LATEST NEWS & FEATURES

    New CDC/OSH Vaping Prevention Campaign for Educators

    The goal of Empower Vape-Free Youth, CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health new campaign, is to empower educators to speak with youth about the risks of e-cigarettes and nicotine addiction and to encourage youth to avoid and/or quit vaping. Educators include teachers, coaches, school counselors, and on-site administrators (e.g., principals, vice-principals, etc.) in U.S. middle and high schools.  ​The new campaign materials include print resources, animated videos, live action videos, and social media assets. These materials will be available on the CDC OSH Media Campaign Resource Center (MCRC) at www.cdc.gov/mcrc 

    New from CDC: My Family Health Portrait - Cancer Mobile App

    CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control launched a new mobile app, My Family Health Portrait: Cancer (MFHP: Cancer), that helps individuals collect their family’s history of cancer and learn their risk for breast, ovarian, and colorectal cancers. It also encourages those with increased risk to talk to their health care provider about their risk and ways to manage it.
     
    The app can be downloaded from Google Play and from the App Store. CDC also has a Family Health History and Cancer web page which provides valuable information about how collecting family health history can help people understand and mitigate their risk for some cancers. For more information click HERE. 

    Free ACOG & CDC Online CME Course:
    ​Prevention and Early Diagnosis of Lower Anogenital Tract Cancer 

    The Prevention and Early Diagnosis of Lower Anogenital Tract Cancer course is a new resource from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This course guides health care practitioners about risk, early diagnosis, and treatment of lower anogenital tract cancer. This free online CME-accredited course will help health care providers:
    • Identify risk factors for lower anogenital tract cancer.
    • Summarize key health disparities in lower anogenital tract cancer.
    • Identify effective methods for risk modification and early diagnosis of lower anogenital tract cancer.
    Register HERE to take this course. 

    For more information, contact Karen Hernandez at khernandez@acog.org. 

    August is National Immunization Month

    National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) is an annual observance held in August to highlight the importance of routine vaccination for people of all ages. Vaccines help prevent infections. The HPV vaccine prevents both the HPV virus and HPV cancers. CDC provides resources to health providers to help discuss routine vaccinations with their patients and parents during NIAM and throughout the year. Learn more HERE.

    Latino Coordinating Center Internship Opportunity:
    ​Addressing Tobacco Related Disparities     


    The California Health Collaborative's Latino Coordinating Center's public service leadership and development program provides emerging public health professionals with an opportunity to gain valuable skills in reducing tobacco-related disparities among Hispanic/Latino communities throughout California. All internships will be hosted remotely (virtually) with optional opportunities for in-person events and activities. The internship is a four (4) month commitment in which interns will receive $1000 for their participation.

    To be eligible to participate in the internship, applicant must be enrolled in a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) in California. Students must be majoring and/or have a strong interest in public health, public health administration, community health, health science, or related majors. Students must have completed a minimum of 60 semester or 90 quarter units (equivalent to junior grade level standing). Graduate students can also apply.

    ​For more information visit: https://form.jotform.com/231727635992164

    ​July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

    New Tip Sheet in Spanish:
    Reducing Financial Toxicity - Tips for Patient Navigators

    In collaboration with the GW Cancer Center, Nuestras Voces Network developed the Spanish version of the tip sheet for patient navigators on reducing financial toxicity, to support cancer patients and their caregivers to reduce the financial burden of cancer care. The tip sheet describes financial toxicity, outlines the role of patient navigators in supporting and mitigating financial toxicity, and provides a list of helpful resources to support financial navigation. Download the Tip Sheet in Spanish HERE. 

    En colaboración con el GW Cancer Center, la Red de Nuestras Voces desarrolló la versión en español de la hoja de consejos para los navegadores de pacientes sobre cómo reducir la toxicidad financiera, para ayudar a los pacientes con cáncer y a sus cuidadores a reducir la carga financiera por el costo del tratamiento de cáncer. La hoja de consejos describe la toxicidad financiera, el papel de los navegadores de pacientes para apoyar y ayudar a mitigar la toxicidad financiera, y proporciona una lista de recursos útiles para respaldar la navegación financiera. Baje la Hoja de consejos en español AQUÍ.

    New CDC Resource: Cancer Screening Change Packages
    Taking Action. Saving Lives.

