When her sister found a lump in her breast, Meera decided to get one of her own checked, which helped save her life. Now, she urges people to fundraise for research that could save others.

Meera is sharing her story in support of our fundraising for research into targeted treatments and improved advice and support for breast cancer patients.

While juggling life with two small children, Meera discovered a lump in her left breast which she believed was a blocked milk duct.

Meera said:

“I breastfed my son from birth. During this time, I noticed many lumps and bumps, so I just ignored it. Like lots of mums with young children, I didn’t think about my own health or prioritise it.”

Months later, Meera’s sister found a lump in her own breast. After being checked and receiving the all-clear, Meera began to think differently about her symptoms.

Following a GP visit, Meera was sent for further tests. After scans and a biopsy, she was diagnosed with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer in March 2025.

“It’s a reminder of why it’s so important to have these conversations with loved ones. My sister sharing her experience with me effectively saved my life.”

Her treatment involved sixteen rounds of chemotherapy over five months, followed by surgery and twenty rounds of radiotherapy. Reflecting on her diagnosis and treatment, Meera shared:

“It was heartbreaking and a huge shock. My biggest fear was not being around to see my children grow up.”

Now in remission, Meera prioritises exercise to support her recovery, visiting the gym at least three times per week to improve her strength and fitness.

“My gym has a machine that calculates your body composition and carries out a strength test to help you lift heavier weights over time. 

“When I first took a strength test in January, after nearly a year of cancer treatment, I had the strength of a 73-year-old. My latest test showed that I now have the strength of a 25-year-old! Seeing this transformation has been incredible, as exercise has become a huge part of my life post-treatment.”

Recently, a study we funded showed that following evidence-based lifestyle recommendations can support long-term health after a cancer diagnosis.

Regular physical activity can also help people maintain a healthy weight, and having less excess body fat can reduce risk of several cancers.

Rachael Hutson, World Cancer Research Fund’s CEO, commented:

“We are incredibly grateful to Meera for sharing her experience, which shows how research into breast cancer treatments is changing lives and why it is needed now more than ever. We’re proud to be funding pioneering research at the University of Southampton, which is bringing us one step closer to kinder, more effective treatments for breast cancer patients.”

Supporting breast cancer research is important to Meera after she benefitted from ribociclib, a form of targeted therapy, following its introduction for primary breast cancer patients in February 2021.

“Research makes change happen. My biggest fear is dying while my children are young, and every breakthrough brings me closer to a future where that fear doesn’t become reality. People who fundraise may never meet the people they’re helping, but they give families like mine something priceless: hope and more time together.”

By signing up to one of our challenge events, you can offer the gift of hope to people like Meera.

Being active doesn’t have to mean joining a gym or changing your routine altogether. It can be as simple as taking a walk before starting the work day, cycling to the shops, playing in the park with children, getting in the garden or exploring a local park. A few extra minutes of movement can soon add up, helping you stay active and feel your best throughout the summer.

The benefits of making the most of longer days

Moving more isn’t just a great way to enjoy the longer days of summer. It can also bring important health benefits.

Research shows that being active can help lower the risk of three types of cancer: breast, bowel and womb cancer. We know this from the evidence gathered through World Cancer Research Fund’s CUP Global research programme.

For people living with cancer, being active can also help improve fatigue and support a healthy immune system. Even a few extra minutes of activity throughout the day can benefit your health.

Being active often can also:

• support healthy bones and muscles
• support a healthy weight
• improve sleep
• improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety
• lower the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease

So, this summer, make some time to get outside, enjoy the fresh air and find activities that you enjoy. You might be surprised how good a little extra movement can make you feel.

Simple ways to get active this summer

Looking for inspiration? Summer can be a great time to try something new, revisit an old activity you enjoyed or simply spend more time outdoors. There are plenty of ways to build more activity into your week, whether you have ten minutes to spare or a whole afternoon free:

• Explore a canal path, riverside walk or nature trail you haven’t visited before
• Join a local walking group and connect with others
• Try a free outdoor fitness session in your area
• Play outdoor sports or games such as tennis, football, rounders or frisbee
• Use outdoor gym equipment in your local park, such as hand bikes, which are often free and accessible
• Go for a swim or give water aerobics a try
• Spend time gardening
• Walk or cycle to the shops
• Play outdoor games with children or grandchildren

If the weather is too hot, you can still be active indoors. Try chair-based activities such as seated marching, arm circles and stretching to keep moving while staying cool and comfortable.

