Podcasts about sami mansfield

Evidence suggests that weak or unhealthy metabolic health is associated with a higher risk of at least four types of cancer, including colorectal, pancreatic, postmenopausal breast, and bladder and increases chances of death after diagnosis of breast and digestive tract cancers. This episode of #FitnessProChat discusses the relationship between metabolic health and lifestyle medicine interventions that can help cancer patients lead a quality life.  In this episode, our guest Sami Mansfield, Exercise Oncology and Lifestyle Medicine Leader speaks with our Founder and CEO, Alok Ranjan to share how seeking a proactive approach to incorporating lifestyle medicine practices can help cancer patients improve their quality of life.  The key takeaways from the session include,  How to approach lifestyle changes, after cancer diagnosis. The link between obesity and cancer. Emerging areas of lifestyle medicine that offer promising possibilities for individuals with specific cancer diagnoses. Personalizing your lifestyle medicine journey for optimal results. Common hurdles you might encounter when implementing changes and offer strategies to overcome them. Impact of metabolic health in oncology. Vital role of support system and building an encouraging environment for cancer patients.  Practical advice and encouragement to help you navigate lifestyle changes with confidence.  Importance of community involvement and social support in cancer survivorship and overall well-being. Join us on this empowering journey as we discuss the potential of lifestyle medicine for cancer.  Follow Cancer Wellness for Life on Instagram. Follow Fiterobic on Instagram.   About the host: Alok Ranjan is the Founder & Chief at Fiterobic. Fiterobic helps people stay healthy and fit and live a fulfilling life. After leading global marketing function for the past 20 years for Corporate majors like ITC, Tata Communications, and Essel Group and advising global ICT Ministry in Africa and Asia, Alok has set on a journey to empower individuals to become healthy and fit holistically.  Alok is a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Fitness Trainer and Certified Nutrition Coach, an American Council of Exercises (ACE) Certified Yoga Expert and a Half-Marathoner. Connect with Alok at,  Email: alokr@fiterobic.com LinkedIn: ranjanalok Instagram: thealokr Twitter: thealokr 

Living with a cancer diagnosis can feel like a complete upheaval. Fear, uncertainty, and physical challenges flood in leaving one wondering how to navigate this new terrain. But what if, there were pathways to not just endure, but thrive? In this episode of #FitnessProChat with Fiterobic on Living With Cancer, we explore the journey of resilience and rediscovery.  In this episode, we're joined by Sami Mansfield, Exercise Oncology & Lifestyle Medicine Leader and Innovator. Together, we dive into the nitty-gritty of living with cancer, tackling crucial questions like: Key Takeaways from the episode: How exercise Oncology and Lifestyle Medicine can become a powerful tool for cancer patient  Strategies for navigating the emotional ups and downs, fostering resilience, and cultivating a positive outlook, both for patients and their support networks. Practical tips on simplifying nutritional and exercise aspects, enabling patients to regain control and feel empowered. The revolutionary program designed to reclaim life after a cancer diagnosis The inspiration behind "Shift" and how it goes beyond traditional treatment models The crucial role of movement in managing symptoms and bolstering well-being.  Techniques for cultivating body positivity and rebuilding a healthy relationship with one's physical form. Regaining confidence, rebuilding routines, and embracing a fulfilling post-diagnosis existence. Join us on Living With Cancer as we navigate the complexities of living with cancer, not just surviving it.  Follow Sami Mansfield on LinkedIn at: Sami Mansfield  Here are the links to a few reference sites you may want to read about guidelines on Cancer.  World Cancer Research Fund  American Cancer Society's survivorship statement of physical activity ACSM – Physical Activity Prevention through Survivorship ASCO – the American Society of Clinical Oncology Cancer Wellness for Life About the host: Alok Ranjan is the Founder & Chief at Fiterobic. Fiterobic helps people stay healthy and fit and live a fulfilling life. After leading global marketing function for the past 20 years for Corporate majors like ITC, Tata Communications, and Essel Group and advising global ICT Ministry in Africa and Asia, Alok has set on a journey to empower individuals to become healthy and fit holistically.  Alok is a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Fitness Trainer and Certified Nutrition Coach, an American Council of Exercises (ACE) Certified Yoga Expert and a Half-Marathoner. Connect with Alok at,  Email: alokr@fiterobic.com LinkedIn: ranjanalok Instagram: thealokr Twitter: thealokr 

Pharma and biotech have developed amazing therapies and treatments to help people living with cancer. But effective cancer care should be more than just chemo and an effective drug. Exercise and wellness can help. A lot.What role should pharmaceutical manufacturers and market access teams play in exercise and wellness for cancer patients though? Do they incorporate exercise? Isn't their cancer-fighting drug enough? Today's guests believe pharma and market access should factor in exercise and wellness when treating cancer. And they'll explain how pharma and market access can take all this into consideration.John Hennessy is a principal with Valuate Health. He's been on The IDI many times and he's held many roles in the world of oncology and cancer care.First-time IDI guest Sami Mansfield is the founder of Cancer Wellness for Life, an organization focused on developing oncology exercise resources for individuals, hospitals, and corporations. She's been in this space for more than 20 years and was one of the first oncology exercise specialists in the United States.Here are just a few research findings about the benefits of wellness and exercise on cancer care patients, including two articles co-authored by Sami Mansfield. Follow Valuate on LinkedIn or visit us at ValuateHealth.com. 