    CDC's National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program has developed the Cancer Screening Change Packages which can be used by clinical and public health quality improvement teams and community organizations interested in improving their cancer screening processes to save more lives. These Cancer Screening Change Packages are a collection of strategies, tools, and resources designed to help with the planning and implementation of activities to improve awareness of, access to, and use of cancer screening services. The change packages are for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers. For more information visit: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/resources/change-packages/index.htm

    May Is Military Appreciation Month

    May is Military Appreciation Month, a chance to thank all troops past and present, along with their spouses and family members, for their sacrifices to keep our country safe. A new CDC feature article recognizes and celebrates Service members featured in the Tips From Former Smokers® (Tips®) campaign. Many Service members start using tobacco products after they enter military service. The article helps Service members be mission ready by sharing resources like CDC’s tools and resources to support active duty or retired Service members to live tone tobacco-free. These are some resources for quitting:

    TelephoneText Messaging Services(Message and data rates may apply) Smartphone App
    • quitSTARTapp– Tips, information, and challenges to help you quit

    May is National Skin Cancer and Melanoma Awareness Month




    May is Skin Cancer Awareness and Prevention Month! It is important always to be aware of the major risk factors for skin cancer and pay attention to changes to your skin. Most skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. To lower your risk of getting skin cancer, you can protect your skin from UV rays from the sun and from artificial sources like tanning beds and sunlamps. For more information visit https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/





    ¡Mayo es el Mes de Concientización y Prevención del Cáncer de la Piel! Es importante siempre estar consciente de los principales factores de riesgo del cáncer de la piel y prestar atención a los cambios en ella. La mayoría de los cánceres de piel son causados ​​por una exposición excesiva a los rayos ultravioleta (UV). Para reducir el riesgo de contraer cáncer de la piel, puede proteger su piel de los rayos ultravioleta del sol y de fuentes artificiales como camas de bronceado y lámparas solares. Para más información visite https://www.cdc.gov/spanish/cancer/skin/index.htm

    New from the American Lung Association:
    Addressing Tobacco Use in Hispanic/Latino Communities
    Toolkit & Bilingual Webcasts

    The American Lung Association is hosting bilingual webcasts for the launching of the Addressing Tobacco Use in Hispanic or Latino Communities Toolkit. The purpose of the his toolkit is to help public health professionals, health care providers, and community members:
    • Build Competence by learning about the impact of commercial tobacco use in Hispanic/Latino communities.
    • Encourage Connectedness by learning how to be an authentic ally and building better community partnership with culturally relevant approaches. 
    • Confidence to Act with materials, resources, and trainings to inspire and empower diverse communities to live tobacco-free!

    Dates & Times:
    • English Webcast: Wednesday, May 17, 2023 @ 3:00pm ET / 12:00pm PT

    • Seminario virtual en español: jueves 18 de mayo de 2023 @ 3:00pm hora del este / 12:00pm hora del Pacífico
    Register for the webinar in English HERE
    Register for the webinar in Spanish HERE

    University of Rochester: Lung Cancer Screening Study

    Researchers at the University of Rochester are looking for Hispanics/Latinos to assess their opinions about lung cancer screening.
    For more information, please contact:
    Edgar Alaniz
    edgar_alanizcantu@urmc.rochester.edu
    (585) 273-2843

    Universidad de Rochester: Estudio de detección del cáncer de pulmón 

    Investigadores(as) de la Universidad de Rochester están buscando Hispanos(as)/Latinos(as) para saber su opinión sobre la detección del cáncer de pulmón.
    Para más información, por favor contacte al
    Edgar Alaniz
    edgar_alanizcantu@urmc.rochester.edu
    (585) 273-2843

    April Webinar: Equity in the Smoke-free Policy Process

    How can we embed equity in the process of selecting, developing, implementing, and enforcing smoke-free policies in our communities?

    Join the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, Nuestras Voces Network & ChangeLab Solutions in the webinar Equity in the Smoke-free Policy Process to explore how local smokefree policymaking can . . .
    • Be built by rather than for the communities that will be served;
    • Be driven by community priorities;
    • Benefit from community strengths;
    • Incorporate community partnerships and guidance at all stages; and
    • Ensure that enforcement of policies — for example, in housing and in workplaces — supports individuals instead of causing unintentional harm.
    Panelists will feature examples of how Hispanic community partnerships have contributed to successful, equitable smokefree policy campaigns.

    Date: April 19, 2023
    Time: 1:30pm ET/ 10:30am PT

    The 2022 State of Cancer Survivorship Survey Results

    The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship's 2022 State of Survivorship Survey highlights the experiences and impact that cancer treatment and care have for survivors. Survey respondents in the national sample represent a wide range of stages of diagnosis, demographics, and socioeconomic levels, and NCCS used a sampling plan to ensure the survey was representative of cancer patients nationally by age, gender, race/ethnicity, and region (based on data from the American Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute). Survey data repeatedly show that significant disparities exist in the experience of cancer care, with a disproportionate effect among specific populations, including people of color, young adults, women, and individuals with metastatic cancer. As in previous years, respondents who are connected to NCCS consistently had higher expectations and lower satisfaction in their assessments of quality care and were more likely to feel empowered to be active in their care. NCCS’s mission is to advocate for quality cancer care for all people touched by cancer. The data in this survey demonstrate an urgent and ongoing need to fulfill this mission.