Find out more ways to get active – see our guide to Moving more

Being safe in the summer sun

A little sunshine can make a walk, bike ride or day outdoors feel even more enjoyable.

Sunlight helps our bodies make vitamin D, which is important for healthy bones, teeth and a well-functioning immune system. But it’s important to enjoy the sun safely too. Too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage the skin and increase the risk of skin cancer.

A few simple steps can help protect your skin:

• Be in the shade when the sun is strongest (between 11am and 3pm)
• Cover up with light clothing
• Wear a hat and UV-protective sunglasses
• Use and reapply sunscreen with at least sun protective factor (SPF) 30 and 4-star UVA rating
• Take breaks from direct sunlight

If it’s particularly hot, try to be active earlier in the morning or later in the evening when it’s a bit cooler. You’ll be more comfortable while still enjoying time outdoors.

Keeping hydrated while being active

Warmer weather and being more active means sweating a lot, so it’s easy to become dehydrated without realising it. Keep a reusable water bottle with you so you drink more water throughout the day.

You can also get extra hydration from water-rich foods, such as:

• Watermelon, tomatoes, cucumber, courgettes and strawberries
• Smoothies with fruit
• Chilled soups, such as gazpacho

For most people, water is all that’s needed to stay hydrated during everyday summer activities. Sports and electrolyte drinks are usually not needed unless you’re doing very intense exercise or have been advised to use them by a health professional.

Summertime offers a great opportunity to get outdoors and move your body more. By being more active, protecting your skin and staying hydrated, you can support your health and help lower your cancer risk. So why not try something new this summer and see where it takes you?

New evidence, published today, shows that sticking to five lifestyle recommendations improves survival after a later cancer diagnosis.  

The findings provide encouraging evidence that simple, achievable habits established before a cancer diagnosis can play a role in improving long-term health and the health of those following a cancer diagnosis. 

The Cancer Prevention Recommendations analysed in the study include:  

• Be a healthy weight 
• Be physically active 
• Eat wholegrains, vegetables, fruit and beans 
• Limit red and processed meat 
• Limit alcohol consumption 

The latest research led by Newcastle University, UK, published in Cancer was funded by Wereld Kanker Onderzoek Fonds, (WKOF) – the Netherlands-based charity within theWorld Cancer Research Fund International network of charities that also includes World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research. 

The Recommendations were developed in 2018 by World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) and the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) as evidence-based lifestyle guidance which aim to reduce cancer risk.  

Although previous research in cancer survivors has indicated some positive effects, this new study provides the most comprehensive evidence to date of their association with improved survival for people living with and beyond cancer. 

Professor John Mathers, Emeritus Professor of Human Nutrition at Newcastle University, who led the study, said: 

“This research is incredibly exciting because, for the first time, we have shown that higher adherence to the WCRF/AICR 2018 Recommendations may reduce the risk of mortality for people diagnosed with cancer in a UK cohort. 

The results of this paper add to an existing body of evidence on the WCRF/AICR Recommendations and cancer survivors and could be informative for those developing policies and clinical guidelines to improve health and longevity following a cancer diagnosis.”

Breaking down the results

The research team assessed the dietary and lifestyle data of 28,550 individuals who were assigned score points from 0-5 in relation to how closely the Recommendations were followed at the time of recruitment to the Biobank, prior to a cancer diagnosis. The UK Biobank is a large, population-based database, established to allow detailed investigations of the genetic and nongenetic determinants of the diseases of middle and old age. 

Based on decades of research, the key WCRF/AICR Recommendations were developed in 2018. 

The research team found that each 1-point increment in score, equivalent to fully meeting one Recommendation, was associated with an 8% lower chance of dying from any cause over time. Overall, having a score in the highest third of the study population was associated with a 16% lower chance of all-cause mortality, compared with those in the lowest third. 

This association was consistent regardless of whether the individual smoked and also held true for multiple cancer types such as breast and liver cancers, suggesting broad survival benefits.  

Calls for interventions for healthy living

The findings show that following a healthy lifestyle is not only important for cancer prevention but may also have implications for long-term health after a cancer diagnosis.  

Dr Fiona Malcomson, researcher at Newcastle University and co-author of the paper said:  

“The take home message is that the 2018 WCRF/AICR Cancer Prevention Recommendations apply to cancer survivors too. Having a healthier eating pattern, being more physically active and avoiding being too heavy, as described in the Recommendations, is associated with better long-term outcomes for those living with and beyond cancer. 