This week we sit down with Sami Mansfield to discuss exercise as it relates to cancer treatment and survivorship. Sami is the founder of Cancer Wellness for Life, which focuses on developing, implementing, and enhancing oncology wellness and exercise resources. Her consulting efforts serve cancer centers, hospital and health care organizations, pharmaceutical companies, non-profits, and individuals impacted by cancer. Sami began her career in 2003 and is one of the world's first cancer exercise specialists and wellness experts. Her experience working with countless cancer survivors worldwide and seeing the power of exercise and wellness strategies in their lives is the driving force behind her persistence and passion. She is the Director of Oncology Wellness for the Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute at HCA Midwest Health, a program she developed in 2017. She is also a contributing author on the topic of exercise and has provided her knowledge and expertise to many organizations including ASCO as part of their guideline's implementation team. You can find more on Sami here.

ASCO: You're listening to a podcast from Cancer.Net. This cancer information website is produced by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, known as ASCO, the voice of the world's oncology professionals. The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. This is not a substitute for professional medical care and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions. Guests on this podcast express their own opinions, experience, and conclusions. Guests' statements on this podcast do not express the opinions of ASCO. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity, or therapy should not be construed as an ASCO endorsement. Cancer research discussed in this podcast is ongoing, so data described here may change as research progresses. Brielle Gregory Collins: Hi, everyone. I'm Brielle Gregory Collins, a member of the Cancer.Net content team, and I'll be your host for today's Cancer.Net podcast. Cancer.Net is the patient information website of ASCO, the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Today we're going to be talking about coping with the mental and emotional challenges of cancer through exercise. Our guests today are Dr. Sheila Lahijani and Sami Mansfield. Dr. Lahijani is an associate clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Stanford University School of Medicine and the medical director of the Stanford Cancer Center Psychosocial Oncology Program. Dr. Lahijani is also an advisory panelist on the Cancer.Net Editorial Board. Thanks for joining us today, Dr. Lahijani. Dr. Sheila Lahijani: It's truly my pleasure to be here today, Brielle, with all of you. Brielle Gregory Collins: Thank you. Ms. Mansfield is the founder of Cancer Wellness for Life and the director of Oncology Wellness for the Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute at HCA Midwest Health. Thanks for joining us today, Ms. Mansfield. Sami Mansfield: Thanks, everybody, for having me. Excited to be here as well. Brielle Gregory Collins: Before we begin, we should mention that Dr. Lahijani and Ms. Mansfield do not have any relationships to disclose related to this podcast, but you can find their full disclosure statements on Cancer.Net. Now to start, Dr. Lahijani, how can a cancer diagnosis impact a person's mental and emotional well-being? Dr. Sheila Lahijani: Thanks for asking this question, Brielle. Usually, when people want to know the answer to this, what I preface it by saying is that there is a spectrum of responses. Many people find themselves to be quite distressed because cancer continues to have quite a lot of stigma, both in this country and as well as internationally. People oftentimes associate it with feelings of despair, anxiety, and helplessness. Having said that, many of these responses and reactions are normal. Some people can progress to have many more significant emotional responses and reactions that can become more disruptive to their lives and to the roles that they play a part in. We really try to meet patients where they're at to better understand how they've previously coped with past life challenges and/or traumas and to identify what strengths they have, what coping mechanisms they have to help them manage the distress associated with cancer. There are patients who also have a history of past psychiatric diagnoses and problems, in which case getting diagnosed with cancer and undergoing cancer treatment can cause a lot more difficulty. So each person is different. There are a lot of, quote-unquote, "normal" reactions, responses and reactions, that we as providers do validate and reflect back to the patients. And then there are those that can cause many more problems, and those are the ones we really need to address. Brielle Gregory Collins: Okay. And getting into some of those problems, what are some of the most common mental and emotional challenges that people face during cancer? Dr. Sheila Lahijani: The majority of people feel very anxious. And I've shared this with others and share this with my patients: being anxious means something. It means that you care about something. You care about yourself. You care about your life. You care about people in your life. And so it's a sign. It's