    ​Access the report and infographic HERE.

    Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month Webinar: 
    Let’s Get to the Bottom of Colorectal Cancer

    Colorectal cancer represents the third leading cause of death from cancer in the United States. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that 106,970 people in the US will be told for the first time that they have colorectal cancer this year. ACS also estimates that 52,550 lives will be lost in 2023 due to colorectal cancer. 

    Join the Nuestras Voces Network and the National LGBT Cancer Network for this webinar, to hear our panel of experts discuss the burden of colorectal cancer among Hispanics and the LGBTQ+ community, screening for prevention, how new therapies and approaches are bringing hope and quality of life for colorectal cancer patients, and the importance of increasing participation of underrepresented populations in clinical trials. A community member on a cancer journey will also share their story and experiences

    Date: Wednesday, March 22, 2023 
    Time: 2:00pm ET/11:00am PT
    WEBINAR RESOURCES:

    University of Rochester: Smoking Cessation Study for Hispanics

    Universidad de Rochester: Estudio para los hispanos para dejar de fumar 
    Researchers at the University of Rochester are looking for Hispanic/Latino smokers to evaluate a text messaging program to quit smoking and be physically active.
    For more information, please contact:
    Dr. Francisco Cartujano
    Francisco Cartujano@URMC.Rochester.edu
    (585) 353-0035
    Investigadores(as) de la Universidad de Rochester están buscando
    fumadores(as) Hispanos(as)/Latinos(as) para evaluar un programa de mensajes de texto para dejar de fumar y hacer actividad física.
    Para más información, por favor contacte al
    Dr. Francisco Cartuiano 
    Francisco Cartujano@URMC.Rochester.edu
    (585) 353-0035

    Online Course: Prevention and Early Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer 


    The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed the Prevention and Early Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer online course, which summarizes the relevant literature and existing recommendations to guide health care practitioners about risk, early diagnosis, and treatment for ovarian cancer.

    The free, CME-accredited course will help health care practitioners
    • Identify risk factors for ovarian cancer
    • Summarize key health disparities in ovarian cancer
    • Identify effective methods for risk modification and early diagnosis of ovarian cancer
    Register HERE. For more information, contact Julia O’Hara at johara@acog.org. 

    January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month /
    Enero es el Mes de Concientización sobre el Cáncer de Cuello Uterino



    During Cervical Cancer Awareness Month is a good time to talk about prevention, detection and treatment of cervical cancer. Find out how to lower your risk, screening tests, and treatment options. Visit: ​https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/basic_info/

    ​    ​
    ​Durante el Mes de Concientización sobre el Cáncer de Cuello Uterino es un buen momento para hablar sobre la prevención, detección y el tratamiento del cáncer de cuello uterino. Descubra cómo reducir su riesgo, las pruebas de detección y opciones de tratamiento. Visite:     ​https://www.cdc.gov/spanish/cancer/cervical/basic_info/index.htm

    Resolve to be Smoke-free in 2023 / ​Decide estar libre de humo en el 2023

    ​Resolve to be Smoke-free in 2023: A new CDC feature article provides support to people who want to make quitting smoking their New Year’s resolution. In addition to providing practical tips, the article also promotes free resources to help them be successful.

    Decide estar libre de humo en el 2023: Un nuevo artículo de los CDC brinda apoyo a las personas que desean que dejar de fumar sea su propósito de Año Nuevo. Además de brindar consejos prácticos, el artículo también promueve recursos gratuitos para ayudarlos a tener éxito.

