How the online mindfulness programme worked

The study was designed to involve 128 women beginning chemotherapy for breast cancer in Mexico. Participants were randomly assigned either to take part in a six-week online mindfulness programme or to a comparison group that would be able to access online videos after the study.

The programme used six pre-recorded online sessions to introduce practices including meditation, body awareness and techniques for managing difficult emotions. Because the sessions were available on demand, women could follow them at home and fit them around treatment, medical appointments and periods of fatigue.

The researchers assessed participants’ stress and related symptoms at the beginning of the study and then again after seven and 11 weeks.

Can mindfulness reduce stress during chemotherapy?

With recruitment complete, Dr Mesa Chávez’s team is now analysing the data and preparing the results for presentation and publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Early findings have been encouraging, both in terms of participants’ emotional wellbeing and their experience of using the online sessions.

“Overall, the online mindfulness programme helped to reduce patients’ stress levels and feelings of sadness. In addition, patients were highly satisfied with the programme and considered that its online, on-demand format was accessible and easy to use.”

Dr Mesa Chávez adds: “Notably, patients were highly satisfied with the programme, with nearly all of them (97%) confirming that they would recommend it to other patients receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer.”

The full findings have not yet been published or peer reviewed, so further detail will be needed before firm conclusions can be drawn. Nevertheless, the early results offer an encouraging indication that relatively simple, accessible support may make a meaningful difference during an intensely demanding period.

Why online mindfulness could improve access

For Dr Mesa Chávez, one of the programme’s greatest strengths is that it does not require people to travel to another appointment or practice at a particular time: “Being able to watch the videos at home in a familiar environment can offer a layer of comfort and a sense of safety.”

Several participants told the researchers that the online approach made support feel more inclusive because women could access it regardless of where they lived or which medical centre was providing their treatment. Many wanted to continue practicing mindfulness after completing the study.

Caring for the whole person

Mindfulness is not a treatment for cancer and should not replace medical or psychological care. Instead, Dr Mesa Chávez sees it as a form of supportive care that could sit alongside treatment and help people manage difficult emotions with greater calm and self-compassion. She is encouraged by growing recognition that cancer care must support the whole person, not only treat the disease.

“Being able to offer this kind of supportive care to patients throughout the country, receiving their feedback and words of gratitude, and observing the positive impact that the mindfulness programme had on their wellbeing have been the most fulfilling parts of this project.”

What happens next for the research

Dr Mesa Chávez’s team now plans to present the findings at an international scientific meeting and prepare a manuscript for publication. Following the positive feedback from participants, the team has also begun promoting mindfulness at its centre and encouraging oncologists to consider it as an additional supportive-care option for patients experiencing emotional distress.

Reflecting on the people who helped make the research possible, Dr Mesa Chávez says: “Generating scientific evidence is possible thanks to the patients who participate in research, their families, and the generous donors who advocate for science. I would like to express my profound gratitude for your participation and support.”

A cancer diagnosis can affect energy, routines and how easy it feels to stay active. Understanding these everyday changes – and when they may be greatest – could help healthcare professionals offer support that feels realistic and manageable for each person. 

The study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, analysed data from 91,352 UK Biobank participants. This included 10,152 people with a history of cancer, as well as healthy adults and people living with other health conditions. 

Participants wore a wrist activity monitor for up to 7 days. This allowed researchers to estimate how much of each day they spent doing moderate-to-vigorous activity, light activity, and inactive time (including sedentary behaviour and sleep). 

The study, which was part of an international collaboration based at Monash University in Australia, made strong use of wearable technology to record and transmit movement data. Participants wore a wrist activity monitor to provide an objective picture of movement, sitting and sleep across everyday life. 

What did the study find?

On average, people with a history of cancer spent about 25 fewer minutes per day being active than the healthy group. That included 11 fewer minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity and 14 fewer minutes of light activity. They also spent around 11 more minutes sedentary and 14 more minutes in the measured sleep period. 

The difference was greatest among people diagnosed less than a year earlier. They recorded about 40 fewer active minutes a day, alongside around 20 more sedentary minutes and 20 more minutes in the sleep period, compared to healthy individuals. The largest differences were seen among people with lung and gastrointestinal cancers, although some cancer groups were small and the results require cautious interpretation. 