something that needs to be tended to. People suffer from mood symptoms such as depression as well, difficulty coping, feelings of loss and despair. Those are the most common reactions. Some people can develop other difficulties related to side effects of cancer treatments as well. And also, there are people, as I mentioned, who previously have suffered from psychiatric symptoms, where things can become much more difficult and challenging, affecting their way of thinking: problems with cognition, memory, recall, things like that. So to summarize, largely mood disturbances and mood symptoms in the forms of anxiety and depression. Panic is also a part of that, as well as post-traumatic stress. And there are others who have previous symptoms that can become more problematic. So we really try to evaluate both mood and thinking in our patient population. Brielle Gregory Collins: Thank you so much for walking through those. And I want to talk a little bit now about exercise and how that can play a role in coping with some of these challenges. Ms. Mansfield, what is considered exercise, and what are some of the benefits of exercising during cancer? Sami Mansfield: Great question because there are so many different terminologies around exercise and physical activity and fitness. So I think we should start there. The terminology of physical activity is probably the most broad thing that we talk about. Physical activity is anything that we do to move the body, anything from rolling over in bed, getting up, brushing your teeth, etc. Exercise is a physical activity that is more defined or maybe has a purpose. And so it might be a goal to get stronger or a goal of rehab or prehab in this particular patient population. Or some people just want to be able to walk a 5k or run a 5k. So exercise is more intentional. And that's really how we try to define it in the literature. From a cancer patient perspective, probably the most broadly impactful side effect management tool for exercise is actually fatigue because that is where we have a depth of evidence both in physical activity and inactivity differences. And related to fatigue from the mental health side, we see a strong benefit of both exercise and physical activity in anxiety, depression, stress management, sleep quality. So I think it's important for our audience to know that anything that you do for movement is good. Having a planned and structured movement program known as exercise is going to be ideal because the bottom line is we want you to reach your goal the quickest and without kind of feeling like you're not getting a lot of benefit to movement. And so that's why exercise really does have a significant role and why I think a lot of people really strive for, "What should I do? What does that specific exercise plan look like?" Brielle Gregory Collins: Got it. And I want to circle back to some of the challenges, Dr. Lahijani, that you outlined earlier. So how does exercise help address some of these challenges of cancer specifically? Dr. Sheila Lahijani: Well, I love this question. And I'm very informed by what my colleague, Ms. Mansfield, just described. Exercise and physical activity, in my opinion, are so beneficial to patients who are already diagnosed with cancer, as well as those patients who may be at risk for developing cancer-- any of us, really, to reduce our risk for certain kinds of cancer. There have been many studies that have been done that have demonstrated that intentional physical activity, as my colleague termed it, in the form of exercise can ramp up certain biological processes that contribute to improvements in cognition as well as memory function. There's a factor called a “brain-derived neurotrophic factor” which can get increased with physical activity and exercise. At the very molecular level, muscle cells can play a part in reducing the progression of disease and even potentially metastases. So there's a lot to be said biologically. As well as psychologically, it really can offer quite a lot of benefit to help people manage their distress through focusing on momentary breathing, momentary muscle relaxation. And there is also a social component to it. Even if someone is participating in an activity like this by himself, herself, or themself, there is something to be said about the communal experience of being up on your feet, moving yourself, and not being so isolated and alone, which is very much a problem for patients who undergo cancer care. Brielle Gregory Collins: That's a really good point. And Ms. Mansfield, I want to get a little bit into the specific things that people can do. So what kinds of exercise can help people with cancer cope with these challenges? Sami Mansfield: Now, it's a great question because that's what everybody wants. What should I do, right? And I tell everybody let's just start, number 1, with avoiding as much true sedentary behavior as possible. And I say true sedentary behavior because when you are just sitting and doing perhaps mindless activities, watching TV, there's a lot of exercises that can be done when you're seated, which is great for patients that have high amounts of fatigue or balance challenges. And I tell everyone, "Lift an arm. Lift a leg. Flex your toes and feet a couple of times, roll your shoulders, and you've just moved." It