Oncoprevention and WCRF Strategy 2026-2030 | How to prevent 40% of cancers?
Every day, thousands of people around the world receive a chilling diagnosis: cancer. In the UK alone, according to the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), the number is around 1,100 per day. The common perception is that cancer is still a lottery – a matter of faulty genes, blind fate, or simply bad luck. However, science tells us something completely different and incredibly encouraging: we could prevent up to 40% of cancer cases.
So why haven't disease rates fallen dramatically? Why does implementing the basic principles of cancer prevention in our Polish or European reality resemble a Sisyphean task? The answer to these questions is provided by the WCRF's latest strategy for 2026–2030, which exposes an uncomfortable truth about our healthcare system and habits.
The Gap Between Treatment and Prevention
One of the most striking facts presented in the WCRF document is the disparity in funding. Imagine that hundreds of millions of pounds are spent annually on cancer research, of which only 5.5% goes to prevention. Society and healthcare systems focus on finding the "magic pill" and innovative life-saving therapies (which is, of course, crucial), often ignoring the fact that it would be much cheaper and more effective to prevent the disease from developing. The golden rule of medicine – "prevention is better than cure" – remains an empty phrase when confronted with research budgets.
The Ten Commandments of Cancer Prevention: What exactly does the science say?
The WCRF's main tool, on which the organization bases its strategy, is a set of 10 recommendations for cancer prevention. These recommendations were developed based on extensive population-based studies by a global network of scientists from the Global Cancer Update Programme.
What exactly is hidden behind these colorful icons? This is a set of principles that should become our daily compass:
Maintain a healthy body weight – Obesity and being overweight are directly linked to many types of cancer.
Be physically active – Exercise doesn't just burn calories; it regulates hormones and improves immunity.
Base your diet on whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and legumes – Fiber is a natural shield for our intestines.
Limit your consumption of "fast food" and highly processed foods – products loaded with sugar, starch, and trans fats.
Limit your consumption of red and processed meat – excess hot dogs, bacon, and cold cuts are proven carcinogens.
Limit your consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages – Empty calories quickly lead to obesity.
Limit your alcohol consumption – There is no safe dose of alcohol for cancer prevention. With each serving, the risk of developing the disease increases. Don't rely on dietary supplements to prevent cancer – We should get our vitamins and minerals from our plates, not from a pharmacy jar.
For mothers: if possible, breastfeed – this protects both the mother (e.g., against breast cancer) and builds the child's immunity.
After a cancer diagnosis: follow the same recommendations – a healthy lifestyle dramatically improves the chances of successful treatment and prevents recurrence.
At the center of the infographic, we also find a key reminder: not smoking and avoiding excessive sun exposure are the absolute foundation of reducing risk.
Reality Check: Why is it so difficult?
Looking at the above graph, you might think, "It's simple. Just eat less and move more." So why are the statistics so relentless?
WCRF's new strategy goes to the heart of the problem. The organization notes that individual choices aren't everything. It's difficult to maintain a healthy diet in an environment that actively promotes highly processed foods. When healthy food is more expensive than fast food, and cities are designed for cars, not pedestrians and cyclists, placing all the blame on the individual is unfair.
Therefore, a key goal of WCRF (referred to as Outcome 3: Influencing for big-picture change) is to influence policymakers and state systems. The organization advocates for creating a "healthy environment" through:
Prioritizing prevention at the government level.
Systemic changes that facilitate access to healthy food.
Campaigns promoting exercise.
Developing national strategies to reduce alcohol consumption.
This requires close collaboration with primary care physicians, policymakers, and non-governmental organizations. WCRF wants the healthcare system to educate patients, and governments to enact laws in which "the healthy choice is the easiest choice."
What can we do about this?
Reading the strategy and recommendations forces us to reflect on our Polish reality. Knowledge in the field of oncoprevention cannot be confined solely to theory and the offices of scientists. We need to start demanding more from our education system, from doctors who rarely have time to discuss diet, and from the politicians who shape the spaces we live in. At the same time, without waiting for major systemic revolutions, we can start with ourselves. Implementing the 10 WCRF principles doesn't have to mean drastic cuts overnight. Switching from white bread to whole grain, giving up a sugary drink with dinner, or taking a short walk instead of a drive to the local store – these are micro-decisions that, over the years, build our oncological protective shield. Medical apps in our pockets, such as Wellysa, are helpful in this regard, providing access to reliable medical information, supporting the monitoring of health parameters and facilitating contact with medical facilities offering preventive and diagnostic services. Remember: as many as 40% of diagnoses can be prevented. It's worth fighting for that 40%.
