First lady Jill Biden visits Mays Cancer Center, lauds its cancer research and its role in addressing Latino cancer health disparities

First lady Jill Biden speaks at Mays Cancer Center.
First lady Jill Biden addresses a roundtable during her visit to Mays Cancer Center.

Contact: Steven Lee, 210-450-3823, lees22@uthscsa.edu

SAN ANTONIO – First lady Jill Biden toured Mays Cancer Center at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio), and praised its efforts in addressing disparities in cancer rates among Latinos.

The visit came on the same day as the opening of the biennial Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos conference, hosted by Mays Cancer Center and UT Health San Antonio’s Institute for Health Promotion Research, taking place at the Westin Riverwalk downtown.

At Mays Cancer Center, the first lady cast her visit as part of the Biden-Harris administration’s Cancer Moonshot initiative, which aims to reduce the death rate from cancer by at least 50% over the next 25 years, and improve the experience of patients and their families living with and surviving cancer. Ultimately, the goal is to “end cancer as we know it today.”

As one of only four National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers in Texas, Mays is part of federal efforts to address the disease, including Cancer Moonshot. NCI director Ned Sharpless, MD, also joined the visit.

“Cancer really touches every single one of us, but it doesn’t affect every community in the same way,” Biden said, during a roundtable listening session after her tour. “And that’s why as a part of the Cancer Moonshot, I’m glad to learn today what we’re doing for the Latino community and what we will continue to do, and what you all are doing.”

One in three Latinos will face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, pointing to disparities in access to care and other social needs, as well as screening and clinical trials. The first lady’s visit was seen as an important boost.

“The Mays Cancer Center is so deeply honored by the visit of first lady Dr. Jill Biden,” said Ruben Mesa, MD, FACP, the center’s executive director. “Her visit highlights the significant efforts of the Mays Cancer Center to increase advances in cancer treatment of Latino patients through clinical trials and research.”

More broadly, the first lady urged people not to let up on cancer detection and treatment.

“We’ve been in this COVID pandemic for two years, and so many people put off their screening,” she said. “And so now the numbers are rising. We’ve got to get them back down. Early detection is really the key.”

Jill Biden comforts cancer patient Rainee Miller during her tour.

Upon her arrival, the first lady toured the infusion center at Mays Cancer Center, where patients are treated and undergo clinical trials. Discussions initially centered on an effort to reboot cancer screening during the pandemic. Patient Rainee Miller told Biden how that critical outreach led to her diagnosis, and subsequent therapy.

The first lady then learned about comprehensive programs at Mays centered on services ranging from nutrition and emotional support to medical services like cardio-oncology and cancer rehabilitation.

And a breast cancer survivor, Cynthia Orr, and her caregiver husband David, told Biden about innovative surgery she received here to treat lymphedema, which had caused severe swelling in her arm. Dr. Mesa said Mays Cancer Center is one of few places performing the procedure.

The roundtable discussion that followed focused on detection, screening and access to care, and included Dr. Mesa; Dr. Sharpless; Amelie Ramirez, DrPH, chair of UT Health San Antonio’s Department of Population Health Sciences and director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research; San Antonio mayor Ron Nirenberg; and invited national guest speakers from the Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos conference.

The first lady, relating her and President Biden’s own personal story of their son Beau’s battle and death from cancer, said education is key. “We have to get the word out that people have to get screening, and early detection, and (know) where their cancer centers are, and who their patient advocates are.

“I’m really excited to hear about what you all are doing, and take it back to the White House,” she told the panel. “We’re trying to end cancer as we know it. And I think we can do it. I applaud all of you.”

 


 

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, also referred to as UT Health San Antonio, is one of the country’s leading health sciences universities and is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education. With missions of teaching, research, patient care and community engagement, its schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry, health professions and graduate biomedical sciences have graduated 39,700 alumni who are leading change, advancing their fields, and renewing hope for patients and their families throughout South Texas and the world. To learn about the many ways “We make lives better®,” visit http://www.uthscsa.edu.

The Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center, is one of only four National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Centers in Texas. The Mays Cancer Center provides leading-edge cancer care, propels innovative cancer research and educates the next generation of leaders to end cancer in South Texas. Visit www.UTHealthsaMDAnderson.org.

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