doesn't have to be vigorous or difficult. It just needs to be movement. So I think just thinking about these 1-minute, we call it “exercise snacks,” make a much more significant impact throughout the day than feeling like, "Oh, I've got to go to the gym and exercise for 30 minutes," or you might even have physical therapy. And the volume might be too high for people. So I want people to think first in small 1-minute movements. But the next piece of this is, we've studied the different modalities of exercise between aerobic exercise, thinking about things like walking, or chair-based, like marching in the chair, swimming, biking, whatever that may be. And resistance training exercises that use muscles. You could do something with weights, soup cans. You could do bodyweight exercises that build muscle. We've studied them separately and together. And what we've learned is that for the emotional side effects, specifically anxiety, depression, having a combination of these movements is going to give you the most significant benefit. So my advice is do a minute of marching, whether that's in your chair or standing, then maybe do a chair sit-to-stand 10 times and a couple of countertop pushups, and you've now hit a full-body routine exercise regimen in under 5 minutes. I do think that people need to remember although there are recommendations of how much you should strive for, there's no reason you have to do the whole recommendation of 150 minutes of moderate activity per week to see benefit. Start with just 1 minute at a time, 1 movement at a time, and try to mix it up. Make it fun. Add music. Make it a challenge. Make it something that you feel that you can attain because you will feel better and also accomplished. And that does improve your well-being, to feel like, "I did that. I did my 1 thing a day." And that's really phenomenal and goes a long way to how people feel mentally. Brielle Gregory Collins: Absolutely. And I love that term you use of “exercise snacks.” I think that's a really helpful way of looking at it. So for someone who's maybe just getting started with exercise, what is your advice for them as they manage their cancer diagnosis and are trying to look toward exercise as something that they want to incorporate into their lives? Sami Mansfield: That's definitely the question I love to answer. Because if somebody's motivated, we want to get them there quickly or get them to find a resource that helps them feel successful. I kind of go back to the whole “exercise snack” piece. I think it's more important that people realize it's better to do a little something every day than to think, "Oh my gosh, I need to hit 30 minutes today, and then for the next 3 to 5 days, I don't do anything." I really advise start small, start manageable, and look for something that you can do without having to add extra barriers to your life. As an example, if getting somewhere logistically on time doesn't work for you, start with 5 minutes of things that you can do from your home. I do think there is a really important resource within most of our cancer spaces. We have oncology rehab programs. We have trained exercise professionals that can guide you. But I think people don't realize that just moving around their house, maybe 1 flight of stairs if you can do that, is a really great way to get started. There's a lot of great YouTube videos you can try. There is definitely—talk to your physicians. They might have some great ideas. But starting daily, consistency really is going to make the biggest difference than just going, "Hey, Saturday is my day to exercise." I think we can all do a little bit in that snack fashion. And I don't know. I think we can all agree snacks are good. We all like a few snacks now and again. Definitely. And I also kind of have this thought about-- people say, "Well, if they have cancer, should they do yoga?"   And my answer is, "Well, do you like yoga?" I mean because yoga has a lot of really great resources for mental health and breath to movement and mindfulness and that grounding effect. But for someone who doesn't like yoga, which I will admit yoga is a little bit of my challenge so I push myself to do it, someone telling me to do yoga every day versus maybe exercises that I enjoy, I would be a little bit more down in the dumps about it, that you're taking away maybe what I love. So I think 1 thing, really thinking about what's the type of exercise you like to do, is it reasonable for you to continue that? If you used to run and maybe you have a lot of neuropathy in your feet, it might not be the most reasonable now. But what is the exercise that you enjoy? And that should also be part of that first thing that you do every day, not your, "Well, someone told me I should do yoga because they enjoy doing yoga," piece. And I think that's something that we need to think about in exercise. It still should be enjoyable and have good music. I think music is key as well.   Dr. Sheila Lahijani: I think it's really important to highlight as well that cancer causes so many life disruptions: disruptions to different roles, activities, functions, whatever it may be. And in speaking about intentional physical activity and exercise, it's an opportunity to create a routine and to try to lessen the impact that's caused by the disruptions. Sami Mansfield: The pandemic certainly accelerated that for those of us who don't even have cancer. I don't know if anybody here also experienced this.  