    ​Healthy Americas Foundation Resources for Health Care Settings

    Download the Wall Boards Infographics Here:
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    The Great American Smokeout/El Gran Día de No Fumar



    ​There has never been a better time to quit smoking and begin living your best Smoke-free Life. In support of the Great American Smokeout, CDC/OSH has released a new feature article that includes five quick tips for people who smoke on how to increase their chances of successfully quitting. The article also shares information on how quit smoking medicines can help increase chances of quitting for good. To access the information visit:

    Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer

    Report Highlights:
    • Rates of new cases and deaths for lung cancer continue to decrease, reflecting the drop in smoking rates in the United States. The mortality rate decreased over twice as fast as the incidence rate due to new treatments and greater access to screening and care.
    • Deaths from oral cavity and pharynx cancers increased among White men and women but not among other racial and ethnic groups. These diseases have multiple risk factors, such as alcohol use, tobacco use, and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, with studies suggesting that HPV infection is primarily responsible for the rising rates of new diagnoses of the HPV-associated types.
    • Cancer health disparities persist. The breast cancer death rate for Black women is 40% higher than the rate for White women. Systemic racism, socioeconomic status, and unequal access to healthcare and housing, as well as higher rates of aggressive breast cancer subtypes for Black women, are likely major factors responsible for this discrepancy.
    • Rates of new cases of uterine cancer increased by more than 2% per year for every racial and ethnic group except Whites, which saw their rate of new cases stabilize from 2014-2018. Uterine cancer deaths are twice as high in Black women compared to White women, despite similar incidence rates. Black women also have worse survival across all stages and subtypes.
    Access the report HERE.

    NCI Research: A healthy lifestyle may help former smokers lower their risk of death from all causes

    A new study finds that former smokers who stick to a healthy lifestyle have a lower risk of dying from all causes, including cancer and heart and lung disease, than those who don’t have healthy habits. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle—defined as doing things such as being physically active and having a healthy diet—was associated with a 27% reduction in the risk of death over the 19-year follow-up period, compared with not maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The findings, which appeared Sept. 22, 2022, in JAMA Network Open, come from an analysis of a large group of former smokers who participated in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study.

    ​Access the study HERE. ​

    New Online ​Vaping Prevention and Education Resource Center

    The new online FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) Vaping Prevention and Education Resource Center provides science-based, standards-mapped materials that teachers can use to help their students understand the dangers associated with vaping and nicotine addiction. The new resource center features numerous age-appropriate, cross-curricular resources for teachers to promote learning and begin having open conversations with youth about vaping. In addition to content designed for teachers, CTP also developed materials for parents and teens. All content on the resource center is free, easy to navigate, and optimized for each audience.

    ​Access the resource center HERE . 

    Bilingual Smoking Cessation Education Posters 

    ​The FDA Center for Tobacco Products has made available free smoking cessation education posters in both English and Spanish, to  support efforts to reduce the enormous public health burden of commercial tobacco use. Cigarettes are responsible for the vast majority of tobacco-related disease and death in United States. These posters tailored to different audiences, include messaging based on research that shows it often takes smokers multiple quit attempts to achieve long-term cessation. FDA uses positive, motivational messaging to underscore the health benefits quitting and encourage smokers to keep trying until they quit cigarettes for good.

    These posters are available on the FDA Tobacco Education Resource Library and partners can order, print, or download them to use as part of cessation promotion efforts. Additionally, interested stakeholders can request to co-brand the posters by adding their organization’s logo.

    National Alliance for Hispanic Health: Research Spotlight

    E-cigarette Use among Hispanics: Reducing Risk or Recruiting New Tobacco Users?
     
    This article summarizes the research on the use of e-cigarettes among Hispanics. It describes the prevalence and patterns of e-cigarette use among Hispanic adolescents and adults compared with non-Hispanic whites. Findings indicate that e-cigarette use is rare among Hispanic adults, but Hispanic adolescents are at risk of experimenting with e-cigarettes at early ages, potentially leading to early nicotine addiction and exacerbating tobacco-related disparities in the future. Health education and policy interventions are needed to prevent e-cigarette use among Hispanic adolescents, while acknowledging that some Hispanic adult cigarette smokers may benefit from switching to e-cigarettes. 

    To access the article go to: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306460321003348
    HPV and Pap Testing Among White, Black and Hispanic Women: Results from a Survey Study

    While the Pap test, HPV vaccine, and HPV test are important tools to promote cervical health, the American Cancer Society (ACS) recently updated its cervical cancer prevention recommendations to give primacy to HPV testing for cervical cancer screening. This article presents the results from a novel two-survey study of women’s health providers and White, Black, and Hispanic women. It found that a minority of providers report that the HPV test alone is adequate for cervical cancer screening  indicating that women should regularly have both Pap and HPV screenings. The continued lower rates of Pap tests among Black and Hispanic women, combined with low rates of HPV testing is likely to hinder the ability to reduce cervical cancer incidence and mortality, particularly for Hispanic and Black women.