The scientists behind the research suggest that these findings support prioritising the development of interventions to enhance adherence to the WCRF/AICR Recommendations– including after diagnosis – that may potentially lower mortality risk among people diagnosed with cancer. This means that cancer survivors can take action to improve their health and should be encouraged to do so by healthcare providers.” 

 
Nadia Ameyah, Director of WKOF, the Netherland-based charity within WCRF International said: 

“This tremendously exciting study further cements the status of our evidence-based Recommendations as one of the best ways of maintaining your health when living with and beyond cancer. We have always prided ourselves on the scientific grounding of our Recommendations for primary prevention, and this is the first time we have had such robust evidence for survivorship. Cancer survivorship and quality of life after cancer diagnosis are key priorities of WKOF. 

We look forward to seeing how these findings will inform health policy and the design of healthcare interventions to help those living with and beyond cancer to live happier, healthier lives.”

More than half of people starting systemic cancer treatment in England had a history of obesity, even though only around one in four were living with obesity when treatment began, according to new research.

The real-world study of more than 79,000 patients across 13 cancer types showed that relying on a single body mass index (BMI) measurement at treatment start may greatly underestimate patients’ lifetime exposure to obesity. For pancreatic cancer, obesity at the start of treatment was only 13.7%, but lifetime obesity prevalence was 55.8%, demonstrating that current weight doesn’t provide a complete picture of someone’s health.

A team of scientists led by Professor Simon Lord analysed past BMI data from digital health records of patients who were receiving systemic treatments, meaning any kinds of treatment where drugs travel through the bloodstream, such as chemotherapy.

Funded by World Cancer Research Fund and led by the University of Oxford, the findings, published recently in the journal ESMO Real World Data and Digital Oncology, provide valuable real-world data on obesity prevalence among people living with cancer.

The results highlight the need to consider lifetime obesity exposure in clinical decision-making and precision care. The results also provide important information about the prevalence of obesity in a real-world group of patients. This is crucial for informing healthcare provision since body weight informs treatment, such as chemotherapy dosing.

World Cancer Research Fund’s International Assistant Director of Research and Policy, Dr Helen Croker, said:

“This research highlights the opportunity to consider patients’ history of obesity alongside their current health when thinking about broader clinical decision-making.

“Our previous research highlighted how a lack of accurate pre-diagnosis body weight measures in studies of people living with and beyond cancer presented limitations for interpreting the role of BMI on outcomes. It is wonderful to see research we have funded addressing key questions where we have been missing data.”

Digging into the data

The study found that on average, including historical BMI raised obesity prevalence from 26.4% to 53.5% and that lifetime obesity prevalence exceeded 50% in every one of the 13 cancer types studied.

Analysis showed that obesity prevalence varied across cancer types. Cancers that commonly present with cachexia or reduced dietary intake showed lower obesity rates at first treatment, including pancreatic, gastroesophageal, bowel, and lung cancer, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The results revealed higher obesity rates at treatment start for uterine, breast cancer and malignant melanoma.

Further analysis found that patients aged over 75 had lower obesity prevalence at the start of treatment, while those living in more deprived areas had higher levels of obesity.

Impact and implications

Obesity is a risk factor for 13 cancer types, and global projections suggest that over 2 million cancer cases could be attributable to obesity by 2070. However, the precise role obesity plays in cancer outcomes and treatment response remains unclear.

Associate Professor in Experimental Cancer Therapeutics at the University of Oxford, Professor Simon Lord, said:

“This work highlights the limitations of using a single BMI measurement, which fails to accurately reflect past obesity exposure. How obesity affects cancer prognosis is extremely complex, with both current and previous obesity likely to be important. This paper reveals large differences between current and past BMI in patients receiving systemic therapy, highlighting the importance of considering both measures.

“So, this study provides clear rationale for considering both current and past BMI in clinical decision making and outcomes research. Not doing so risks missing an important part of the clinical picture.”

This research is also significant because body weight is often used as a guide for making decisions around treatment, such as chemotherapy dosing, and this is more complex in patients with obesity. But until now, the scale of this need has been unclear due to limited obesity prevalence data in real-world clinical populations.