But I remember I was working out in a gym setting-- and we actually had our own-- we ran a gym space at the time in Kansas City for cancer survivors. So we took that virtual. But I struggled with my routine. I was like, "Wait a minute." And I could go to my own gym that was private, right? But I really struggled with the mentality of like, "It wasn't my routine." And when your routine slips, you just feel very out of control. I think 1 recommendation we should make for all of our listeners, physicians, or those of us that are working in the field is I recommend starting every day with a minute of movement. I don't care if you're doing a few arm circles where you're waiting for your coffee or whatever, but there is something about getting your blood flow moving quickly that makes a really big difference. So whether that's, "Before I brush my teeth, I'm going to just do a couple of leg swings or a couple of countertop pushups or something simple every single day." Or if you're in bed, you do something in bed, even if it's just your foot flexion or drawing the alphabet where you're doing something to stimulate movement." You bring up a really good point, that we need to make that ritualization or routine, but make it also very accessible for people. Brielle Gregory Collins: Absolutely. Thank you, Ms. Mansfield. That's really helpful. And Dr. Lahijani, in addition to exercise, what else can people with cancer do to cope with some of the mental and emotional impacts of their diagnosis? Dr. Sheila Lahijani: Thanks for asking this question. And I want to also preface this by saying so much of what we're talking about is essentially what is now a field of exercise oncology, right? And so there's more and more literature available and resources that emphasize the benefits of exercise in this patient population and how the effects of other treatment modalities, such as antidepressants and psychotherapy, can be further enhanced when someone is also being physically active or having an exercise snack. So to answer your question, what I'm saying is there are many ways we can support our patients and many ways we can encourage them to have better management and control over their distress-- why there is anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances. It's really meeting people where they're at-- which Ms. Mansfield also mentioned, starting somewhere. So when we see patients in our clinic-- and I've been known to do this, and I've done this back in the day where we would really write a lot more paper prescriptions. But even as part of my discussion points and patient instructions, I always make a point of writing, "Do some physical activity, even minimum opportunity to get yourself moving." Because what we're trying to really do is help with the circulation-- help with the circulation in the body, in the brain, really ramp up those neurotransmitters that help people feel better, remove the unhealthy oxygen, introduce the healthier oxygen. And that, in conjunction with medications, in conjunction with different psychotherapy modalities, in conjunction with progressive muscle relaxation, mindfulness, grounding techniques, can really help people feel less helpless, less stuck, less tired-- again, as I mentioned earlier, less alone, and find opportunities where they have more of a sense of control because that's part of what we're talking about here. There's a strong feeling of helplessness and lack of control when someone is diagnosed with cancer and undergoes cancer care. And this is an opportunity to help them find ways to manage their health physically, mentally, cognitively, spiritually, and feel less a sense of helplessness. It's really encouraging me to say that there are many patients who are physically really suffering, whether it's from neuropathic pain, cancer-related fatigue, any kinds of deconditioning related to surgical interventions, other effects of chemotherapies, from depression. And it is much, much harder. And people sometimes cannot physically move. And it requires a lot more activation energy to take those steps. So part of what we do in my clinic and how we partner with our colleagues in palliative medicine as well is how can we manage people's symptoms? How can we manage their depressive symptoms, their physical symptoms? How can we help them be more cognitively stable and intact to be able to safely take those steps or to have more of that motivation or that energy or that pain relief to be able to participate in the things that we're talking about? I'm cognizant of the fact that when we have our patients and family members and caregivers listen to this, there may be some folks who are like, "But I just can't." And I have patients who tell me, "I get it, Dr. Lahijani. I understand. And I appreciate this guidance that you've offered me and the recommendations to use this medication or to consider this, but I just can't." So that problem with motivation and lack of optimal symptom management really has to be addressed in parallel, in my opinion, to really help support patients in actually participating in what we're suggesting here. Sami Mansfield: I think that's not only