Posts by author
Myriam Vidal Valero
Fighting Cervical Cancer in Latin America’s Indigenous Communities: The Case for More Research and Tailored Programs
Across Latin America, indigenous women experience the highest cervical cancer death rates in the region. Geographic, economic, and cultural barriers hinder their access to screening and treatment follow-up. Now, a group of researchers is trying to change that, by mapping…
Towards a Familial Cancer Service for Chile
A regional programme for genetic sequencing and counselling is being piloted in Chile to promote prevention and early detection in people with a hereditary high-risk of cancer. Advances in genetic sequencing technologies are making it cheaper and easier to test…
Florida shows cancer outcomes are better where healthcare reflects local cultures
Research conducted on cancer data for the southern US state of Florida shows how addressing sociocultural differences can bridge the gaps in cancer awareness and early detection, and improve outcomes. The study looked into the racial/ethnic disparities in stage of…
Por fin! A cancer prevention code for Latin America and the Caribbean
Last October, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) launched its Latin American and Caribbean Code Against Cancer, seeking to help reduce the region’s rising cancer incidence rates. “We must act now to reverse the projected trends,” said Elisabete Weiderpass, Director…
Alejo Albornoz: A bridge between two cancer realities in Argentina
The move didn’t make any sense. Any young clinical oncologist trying to climb up the career ladder in Argentina knows that Buenos Aires is the place to be. So, when in 2021 Alejo Albornoz, then 33, moved with his partner…
Geriatric oncology: how physicians in Latin America are personalising treatments and changing attitudes
When Gerardo Silveyra, a retired chemist from Toluca, Mexico, thinks about his recently deceased mother, Guadalupe Contreras, he regrets not having taken her to see a geriatrician sooner. Contreras, who died aged 93, had been “a very active woman,” and…
Unpaid women carers: recognising their contribution and their needs in Latin America
Researchers and public policies have historically overlooked the challenges of informal caregiving for cancer patients in Latin America. Now, public health experts are working to profile this neglected group, evaluate their quality of life and put an economic value on…
The right to health in Latin America: feeling worthy of cancer treatment
Inequalities influence not only access to cancer care but also patients’ perceptions of their right to choose between treatment options and their expectations of receiving quality care. Researchers evaluating how countries in the Americas design their cancer control policies have…
Cancer trials interruption in Latin America halts treatment for many
The interruption of cancer clinical trials across Latin America due to the COVID-19 pandemic is threatening the treatment of thousands of patients in the public health system. A JCO Global Oncology study, conducted by the Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group…