Senior Research Fellow at the Department of Oncology at the University of Oxford, Dr Victoria Perletta, said:

“This study underlines the importance of using longitudinal BMI measures to accurately classify obesity exposure in cancer patients receiving systemic therapy. Our work could have implications for clinical decision-making, as understanding a patient’s history of obesity may help build a fuller picture of their health than BMI at treatment start alone. Because body weight can inform chemotherapy dosing, this may also be relevant to more personalised care.

“Future research could explore how lifetime BMI versus BMI at treatment start associates with cancer outcomes to resolve unanswered questions.”

Researchers note that the growing use of weight-loss medications such as GLP-1 receptor agonists may further change obesity patterns in cancer patients, making longitudinal tracking even more important in future studies.

“Although the link between obesity and cancer risk is well established, its impact on cancer outcomes remains uncertain and relying only on BMI at treatment start may miss important lifetime exposure that could influence cancer prognosis,” added Dr Croker.

Men with larger body size in adulthood, defined by body mass index (BMI), were up to 16% more likely to develop bladder cancer than those with a smaller body size, while no similar link was found in women, according to one of the largest studies of its kind out today (17 April 2026).

The study was funded by Wereld Kanker Onderzoek Fonds (WKOF) and led by Professor Roger Milne at the Cancer Council Victoria’s (Australia) Cancer Epidemiology Division. In the study, published today in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the team analysed data from 30 long-running international studies, following 2,533,008 adults and recording 20,447 bladder cancer cases.

They found in men that bladder cancer risk rose as BMI increased. Compared with men in the healthy-weight range, men who were overweight had around an 8% higher risk of bladder cancer, and men with obesity around a 16% higher risk.

When the team looked at waist measurements, they found that a larger waist circumference measured at enrolment (typically mid-to-late adulthood) was also linked with higher risk of bladder cancer in men – each 10-centimetre increase in waist circumference was linked with around a 6% higher risk in men.

Prof Roger Milne, Head of Cancer Epidemiology at Cancer Council Victoria, said:

“Overweight and obesity have been convincingly linked to 13 types of cancer and we wanted to get clarity on the link between body size and bladder cancer. By pooling data from more than 2.5 million people, we are getting closer to finding the answers.

“Higher BMI and a larger waistline in adulthood were linked with higher bladder cancer risk in men. We also saw signals suggesting BMI early in adulthood may matter years later, which is an important area for future research.”

What is causing these differences?

Bladder cancer is far more common in men than women. Worldwide in 2022 there were 471,293 new cases in men compared with 143,005 in women (GLOBOCAN 2022).

In women, the study found little evidence overall that BMI or waist size measured at enrolment (typically mid-to-late adulthood) was linked with bladder cancer risk.

As with all observational research, the study identifies associations and cannot by itself prove that body size causes bladder cancer.

The team suggests the difference results for men and women in this study may partly relate to how body fat is stored and how it affects the body. Men tend to carry more fat around the abdominal organs (often described as “visceral fat”), which is more metabolically active and linked with inflammation and insulin-related changes, while women tend to store a higher proportion of fat under the skin (“subcutaneous fat”).

Dr Nina Afshar, Research Fellow at Cancer Council Victoria, said:

“Carrying extra weight affects the body in several ways that increase cancer risk. It can change hormones, cause chronic inflammation, and trigger other processes that encourage abnormal cell growth. We want to better understand how these processes contribute to bladder cancer risk and call for future research to investigate the underlying mechanisms.”

The researchers carefully accounted for smoking history, the strongest established preventable risk factor for bladder cancer. Smoking remains a major driver of risk, but the findings suggest that maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding excess abdominal fat may also be relevant for prevention – particularly for men.

Investigating early life risk

However, when researchers looked earlier in life (between the ages of 18 and 21), they found that having a BMI of 25 or above was associated with a higher risk of bladder cancer later on in both men and women.

The researchers note this early adulthood finding should be interpreted with some caution, particularly for women, because the number of cases in the group that recorded the highest early-adulthood BMI was smaller. Further studies are needed to help shed light on the changing bladder cancer risk across the lifespan as well as to better understand how early factors influence bladder cancer risk later in life.

Dr Giota Mitrou, World Cancer Research Fund International’s Executive Director of Research and Policy, said:

“This is one of the biggest studies to date to better understand whether body size may be linked to bladder cancer. By funding and bringing together evidence at this scale, we can move beyond mixed results from smaller studies and give clearer, more reliable answers about bladder cancer prevention globally.

