Sami (Papacek) Mansfield, Founder of Cancer Wellness for Life, shared on LinkedIn:
“This headline should be something that anyone working cancer stops to read.
Global cancer cases and deaths expected to soar by 2050 despite advances in treatment. With billions of dollars going into cancer treatment, what else are we missing?
Yes—we absolutely need more access to oncology specialists, bigger care teams, cancer exercise programs, and navigators. But what happens when we look through a different lens—one that digs into access at the most basic level?
A new analysis in The Lancet projects that by 2050, 30.5 million people will be diagnosed with cancer each year and 18.6 million will die—with two-thirds of deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Here’s the challenge: most lifestyle interventions are not accessible. They’re so far removed from the daily lives of many populations that they don’t even catch attention.
But what if lifestyle medicine could be packaged into small, practical shifts? Things like:
- Simple chair or bodyweight exercises done at home
- Using canned or frozen vegetables when fresh produce isn’t available
- Creating accessible communities that can be used from any device
- Using free apps like Yuka to help individuals choose better choices in their stores and in their budgets.
- Focusing on sleep with simple, no-cost habits like a wind-down routine strategy.
None of these require gyms, specialty foods, or supervised programs—just approachable steps that can be adapted in different settings.
With 4 in 10 cancer deaths linked to modifiable risk factors, there is tremendous opportunity to save lives. But prevention won’t work without equity—every community needs access to resources, education, and culturally relevant support.
The takeaway: cancer control isn’t only about treatment—it’s about building systems where healthy choices are the easy choices.
Are you interested in these topics and being part of this mission?
I’d love to partner with individuals, organizations, and professionals who are ready to innovate and scale equitable cancer prevention and survivorship support. Let’s connect and see what we can build together.
More posts featuring Sami (Papacek) Mansfield.