    ​The article is available online at: 
    https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44155-021-00003-9

    Nuestras Voces Network & Buena Salud Club
    Cancer Screening Bilingual InfoCard

    Nuestras Voces Network released a bilingual print and digital InfoCard to remind everyone that is time to get back to screening for cancer prevention. The bilingual InfoCard has been mailed to the 20,000+ members of the Alliance's Buena Salud Club. The InfoCard provides information about getting screened for breast, cervical, colorectal (colon) cancers. The InfoCard also provides the Alliance's helpline number for consumers to call for more information, as well as the link to CDC's bilingual website for cancer screening and early detection. To request printed copies of the InfoCard send an email to nuestrasvoces@healthyamericas.org
    To download the digital version of the bilingual InfoCard click on the files below:
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    Spanish Language Education Resources on Commercial Tobacco Control/
    Recursos educativos en español sobre el control del tabaquismo comercial

    Nuestras Voces (Our Voices) Network partnered with the New Mexico Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Program, and the New Mexico Association of Community Health Workers/Nuestra Salud, to develop Prevención y control del tabaquismo as a resource to help community health workers/promotores de salud address commercial tobacco control and promote awareness about the harmful effects of using tobacco products among Hispanics. Community health workers/promotores de salud are trusted members of the community and play a significant role in meeting the health needs of underserved communities, including tobacco-related disparities. Equipped with the right tools and information, they are effective health advocates for their communities and help advance health equity. This resource was developed as a PowerPoint tool that can be adapted and updated to meet the educational needs across different audiences. A series of Infographics are also included for printing and distribution. Two additional supporting tools were also developed in Spanish addressing nicotine dependence and family intervention support. These resources are available for use in local community settings as well as virtually and are available at: https://bit.ly/MaterialesCHW For more information send a message to nuestrasvoces@healthyamericas.org 

    El Programa Red Nuestras Voces de la Alianza Nacional para la Salud Hispana se asoció con el Programa de Control y Prevención del Uso de Tabaco de Nuevo México, y la Asociación de Trabajadores de la Salud Comunitaria de Nuevo México / Nuestra Salud, para desarrollar Prevención y control del tabaquismo como un recurso para ayudar a los educadores y promotores de salud comunitarios a abordar el tema sobre el control del consumo de tabaco comercial, y promover la concientización sobre los efectos nocivos de su uso. Los promotores de salud tienen la confianza de los miembros de sus comunidades, y desempeñan un papel importante para afrontar las necesidades de salud de las comunidades desatendidas, incluyendo las disparidades relacionadas con el consumo de tabaco comercial. Equipados con las herramientas y la información adecuadas, los promotores son defensores valiosos de la salud de sus comunidades y ayudan a fomentar la equidad en la salud. Este material se desarrolló como una herramienta de PowerPoint que se puede adaptar y actualizar para satisfacer las necesidades educativas de diferentes públicos. También incluye una serie de infografías para imprimir y distribuir. Además, se desarrollaron dos herramientas de apoyo adicionales en español, que abordan la dependencia de la nicotina y el apoyo de la intervención familiar. Estas herramientas están disponibles para su uso en entornos comunitarios locales, así como virtualmente y se pueden acceder en: https://bit.ly/MaterialesCHW Para más información envíe un mensaje a nuestrasvoces@healthyamericas.org

    ​Using Inside Knowledge Campaign Materials to Improve
    Gynecologic Cancer Knowledge in Underserved Women

    Mary Puckett, PhD, Julie Townsend, MS, Jenny Rees Patterson, MPH, Donna Shaw, BS, Yvonee Wasilewski, PhD, MPH, and Sherri L. Stewart, PhD

    Abstract:

    Purpose: About 30,000 U.S. women die each year from gynecologic cancer, which disproportionately affects underserved and minority populations. This project aimed at increasing and assessing awareness of risk, symptoms, and recommended screenings and prevention activities in underserved women, through unique collaboration between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Inside Knowledge (IK) campaign, which was designed to educate women about gynecologic cancer, and the CDC’s national network of organizations to reduce cancer-related disparities.

    Methods: CDC’s national network and the IK campaign partnered to deliver tailored educational sessions about gynecologic cancer to three populations of women served by the participant organizations. Participant organizations included the National Behavioral Health Network (NBHN), Nuestras Voces (NV), and SelfMade. Pre and post-session questionnaires were administered to assess knowledge changes.
    Results: Knowledge changes for risk factors, screening, and HPV vaccination varied by network organization, but all sessions increased correct identification of some symptoms. Baseline knowledge also varied among organization participants.

    Conclusions: Sessions were effective in increasing awareness of gynecologic cancer among underserved
    women; however, organizational information uptake differed. Additional resources containing specific interventions appropriate to particular underserved populations may be beneficial in increasing healthy behaviors, leading to a reduction in gynecologic cancer disparities.

    ​