“This study strengthens the evidence that, alongside not smoking and avoiding occupational exposure to bladder carcinogens, maintaining a healthy weight – and avoiding excess abdominal fat in particular – may help reduce bladder cancer risk, especially for men. It also opens up important questions about how body size in early-adulthood may shape cancer risk later in life.”

In almost every region of the world, overweight and obesity among children and adolescents is a public health problem. There has been no progress in stemming the rate of overweight and obesity in children under 5 years in nearly 20 years, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

This is a problem, because we know that when people live with overweight or obesity near the start of their lives, it often becomes a challenge throughout their adult lives.

What’s the problem with being inactive?

Young people may not be thinking very much about their risk of developing cancer. But the habits laid down in youth can last a lifetime. Our evidence shows that being active reduces the risk of colon (part of the bowel), post-menopausal breast and womb cancers.

Perhaps more importantly, being physically active also helps reduce our risk of living with overweight and obesity – a cause of at least 13 different types of cancer. Put simply, excess weight results from an imbalance between the energy we take in through our diet, and the energy we expend through being active (and other bodily functions). While we need to consider wider issues related to our ability to access a healthy diet, and managing stress and sleep levels, part of the solution involves being more active.

Are screens a particular problem?

Screens, and particularly mobile phones, have been blamed for a range of social and health problems among young people, including:

• short-sightedness
• mental ill health
• bullying
• poor sleep

Evidence from our 2018 Diet and Cancer Report revealed convincing evidence that more screen time for children (from mobile phones but also using computers at school and watching devices during leisure time) makes weight gain more likely, as well as overweight and obesity.

The reasons for this are mixed. We tend to watch screens while sitting down, which uses less energy. Watching screens can also encourage us to eat more than is needed, not least because of exposure to adverts for unhealthy food and drinks, which young people may be particularly susceptible to.

The WHO lists limiting screen time as one of the ways to prevent and manage overweight and obesity in young people – but it’s only one.

What are the barriers to getting more active?

Young people’s experiences differ but, looking at the evidence and talking to parents and teenagers in the UK, a few common problems are highlighted:

• Underfunded / poor-quality equipment in public spaces (that may also feel unsafe to use).
• Cost – young people often don’t have a steady income, and gyms/clubs/sports can be expensive. Young people need access to parks and sports fields in their neighbourhoods.
• Travel – young people are often dependent on others for travel, which makes active travel – including safe routes to walk or cycle to school – and good public transport infrastructure so important (see below).
• Lack of options – children and young people in the UK are often offered activities such as football, netball and cross-country, but many want to try out less conventional sports such as yoga, dodgeball or trampolining.
• Gender – there is a significant decline in young girls taking part in sport, and parents of girls highlighted particular barriers to participation around body image, concerns about sweating and clothing, and lack of private changing spaces.

Elsewhere, a 2022 study looking at Botswana, Ethiopia, South Africa and Zimbabwe identified barriers around funding, but also highlighted community safety and a general lack of infrastructure as challenges.

What solutions are working around the world?

When developing ideas and designing policies to tackle overweight and obesity among children and young people, one voice is often unheard – that of young people themselves. From 2018–23, World Cancer Research Fund was involved in an innovative EU-funded project called CO-CREATE, which aimed to change that by putting young people at the forefront of tackling the obesity epidemic in Europe. The youth representatives on the project came up with 4 demands to policymakers, including “Offer all children and adolescents free, organized physical activities at least once every week.”

Using what they learned as part of the CO-CREATE project, our Policy team have devised a policy factsheet on physical activity, outlining the best ways to meet our Cancer Prevention Recommendation to be physically active.

Of all the information in the factsheet, some policy recommendations would specifically benefit children and young people, if acted on by governments around the world. These include:

• Initiatives that optimise opportunities for physical activity (including walking and cycling to and from school).
• Active play before and after school, as well as during recess and lunch breaks.
• Reduce sitting during classes.
• Policies to priorities active urban design, like ensuring access to open/green space or walking and cycling infrastructure where people live.

To keep people informed about both the need to be active, and the opportunities available to them, we also recommend:

• High quality physical education in school curricula.
• Enhanced physical activity training for all teachers.

And some of these innovative policies are already being undertaken in parts of the world. There are many policies recorded in our MOVING database mandating physical activity in schools, broadly ranging from 2–4 hours per week, depending on age and country.