The monitor’s “sleep period” also included time spent awake in bed and longer periods could include disrupted or inefficient sleep, so measurements should not be read as a precise record of time asleep. As this was an observational study, it cannot prove that cancer caused the differences or demonstrate exactly how an individual’s activity changed before and after diagnosis. The researchers also did not have detailed information about cancer stage or treatment. 

Why does this matter?

The findings suggest that gentle, practical support to help people move more may be especially important soon after a cancer diagnosis. This does not have to mean structured exercise. Looking at the whole day could help healthcare professionals find realistic ways to replace some sitting time with safe, manageable movement. 

Dr Yue Liao of the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Texas at Arlington, who led the research, explained: 

“A cancer diagnosis can reshape everyday life, including how much people move, sit and rest. By using wearable monitors, we found that people with a history of cancer were less active across the day – and that the difference was greatest in the first year after diagnosis. These findings underline the need for practical, personalised support that helps each person move in ways that feel safe, realistic and achievable.” 

The work was partly funded by the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), as part of its work to build evidence that can improve health and quality of life for people affected by cancer. AICR is part of a network of charities led by World Cancer Research Fund International, alongside World Cancer Research Fund in the UK and Wereld Kanker Onderzoek Fonds in the Netherlands. 

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

“Wearable monitors are common devices nowadays, but they’re scientifically exciting. They have revolutionised research, giving us far more data than old approaches like self-reported surveys and letting us understand much more accurately how people actually move, sit and sleep. 

“We’re delighted that our funding has helped this terrific team use this kind of data to show how behaviour shapes cancer risk and survival, and where support is needed most.” 

AICR recommends moving more and sitting less when possible. People receiving or recovering from cancer treatment should ask their healthcare team what is safe and suitable for them. 

When Sharron Moffatt was diagnosed with triple positive breast cancer in January 2024, her world was turned upside down. But alongside the physical and emotional toll of cancer, she faced another challenge: a flood of cancer misinformation.

The mental health first aid (MFHA) trainer and speaker, from Buckinghamshire, was working in the corporate wellbeing industry when she noticed her right breast growing in December 2023.

Just eighteen months earlier, Sharron’s mother died from metastatic breast cancer after facing the disease three times. It was this heartbreaking loss that prompted Sharron to always check her breasts.

“I miss my mum terribly, but I’m grateful to her because I learned so much about how to navigate cancer from watching her take it in her stride,” Sharron said.

Following tests at her local breast cancer clinic, Sharron was officially diagnosed with triple positive breast cancer on 7 January 2024.

Further investigations, including an ultrasound and biopsy, revealed three large tumours in her right breast which measured 12 centimetres combined.

“I broke down in tears wondering how I would tell my family, if anyone would ever work with me again and how I would walk the senior dog I adopted just one week prior.”

Her treatment included seven rounds of chemotherapy, a single mastectomy and radiotherapy followed by further chemotherapy – spanning twenty months in total. Sharron explained:

“Cancer takes so much from you, I was even on the cusp of having to stop treatment because I lost so much weight. During my first round of chemotherapy, I was really sick for around three days. When I finally recovered, it was time for my next infusion.”

Despite the gruelling effects of her treatment, which included fatigue, hair loss, nausea and even liver cirrhosis – the hardest part of Sharron’s experience wasn’t the cancer itself. It was the misinformation that preyed on her through one of the most vulnerable moments of her life.

“During chemotherapy, I became so ill I didn’t recognise myself. That was hard. But the hardest thing for me, which still makes me uncomfortable to this day, was the misinformation I received.”

After sharing her cancer diagnosis on social media, Sharron was inundated with messages and claims about apricot kernels – the seeds found inside apricot stones – which were positioned to her as a “natural” cancer cure.

The claims centre on a plant compound called amygdalin, which is found in apricot kernels, but there is no evidence that it treats cancer in humans. In fact, consuming apricot kernels can be dangerous because amygdalin releases cyanide in the body.

But the misleading claims didn’t end there. More recently, Sharron was contacted by someone on Instagram who claimed to have cured themselves of stage four melanoma by “healing their trauma”.

When Sharron asked for evidence to support the claim, she was met with defensiveness and hostility.

