San Antonio Cancer Survivors, We Need You!
Are you a cancer survivor?
Volunteer for the Avanzando Caminos study at UT Health San Antonio!
Avanzando Caminos aims to enroll 1,500 Latino cancer survivors in South Texas and 1,500 more in Miami to help unpack the social, cultural, behavioral, mental, biological, and medical influences on post-cancer life.
The study is funded by the National Cancer Institute. The South Texas site is led by Dr. Amelie Ramirez of UT Health San Antonio and Mays Cancer Center.
“With the help of cancer survivors, we can help future Latino cancer survivors heal, recover, and reduce the chance for cancer to come back, which has applicability for all cancer survivors in the future” said Ramirez, who also leads the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio.
To volunteer for the study or ask questions, contact Dr. Ramirez’s team at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio at 210-562-6514 or caminos@uthscsa.edu. Volunteers are eligible for $50 per visit!
Why Volunteer for Avanzando Caminos?
Research programs, like Avanzando Caminos, can help researchers learn how to improve treatment for current cancer patients, or better understand cancer to help future cancer survivors.
Research with cancer survivors is especially important.
In the program, Latino cancer survivors are asked to share their cancer journey.
“This is a great opportunity to examine what impacts the quality of life and health outcomes of cancer survivors,” Ramirez said. “Then we can create new ways to address social, cultural, behavioral, psychosocial and biological factors and improve cancer outcomes for Latinos and all people.”
To volunteer for the study or ask questions, contact Dr. Ramirez’s team at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio at 210-562-6514 or caminos@uthscsa.edu. Volunteers are eligible for $50 per visit!
Who Can Volunteer for Avanzando Caminos?
The Avanzando Caminos study is looking for cancer survivors who are:
- Age 18+
- Able to read in English or Spanish
- Willing to attend study visits
- Completed primary treatment for breast, colon, kidney, liver, lung, prostate, stomach or uterine cervix carcinoma in past 10 years
- No severe cognitive impairment or inpatient psychiatric treatment in past 6 months
To volunteer for the study or ask questions, contact Dr. Ramirez’s team at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio at 210-562-6514 or caminos@uthscsa.edu. Volunteers are eligible for $50 per visit!
What Can Volunteers Expect in Avanzando Caminos?
Avanzando Caminos researchers will study how different issues─chronic stress, diet, biological markers, genetics and many more─impact survivors’ symptom burdens, health-related quality of life, and disease activity.
These are the expectations for a volunteer:
- Baseline visit: Assessment interview, blood draw
- 6-month visit: Assessment Interview
- 12-month visit: Assessment interview, blood draw
- Year 2 Visit: Assessment interview
- Year 3 Visit: Assessment interview, blood draw
- Year 4 Visit: Assessment interview
- Year Visit: Assessment interview, blood draw
“We want to know your story, your cancer journey. Stories can make all the difference,” Ramirez said.
To volunteer for the study or ask questions, contact Dr. Ramirez’s team at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio at 210-562-6514 or caminos@uthscsa.edu. Volunteers are eligible for $50 per visit!
How Important Are Volunteers?
Just ask Amber Lopez.
Lopez, a San Antonio resident who began experiencing symptoms around age 14, was eventually diagnosed with cervical cancer a few years later at 18.
“When you hear that word cancer, you’re kind of like, ‘Oh, my God. OK. So, does that mean like, I’m going to pass away? How does this work?’” Lopez said.
Since her diagnosis, Lopez has overcome many challenges in her cancer journey.
Avanzando Caminos is an opportunity for people to share their cancer story to help others.
Lopez decided to join the Avanzando Caminos program at UT Health San Antonio to give hope to other cancer survivors.
“I want to get my story out there and just kind of be an advocate for someone that could possibly be as young as I was when everything happened, or even younger, you know, giving that insight,” Lopez said. “I couldn’t feel more blessed.”
To volunteer for the study or ask questions, contact Dr. Ramirez’s team at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio at 210-562-6514 or caminos@uthscsa.edu. Volunteers are eligible for $50 per visit!