Sami Mansfield is the Founder and Creator of Cancer Wellness for Life, an organization dedicated to developing, implementing, and optimizing exercise oncology and lifestyle medicine programs and resources for hospitals, healthcare organizations, pharmaceutical companies, non-profits, and individuals impacted by cancer.
42% of cancer diagnoses and 45% of cancer deaths are linked to modifiable lifestyle factors.
These aren’t just statistics — they are lives. And they highlight a huge opportunity to shift the narrative from one of fear to one of empowerment.
Survivors deserve tools, community, and hope — and lifestyle medicine offers all three.
If you are a survivor, caregiver, clinician, or advocate, I hope you will join us in exploring what is possible when we center lifestyle in the survivorship conversation.
Commencing her career in 2003, Sami is among the pioneers in the field of cancer exercise specialists and wellness experts globally. Recognized for her adept program development and implementation skills, she is also known for her engaging and inspiring speaking engagements.
Sami’s work spans the frontline of patient care, providing wellness and exercise support, and extends to collaboration with healthcare leaders, oncology organizations, and policymakers. The overarching goal of her efforts is to empower individuals to harness the power of wellness and exercise, thereby enhancing their lives and mitigating the impact of cancer on society.
Sami has made significant contributions to several state cancer control plans, emphasizing lifestyle, exercise, and obesity management strategies in cancer prevention and survivorship. She played a key role in authoring the exercise, diet, and weight management during cancer treatment guideline for the American Society for Clinical Oncology, as well as the exercise recommendation for people with bone metastases, achieving consensus among healthcare providers and exercise professionals.
In 2016, Sami established BUILD, the first functional fitness program for cancer survivors in Kansas City. Its success paved the way for the opening of WeBuild4Life in January 2019, the only standalone fitness center for cancer wellness in the U.S. Responding to increased demand during the COVID-19 pandemic and recognizing the broader need for comprehensive lifestyle and weight management support, WeBuild4Life transformed into a virtual program named My Lifestyle Shift. My Lifestyle Shift offers education, tools, and support to cancer survivors globally.
In 2023, Sami collaborated with Living Beyond Breast Cancer to create and host BeACTive, a nine-part exercise video series for people with breast cancer. An experienced public speaker, Sami has developed numerous educational materials on various topics, serves as a regular podcast guest, and has provided consultation on clinical trials and cancer organization projects.
Sami witnesses firsthand the crucial role of exercise in mitigating side effects, preserving strength, and enabling resilience during and after cancer treatments and surgeries. She is deeply passionate about emphasizing the significance of exercise and actively encourages her clinical staff to prioritize their own well-being through physical activity.
She is the creator of My Lifestyle Shift, a resource to empower patients and clinicians to use lifestyle strategies to improve their health span and lifespan. The include programs to improve weight, body composition, and metabolic health after cancer.
Sami is one of the world’s first exercise oncology and lifestyle medicine experts. Her unwavering dedication to working with countless cancer survivors worldwide and witnessing the transformative power of exercise, wellness, and lifestyle strategies in their lives fuels her enduring passion for this mission.
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