“Many of those on social media will deliberately target vulnerable people. I can understand why someone living with stage four cancer may be persuaded to try things like apricot kernels. However, they deserve access to reliable, evidence-based information that enables them to make informed choices about their treatment.”

After completing her extended treatment plan in October 2025, Sharron continues long-term treatment (aromatase inhibitors). Following a meeting with her oncologist in May 2026, it was confirmed she currently has “no measurable evidence of disease” – marking an important milestone in her journey.

Today, she dedicates herself to raising awareness about the dangers of misinformation and providing expert-led training on understanding cancer in the workplace.

“When you’re diagnosed with cancer, you’re dealing with fear and uncertainty. The last thing you need is misinformation adding to that. That’s why I’m passionate about encouraging people to know where to find trustworthy information and training employers on how to support people affected by cancer, including carers. No-one should have to face cancer and misinformation at the same time.”

Isobel Booth, World Cancer Research Fund’s Head of Health Information, said:

“Unfortunately, Sharron’s story is not unique. Misinformation is seeping into more and more lives every day. This is why we are drawing attention to this important issue during Cancer Prevention Action Week. While we recognise there is valuable information out there, the science is often taken out of context, twisted or manipulated. For anyone affected by cancer who has questions on nutrition or supplements, please contact our Cancer and Nutrition Helpline, which is staffed by specialist oncology dieticians who can help filter through the noise.”

Sharron shared her story as part of World Cancer Research Fund’s Cancer Prevention Action Week campaign, which ran from 15-21 June 2026.

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.”

When John Steventon began competing in HYROX fitness events, he never imagined he’d become a fundraising superhero. But following a skin cancer diagnosis, he found a new motivation for taking on the gruelling challenges.

Dressed as Wolverine, John has been raising money for World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) while encouraging conversations about cancer prevention. His experiences have also changed how he thinks about his own health, inspiring him to share the importance of healthy lifestyle choices with others.

John is WCRF’s very own supporter superhero. He completed a HYROX in December dressed as comic book character Wolverine, alongside a friend who dressed as Deadpool – and he isn’t stopping there.

HYROX is an indoor fitness race enhanced by workout stations along the route, so competitors run 1km, then do a workout – eight times! The workouts include rowing, pulling and pushing a sled, and lunges while carrying a sandbag, making it an exhausting but fun challenge.

“Everything I’ve done in life, I’ve wanted to share with others. As a DJ, I taught aspiring musicians and even wrote DJing for Dummies. In my TV career, I mentor new editors. When I was racing in indoor rowing, I launched the RowAlong YouTube channel to help home rowers stay motivated. So, when I started competing in HYROX, I wondered how I could use this platform to make a difference.”

He continues:

“I knew I’d never be a podium finisher, but after my skin cancer diagnosis, I found a purpose: racing as Wolverine to raise money for WCRF. The response from the HYROX community has been incredible – not just in donations, but in the conversations I’ve had. Nearly everyone I meet has been touched by cancer in some way, whether personally or through friends and family.”

“I thought I was invincible”

“Even though the doctor said, ‘Don’t worry’, when I heard the words ‘That’s skin cancer’ the last hope that I was indestructible fizzled away. I’d always thought I was invincible – after all, I like to dress up as Wolverine – but skin cancer reminded me that none of us are.”

John’s diagnosis helped him become more aware of the importance of cancer prevention.

“I remember being seven years old, resisting my Mum’s attempts to put sun cream on me. I often opted for the lowest SPF possible, thinking sunburn was just a fast track to a tan. Coming from Scotland, where sunshine is a rarity, I’ve always craved the sun’s warmth. But now, I never go without factor 30 or 50. If only I had learned that lesson earlier.

“The guidance from the WCRF has been invaluable in helping me understand the importance of proper nutrition and lifestyle choices in cancer prevention and overall health. Exercise alone isn’t enough – we need to fuel ourselves properly and protect ourselves from preventable risks like excessive sun exposure.”

John continues to take on HYROX challenges to raise money for us. He’s completed three, including one in Frankfurt, and is running The Grid competition again in September, as well as more HYROX events this year. So far, he’s raised nearly £2,000 towards cancer prevention – thank you, John!