12/20/2011

In my last note of the year, I want to thank the California Medical Association Foundation for its commitment to educating the Latina community about cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine. Current research shows the vaccince has proven effective to diminish risk even prevent the virus that causes cervical cancer. Hence Latinas Contra Cancer in partnership with CMAF will hold a series of educational events in January and February to introduce Latinas to the issue. Cervical cancer takes its toll on Latinas in greater numbers then it should given the preventative measures of annual screening, and now the HPV vaccine, recommended for girls and boys as young as 9.

Call us at 408-280-0811 if you or somebody you know, needs a screening or wants to participate in our cervical bingo education events. Your daughter or son may qualify for a low cost or no cost vaccine (the HPV requires a series of three vaccinations to be effective). Click here for information on our first forum in January.

9/02/11

Despite the fact that cervical cancer is preventable, Latinas continue to contract this disease at twice the rate of white women. Not only is early detection possible with an annual pap smear, starting at age 21 or within 3 years of the first sexual encounter, but there are HPV vaccines on the market for 11 to 26 years to offer protection against this disease. Yet recent studies show 1. that Latina teens are not getting vaccinated in large numbers, but that 2. many who do, fail to finish the series of 3 vaccines in order to make the drug effective. We can do better than this. Talk to your Mom, your sister, your niece and, yourself. Look in the mirror and ask yourself if you are modeling best health practices for your family and community. Call us for more information or ask your clinic or doctor. Let's take back our health. We need it for the other challenges in our lives. Check out this article and send to your family and friends. http://www.impulsonoticias.com/2011/08/29/sobrevivientes-de-cancer-cervical-exhortan-a-mujeres-a-revision-medica/

5/23/11

Latinas Contra Cancer is pleased to partner with the Cancer Legal Resource Center on the 2011 Cancer Rights Conference Friday, June 24, 2011 in Chicago, IL
This free event will provide patients, survivors, caregivers, advocates, navigators, and healthcare professionals with valuable information about cancer-related legal issues, including: employment & taking time off work, health, disability and life insurance options, access to health care, insurance navigation and appeals, understanding health care reform, cancer community resources, genetics & the law, legislative advocacy, and education rights of children and young adults with cancer. Don't miss out on this free event!
To learn more about the Conference and to register today, visit: www.CancerRightsConference.org

© Cancer Legal Resource Center 2011

5/15/11

Latinas Contra Cancer wrapped up its 8th Annual Walk Against Cancer in the northside Alviso community of San Jose. We tried this new venue at the Alviso Marina County Park to raise awareness about cancer issues in this underserved community. We partnered with alot of great business and community people in the neighborhood as well as some 50 exhibitors who wanted to join our outreach campaign.

Special thanks to the sponsors, the San Jose Police officers who volunteered their time, Dean McCulley, Steve Bloomquist and John Tomares for all their help. Watch our Flickr page for photos and video links coming soon.

9/08/10

To help you or your family or your friends to understand more about health care reform, go to this site in Spanish www.CuidadodeSalud.Gov

9/1/2010

A thanks to our grantor To Celebrate Life for supporting our mammogram screening program for women under 50 www.tocelebratelife.org

5/27/2010 Update

Sorry, I've not checked in. It's been a busy couple of months. We continue to work on the National Latino Cancer Summit which is less than 9 weeks away. Go to our home page for more on that.

Our Mother's Day Walk Against Cancer turning the Spotlight on Breast Cancer drew 445 registered walkers.

If you're interested in getting our E-Newsletter send me a note.

Meantime for anyone working with Spanish speaking cancer patients here's a nice resource in Spanish.

Spanish-Language Health Resource
On its Web site, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) offers an Información en español section and a variety of consumer materials and other health tools in Spanish. Materials that can be downloaded include such topics as Quality of Care, Surgery, Health Conditions / Diseases, Quit Smoking, Prevention and Wellness, and Prescriptions. Regular health columns and press releases are also available.
http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/espanoix.htm

3/05/2010 Advocacy Training Alert

Don't Miss Out - Apply for FREE Advocacy Training by April 2!

Take advantage of an amazing opportunity to learn all about cancer advocacy at the National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund’s 2010 Advocacy Training Conference.

This year NCCS is pleased to announce a scholarship program for qualified advocates to attend this conference, held in Washington, D.C., May 22 - 25, 2010. Read more and apply today! http://www.canceradvocacy.org/resources/news/

2/18/2010

The new guidelines recommending that women should not get screened for breast cancer before age 50 have disturbed many women and made our work more difficult. Added to that, the State of California is proposing cuts in free breast and cervical screening as well as treatment programs for low income women that will do harm to the progress agencies like Latinas Contra Cancer have made in getting low income and underserved Latinas screened.

Read more in this fact sheet from Susan G. Komen for a Cure, San Francisco.

2/05/2010

A Request for participants in a research study. Latinos  need to pay more attention,  get the facts and get engaged! Outcomes from these studies could help improve the quality  of lives for cancer survivors.

Calling all working adults (aged 18 or over) who are survivors of childhood cancer!! Or please send to such survivors you know. We would like to invite you to take part in a 15 minute study that assesses your experiences in the workplace. This study, run by Dr. Mikki Hebl at Rice University in Houston, TX, is focused on identifying key issues and concerns with survivor experiences in the workplace.

What's involved? Just click on the survey (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9XGSBQK ) and begin. If you have any questions whatsover, feel free to call 713-348-2270 or email hebl@rice.edu for more information.

2/02/2010

Alert!  Hearing next Monday, February 8th in the Assembly Budget Committee, on the Governor’s proposal to eliminate the Every Woman Counts breast cancer treatment program, at 2pm in Rm 4202 of the Capitol.

Hello everybody, if you have not heard, the Governor of California has also proposed reducing the free breast cancer screening program for low income women between 40-49(EVC). This will not only hurt the low income women many of us represent, but it will have a negative impact on clinics and public health care providers which are already restricting mammography services to serve only women over 50.
There is a caravan expected to go to the State Capitol on Monday. If you can, plan to be there!
Or send the information below to your networks.

Ysabel Duron
Latinas Contra Cancer
www.latinascontracancer.org

We Can't Have a Voice, If We Don't Sit at The Table

1/31/2010

Latinas Contra Cancer is concerned about the impact of the new recommended screening guidelines on Latinas who are uninformed or unable to access consistent care.

The scientific panels recommends that women start semi-annual screening at age 50. There's more. Follow this link to hear more....

WASHINGTON , Members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) defended the science behind new mammography recommendations before a congressional panel on Wednesday, but repeatedly admitted that communication on the guidelines was poor.

Click here for the full story: http://www.medpagetoday.com/HematologyOncology/BreastCancer/17272