the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio. The study, which sought to better understand attitudes toward genetic testing to guide development of culturally sensitive ...

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The Health and Financial Benefits of Giving Up Alcohol



Alcohol consumption among Latinos is lower than in non-Hispanic whites, according to the National Institutes of Health. But, Latinos who drink are more likely to consume higher volumes of alcohol than non-Hispanic Whites. According to doctors taking a break from alcohol or giving up alcohol consumption completely can be tough, but the advantages to your health and pocket are worth the effort. Here’s what you can expect to happen long-term and short-term if you take a break from alcoholic beverages, according to Prevention: Risk for cancer falls: Drinking alcohol has been linked to an increase risk of liver, colon, mouth and rectum cancer. “The risk increases the more you drink.” More money in your pocket: A night at the bar can be detrimental for your health, but ...

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Latino Investigator to Oversee National Minority Health Research



Dr. Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable, a long-time Latino health researcher, will become the new director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIHMD is the NIH's leading organization for planning, reviewing, coordinating and evaluating its minority health and disparities research activities. In his new role, Dr. Pérez-Stable will oversee a $270 million budget to conduct and support research, training, research capacity and infrastructure development, public education and information dissemination programs to improve minority health. Dr. Pérez-Stable leads the northwest region of Redes En Acción, a national Latino cancer research network funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and led by Dr. Amelie G. ...

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Tweetchat 4/30/15: Challenges and Solutions to Reducing Latino Cancer



Latinos often face increased or more severe cancer burdens and experiences than other groups. Why? And how can we work toward healthier lives for Latinos and all groups? In honor of Minority Health Promotion Day, you're invited to a National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Cancer Institute (@thenci) Twitter chat at 1 p.m. ET April 30, 2015, to discuss cancer health disparities among different population groups, cancer types, and initiatives and challenges in reducing these disparities. Use #NMHM15Chat to follow along! @SaludToday, the social media campaign of Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, will be an active chat participant, along with many ...

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Latino Health Researchers: Join Workshop on the Study of Public Datasets



Calling all researchers focused on Latino health! You're invited to a professional development workshop June 28-30, 2015, that will help Latino health scholars strengthen their skills in analyzing and studying public health datasets to contribute to the understanding of Latino and other underserved populations. Abstracts for oral and poster presentations at the workshop are being accepted through April 19, 2015, from junior faculty, residents, graduate students, doctoral students, post-doctoral students, and other researchers. The workshop is sponsored and hosted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, ...

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New Bilingual Cookbook: Latinas’ Tasty Recipes Get Cancer-Fighting Makeover



Eating the right food can help fight cancer. But what foods are right? Are there such things as healthy—and tasty—traditional Latino dishes? Check out a new bilingual cookbook, Nuestra Cocina Saludable: Recipes from Our Community Kitchen, to guide you and your family to eat healthy and help protect against cancer and other chronic diseases. The cookbook is from the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) and the Cancer Therapy and Research Center (CTRC) at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio. Download the free cookbook in English or Spanish. Inside are 46 recipes for healthy, delicious foods straight from real Latina kitchens. The cookbook originated when Latinas from across South Texas shared their mouth-watering recipes—like Aurora Rodriguez of Eagle ...

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Heart Disease Risk Higher among ‘Acculturated’ Latinos; Risk Factors Vary by Latino Background



Heart disease risk factors are widespread among U.S. Latino adults, with 80% of men and 71% of women having at least one risk factor for heart disease, according to a San Diego State University (SDSU) study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). These percentages are much higher than the general population, where 49% of adults have at least one major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Prevalence of risk factors varies across Hispanic/Latino background groups, with some groups, particularly those with Puerto Rican background, experiencing high rates of heart disease risk factors compared to other groups, according to findings from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), which will be published in today's Journal of the American Medical ...

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Clinical Trials and You



A new National Institutes of Health website, NIH Clinical Research Trials and You, is designed to help people learn about clinical trials and how they can participate. The resource, offered in English and Spanish, answers basic questions such as What are clinical trials and why do people participate? and What do I need to know if I am thinking about participating? In addition, the website offers volunteer stories, researcher stories and educational resources. You can also get help finding a clinical ...

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NIH Launches Program to Combat Obesity Among Latinos, Others



The National Institutes of Health is launching a $37 million research program on human behavior to develop more effective interventions to reduce obesity. The program, Translating Basic Behavioral and Social Science Discoveries into Interventions to Reduce Obesity, will fund interdisciplinary teams of researchers at seven sites. Investigators will conduct experimental and formative research to increase understanding of populations being studied, small studies known as proof of concept trials, and pilot and feasibility studies to identify promising new avenues for encouraging behaviors that prevent or treat obesity. The program’s studies focus on diverse populations at high risk of being overweight or obese, including Latino and African American adults, youths, low-income populations, ...

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