Many issues surrounding cancer disparities among US Latinos—testing, clinical product rules, drug approvals, and funding for research—touch the arena of public policy. During a panel discussion at the conference, Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos, experts offered different perspectives on emerging health policy. Congressman Joaquin Castro, Representative from the 20th Congressional District in Bexar County, Texas, made a call to researchers to advocate for their own work with policy makers in Congress and expressed the need to increase funding for cancer research. Dr. Esteban López from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas spoke about understanding drivers and barriers for Latinos in cancer care. To find strategies for culturally relevant care, Blue Cross is using both published and online research to gain knowledge about what health challenges Latinos face. Dr. Robert Croyle, from the National Cancer Institute, pointed out that health disparities research has moved from documenting what is wrong to raising aspirations and goals to what is possible. Still, Latinos are underrepresented in cancer clinical trials, and one barrier to Latino accrual is the use of comorbidities as exclusion criteria. Also, NCI validates its cancer statistics by linking cancer registry data to census data; so, to support cancer research, we must support a good census. Dr. Elena Rios, President and CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association, gave a comprehensive presentation on cancer and Latino advocacy. Some of the issues that need advocacy from the Congressional legislation in the 115th Congress include health insurance reform, research funding, CDC cancer prevention programs, Health Workforce Programs (HRSA and Department of Education), and minority health. Dr. Rios also described trends in health policy, health care, and care management and provided background for important federal strategic plans.
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