And it’s not just dedicated PE sessions. Italy’s Scuola attiva kids aims to promote a culture of wellbeing and movement among not only students but teachers and families as well. In Finland, the Students on the Move programme encourages young people to sit less and move between breaks. Belgium’s Adventurous Activity initiative offers young people the chance to try out high and low ropes, tree climbing, rowing, BMX, skiing and orienteering.

Yet parents we spoke to suggested that there also needs to be a reframing of how PE is seen in school. One parent in Surrey, UK, said: “If you’re really good, you tend to do loads as part of a club, but there seems to be very little for those who aren’t any good.”

“There’s different aspects of sports. There’s one where you’re trying to create lifelong fitness for young people to engage in sport as part of a healthy lifestyle. And there’s another part where you need competitive sport to provide appropriate challenge” – Jennifer Cole, teacher and parent of 3, Brunei

“Emphasise fun so everyone can join in. Let people compete and win something but focus on beating personal bests rather than being top of the class so it’s not exclusive. Why not offer points or vouchers for those who increase their steps the most, not the ones with the overall highest numbers, so you’re encouraging people who don’t do anything?” – Mike, parent of 3 including 2 teenage girls, UK

Active travel was another key concern for parents – and is also one of our policy recommendations, including:

• Transport policies, systems and infrastructure that prioritise walking, cycling and use of public transport.
• Road safety actions for pedestrians and cyclists.

Active travel, which has the additional benefit of helping countries meet climate commitments, is already being promoted in many European countries. Austria’s Kindergarten Mobility Box aims to make walking and cycling the norm from a young age, and Belgium has similar scheme.

Perhaps, rather than just focusing on crisis-driven solutions to an increasingly inactive world, we need to listen more to young people about the changes they want to see in their world, alongside implementing policies that make it easier for everyone – especially young people – to move more and sit less as part of their everyday lives.

Siobhan McGeown

Siobhan was inspired to run by her parents (in main picture), who have both had cancer. She says: “After watching both my parents suffer from cancer (ovarian and prostate), as well as several other close family members, I want nothing more than to see better outcomes for cancer diagnoses, as well as better detection and testing before it gets to that stage.”

Angela Brooks (left, wearing cap)

Angela was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021 aged only 33. ​She’s currently in remission but still living with the impact of cancer, including early menopause​. Angela told us about her training schedule: “Every 3 weeks, between rounds of chemotherapy, I set myself the goal of completing a 10k run.”

Sam Burton

Sam says: “The decision to run for World Cancer Research Fund is driven by my Father’s recent diagnosis with kidney cancer, an event that has reshaped my perspective on life and illuminated the critical importance of cancer research and advocacy.​”

Jack Gibbons and family

Jack Gibbons

This is Jack’s second marathon for us, having also run in 2018. He’s running in memory of his mum, Maggie, who received a diagnosis of very aggressive stage IV melanoma in late 2023 and passed away in January 2024.

Maggie was there to support Jack when he ran his first marathon and was there at the finish line of the London Landmarks half in 2023 to see him over the line. Her support meant the world to Jack and he’s proud to be able to run for her in 2025 and raise money for World Cancer Research Fund.

David Herlihy

David sadly lost his Dad to cancer in April 2024, and his Mum has been diagnosed with cancer for the second time in 5 years​. He’s dedicated to health and fitness, and has completed 5 marathons, an ironman and 2 ultra marathons​.

Hannah Stedman

Hannah is running in memory of her amazing Mum, who “had a very quick battle with lung cancer in October 2023. She was diagnosed on the 3rd and had passed by the 24th. To say this experience was the hardest thing of my life is an understatement.”​

George White

George is a mortgage broker based in the West Midlands and is motivated to run for us after recently losing his Godfather to cancer.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer estimates that, by 2050, the world will see 35 million new cancer cases each year, up by 15 million annual cases in 2022. Yet with the right policies to prevent cancer, 14 million of those people could avoid their diagnosis. These policies would need to address a variety of factors, including tobacco, alcohol, overweight and obesity, breastfeeding and unhealthy diet.

Cancer places increasing burden on society

As the cancer burden increases, the strain on our health systems, economies and families becomes harder to meet. Unhealthy weight – just one risk factor – is projected to cost the global economy more than $4 trillion a year by 2035. Our food systems make eating a healthier diet harder. High production and consumption of red and processed meat, and low consumption of wholegrains, vegetables, fruit and beans, plays a role in increased cancer risk and the risk of other diseases such as diabetes. This misalignment also contributes to unhealthy natural environments, as diet-related greenhouse gas emissions are significant contributors to global warming. Most of these are related to production of animal-based foods. This is why prevention is the only sustainable way forward – with resilient populations and food systems working together for public health.

