AZ Radio Program Interview Spotlights Latino Cancer Disparities

The Latino Cancer Institute’s Program Manager Miriam Juárez was recently interviewed on La Hora del Cafecito, a weekly radio program produced by Conecta Arizona in collaboration with Arizona State University’s Doing Well initiative. Conecta Arizona is a respected, award-winning, nonprofit news organization that provides vital and trustworthy information to Spanish-speaking communities in the Arizona-Sonora border region. The interview aired on La Onda, a widely listened to radio station throughout Phoenix with strong community engagement.

Key Cancer Disparities Affecting Latino Communities

During the conversation with host Celia Montoya, Juárez highlighted critical statistics about cancer in the Latino community: “Cancer is the second leading cause of death among Hispanics in the United States,” she explained. Latinos are more likely to be diagnosed at advanced stages “due to barriers such as lack of health insurance, language differences, fear, and limited familiarity with medical systems.”

Juárez discussed several key disparities, noting that Latinas experience a 36% higher incidence of cervical cancer compared to non-Hispanic white women. Latino populations also face approximately double the incidence of stomach and liver cancers, according to the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Facts & Figures for Hispanic/Latino People 2024–2026. Many of these cancers are largely preventable and linked to infections.

Connecting Research, Education, and Community Voices

The interview also highlighted TLCI’s recent work, including the 2025 virtual Forum Series on Latino men’s health and cancer. The series featured medical experts, researchers, and three prostate cancer survivors who shared their experiences navigating diagnosis and care.

Juárez also discussed TLCI’s focus on environmental health, including a community-perspective article published in Cancer Causes & Control. The publication examines how climate-related exposures may contribute to increased cancer risk in Latino communities and underscores the importance of engaging Latino voices in research and prevention efforts.

“At The Latino Cancer Institute, we have been saying for some time now that cancer doesn’t begin at the clinic door. That’s why it’s essential to educate people in the community,” Juárez said.

Read the full interview (in Spanish) at Conecta Arizona.

Related TLCI Resources

Video | 2024 Forum Series
Can the HPV Vaccine Help Conquer Latina Cervical Cancer?
Expert discussion on prevention, screening, and vaccine awareness.

Video | 2025 Forum Series (Forum 2)
Toxic Work, Warming World: Why Latino Men Face Higher Cancer Risks
Presented by Leticia Nogueira, PhD, MPH (American Cancer Society).

📄 Peer-Reviewed Publication
Climate change, cancer, and the critical importance of Latino community engagement
TLCI community-perspective article published in Cancer Causes & Control.

Video Collection | 2025 Latino Men’s Health Forum Series
Survivor conversations and expert panels exploring cancer risk, care, and lived experience.

Video | TLCI’s 3rd Annual Forum, 2023
The Turbulent Ecosystem: Climate Change’s Impact on the Latino Cancer Burden