Meg Cadoux In late June, our team was honored to present the Anticancer Lifestyle Program (ACLP) at the White House to the Cancer Moonshot team, the First Lady’s health policy team, and a representative from the National Cancer Institute. The Cancer Moonshot program’s goals are ambitious: to reduce the cancer death rate by at least 50% within the next 25 years and to improve the experience of people and families living with cancer.
Anticancer Board member Dr. Lorenzo Cohen, Director of Integrative Medicine at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, launched the presentation by explaining that reliance on medical treatments, screening, and research alone cannot stem the cancer epidemic. To significantly reduce the rates of cancer and cancer mortality, we must harness the power of lifestyle and behavior change.
We have championed this approach at the Anticancer Lifestyle Program. The invitation to present to the Cancer Moonshot team means ACLP is now recognized among the leading organizations committed to transforming cancer care.
The Power of Lifestyle in Reducing Cancer Risk
According to the American Cancer Society, 50% of cancer deaths are linked to lifestyle behaviors. Some experts think the actual percentage is much higher. As Dr. Cohen succinctly puts it in an editorial, “What is becoming increasingly clear is that it is not possible to treat or screen our way out of the cancer epidemic.”
A 2016 Harvard study found that avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol intake, maintaining a healthy weight, and exercising regularly could likely prevent 41% of cancer cases and 59% of cancer deaths in women, 63% of cancer cases, and 67% of cancer deaths in men. The evidence is clear: the best way to reduce cancer deaths by half within the next 25 years is to prevent cancer in the first place.
The Birth of ACLP
When I was blindsided by a Stage 3 cancer diagnosis more than 20 years ago, I – like so many others newly diagnosed – asked my provider, “What do I do now?” I figured that in addition to my treatments, there must be some way that I could contribute to my well-being and reduce my risks moving forward. I got the same answer virtually all cancer patients get, which is some version of, “Try to keep your stress level down, and I’ll see you in 6 months for your scan.”
After searching around for a while, I found some evidence-based guidance about lifestyle behaviors that could reduce my risk of recurrence. At that point, I approached Nancy Kane, an oncology nurse and director of the Payson Center for Cancer Care in Concord, New Hampshire, about creating a program to teach these behaviors to interested cancer patients. Nancy shared my vision about the importance of filling this critical information gap. Along with credentialed experts in our course pillars, we created an in-person course for cancer survivors.
Transitioning our Program online in 2019 allowed us to serve all those interested in risk reduction wherever they live, and to “meet people where they are” by offering a variety of access points to healthy living. We added various free resources, including eBooks (with over 120,000 downloads, many also available in Spanish), 7-day Kickstarts, webinars, a 9+ hour online course, blogs, recipes, and more.
Our Learning Circles are a cornerstone of our program. They provide facilitated online group reviews of ACLP’s self-paced course. Participants share insights and resources, explore ideas, and benefit from peer accountability. This empowering and supportive community combats the loneliness and isolation often felt by cancer survivors.
Our journey began with a simple but profound mission that we maintain to this day: to provide cancer patients and survivors with practical, evidence-based lifestyle guidance that could improve their quality of life and reduce the risk of cancer, cancer recurrence, and chronic illness. In addition, we are thrilled to serve many participants who are currently healthy but use our resources to reduce their risk of chronic illness moving forward.
A Program Backed by Experts and Powered by Evidence
Earning the trust of healthcare professionals worldwide, ACLP is supported by an esteemed Board of Directors and Advisory Board. Our comprehensive program goes beyond traditional survivorship models, focusing on diet, fitness, mindset, and the environment to support evidence-based behavior change.
Making Healthy Living Accessible and Empowering
Erika Deam, a cancer survivor, beautifully encapsulates the transformative power of our program. “ACLP has been a beacon of hope and a roadmap to a healthier life. The community and support I received were invaluable,” she shares in her testimonial. Erika’s story can be watched here.
Monique Wilson’s experience further underscores the impact of ACLP. “The community and support I received through ACLP were life-changing. It gave me the tools to take control of my health and feel empowered in my journey,” Monique says. Her inspiring journey can be viewed here.
A Call for Partners
We are eager to collaborate with forward-thinking organizations that share our vision. By working together, we can expand our reach and amplify our impact, creating a healthier future for everyone.
Cancer centers and providers can enhance their offerings by providing ACLP’s holistic look at lifestyle behaviors that can reduce the risk of recurrence. Our Learning Circles can be run as part of insurance-reimbursed shared medical visits and have the added benefit of amortizing provider time over many patients versus discussing lifestyle change one-on-one.
For insurance companies and self-insured businesses, integrating ACLP into their health and wellness offerings can reduce overall healthcare costs, improve employee health outcomes, and increase productivity. Promoting lifestyle changes that reduce cancer risk and support survivors benefits individuals and contributes to a healthier, more vibrant workforce.
Wellness platform vendors have an opportunity to enhance their platforms with ACLP’s resources. By incorporating our holistic approach, vendors can offer a unique value proposition differentiating their services in the competitive wellness market. Our program’s adaptability and scalability make it an ideal addition to wellness platforms seeking to expand their reach and impact.
Foundations dedicated to health and wellness, cancer prevention, and patient support will find a valuable partner in ACLP. Our mission aligns closely with the goals of many philanthropic organizations seeking to reduce the burden of cancer and improve the lives of those affected by the disease. Supporting ACLP can amplify a foundation’s impact by funding initiatives that promote lifestyle changes known to prevent cancer and support survivors.
Looking Ahead
The journey of ACLP is one of dedication and a relentless pursuit of better outcomes for cancer patients and survivors. As we look ahead, we are inspired by the possibilities that lie before us and are deeply grateful for the continued support of our community.
Our recent engagement with the Cancer Moonshot team at the White House underscores the importance of our mission and the potential for broader impact. By fostering collaborations with aligned organizations, we can extend the reach of our program and enhance its effectiveness.
Together, we can transform cancer care by integrating actionable, achievable steps that support well-being into mainstream healthcare.