Prevention the sustainable way forward

We believe that prevention must be prioritised and is the only sustainable way forward. We also need to better explain:

1. The science around cancer risk and diets, weight, breastfeeding, physical activity, and alcohol – as summarised in our Cancer Prevention Recommendations.
2. Which policies should be prioritised to shape healthier environments that minimise these cancer risks for populations.
3. How cancer prevention policy can have positive cascading effects for our health, but also for our health systems, our societies and our shared natural environment.

Cancer prevention policies can have ripple effect

We also know that cancer prevention policies can touch on and improve other areas beyond health. For example, diets high in red and processed meat increase people’s risk of colorectal cancer, and that healthier diets made up of more wholegrains, fruit and vegetables can protect people from the same type of cancer. This is why our Cancer Prevention Recommendations say people should limit red and processed meat, and eat a diet rich in wholegrains, vegetables, fruit and beansAt the same time, if our food systems produced less red and processed meat, and animal- food in general, and instead moved towards producing plant-based foods, this would have a significant impact in lowering diet-related CO2 emissions. Policymakers need to make sense of these connections, and our guidance shows what they need to do to promote such positive cycles – or co-benefits.

Why we created the Blueprint

Our well-established Cancer Prevention Recommendations cover 10 ways in which individuals can minimise their risk of preventable cancers. A growing body of evidence is showing that adherence to these Recommendations is associated with lower risk of developing cancer and other NCDs, but also lower risk of dying from cancer.

However, the Recommendations have not – until now – been presented alongside population-level policy advice. We need to promote an integrated approach to preventing cancer, otherwise policymakers may risk formulating repetitive but disconnected policy strategies across these areas that do not speak to or build on each other. For example, marketing restrictions can be a useful tool to encourage healthy diets but are also relevant for promoting breastfeeding and limiting alcohol consumption. Even though the targeted products are different, there are lessons to be learned from policy efforts across different cancer risk factors.

By joining the dots in these different areas, we can create greater awareness of how different policy approaches can contribute to cancer prevention. Our new blueprint makes a compelling case for action, especially for prevention to be included in national cancer plans. The blueprint also reinforces the need for a whole-of-government approach that puts public health goals before commercial interests.

What’s inside the Blueprint?

The Blueprint is accompanied by factsheets on specific cancer risk factors.

Our policy blueprint makes the case for population-level policy action and focuses on 5 factors: diet, weight, breastfeeding, physical activity and alcohol – in line with our Cancer Prevention Recommendations. We also look at how these factors can support people living with and beyond cancer

Our blueprint is an essential, evidence-based guide for policymakers and advocates, pulling together tools and resources to provide a comprehensive resource on cancer prevention. It pulls together existing tools and resources to support efforts on cancer prevention, including key guidance for World Health Organization, but also our existing NOURISHING nutrition and MOVING physical activity policy frameworks. All this information is distilled in a package of resources:

• An outline of 8 policy areas – including marketing restrictions, fiscal and legal, procurement, planning and incentives in communities– and how they apply to diet, weight, breastfeeding and physical activity.
• 10 factsheets with in-depth technical detail on how to roll out each Recommendation at population level.
• An exploration of the co-benefits of cancer prevention policy: addressing health inequities; meeting climate and sustainability targets; addressing commercial determinants of health; and fulfilling human rights.
• 7 strategies to help policymakers take action.

The goal of these resources is to strengthen understanding of how environment shapes cancer risk, and what policymakers can do about it.

How it was developed

To develop these resources, we built on our policy work, we reviewed existing key policy documents, and asked experts in the science and policy of cancer prevention, as well as lawyers, advocates for non-communicable disease prevention or breastfeeding what is most important in their respective areas. We then brought all the main elements together.

What’s next?

The Policy blueprint for cancer prevention will now be a centrepiece of our conversations with policymakers going forward – from Member States at the World Health Organization to the UN High-Level Meeting on Non-communicable diseases.

We invite you all to get involved: download the blueprint, share it, and use it in your work.

> Download it now

> Download our factsheets and other policy tools in our resource library

> To give us feedback and share how you want to use the blueprint, write to policy@wcrf.org