an excellent point, I think you really reiterate the partnership that needs to happen with the clinicians and the exercise oncology field or oncology rehab field because the only way to really do this effectively again, and especially a more complex patient, is in conjunction with one another. And I think that we need to be mindful and remind the patients, and like you said, the family members listening, that the conversation should be had, but the clinicians really can help manage the clinical symptoms so that the exercise or rehab professionals can really get in with that, the more implementation piece, when reasonable. But I think we need to take the guilt off our patients that it's not going to be every day, even though they want to. And that's the reality, and that is okay. And some days, it is a rest day or a rest week. And that is part of the healing process of the body and a really important way to recover. And that's okay, too. I think recommendations are nice as an example. But at the end of the day, if they're not reasonable for people, we need to also take that next layer of guilt away. And they just need to be able to feel comfortable and pain-free and symptoms-managed. And that's quality of life as well. Brielle Gregory Collins: Wow, what a great discussion. And I think the main takeaway here for anyone listening is your health care team is there to help you, and they'll work with you to figure out what's best for you, whatever that might be. So thank you so much. That was wonderful to hear both of your perspectives. And I want to talk a little bit about resources that people listening can turn to to learn a little bit more about this. So I'd like to direct this to both of you. Ms. Mansfield, we'll start with you, but where can people go to learn more about exercise and managing the mental and emotional effects of cancer? Sami Mansfield: Absolutely. That is the key question is, what next? Really, Cancer.Net is a wonderful and evolving resource and is continuing to progress its information. So no matter when you're listening to this podcast, check out Cancer.Net. I know that the information is online. There's a ton of resources right there. There are some other really great programs and resources. I would talk to your clinicians about things like cancer-specific rehab programs that you may have access to, which many have insurance coverage. And I tell people you don't have to feel broken to get cancer rehab. There are a lot of ways that cancer rehab can help you even just manage general fatigue or cognition. Referral to a speech-language pathologist can be helpful with some of those techniques about memory and chemobrain. So those are resources. In addition, there are qualified exercise professionals through the American College of Sports Medicine that have training and certifications and have experience. That can be another resource that can help you. I would also advise people to think, "You don't always have to have a cancer professional." There are great fitness professionals that may fit-- yoga professionals or other types of exercise modalities. So don't always feel like you have to find the “cancer person.” But depending on your symptoms or side effects, having a professional that understands what it means when you say neuropathy can be very helpful. So I would definitely start with those resources first and then branch out as you feel comfortable. Dr. Sheila Lahijani: She responded to that question beautifully. And to add to what she just shared, looking at what your own cancer center, your place of health care where you receive it, what's available. There are many websites through the different cancer centers and medical centers that have wonderful patient-facing and family-facing educational resources. The American Cancer Society also has a lot of helpful information. As Ms. Mansfield mentioned, Cancer.Net is a wonderful resource. And also to emphasize that there are programs that can be done virtually, especially in this era of this pandemic. While we encourage in-person interactions, however it's safe and feasible because there's so much benefit to feeling less alone and isolated and maybe having that direct 1-on-1 attention, we recognize that many patients because of their immune compromise or because of whatever challenges they may have with respect to support or transportation or finances, whatever it may be, it might be harder to access care or services where someone lives. And so there are programs and services that are available online. And that shouldn't be limiting. That should be something to really think about and consider. Actually, I was in a meeting recently where I learned about an organization called the Maple Tree Cancer Alliance, which has programs available through different cancer centers as well, among which is my center, Stanford. And so there are plenty of resources available. And with that, I will also say pick something. Choose something. You don't need to look at everything and try to do everything. Take a look at what's available to you, what's accessible to you, what makes sense, and just try it out, and see if it helps. And if it doesn't help or if it's not providing you any kind of immediate benefit, look to see what other options there are. We have so many patients tell us that they're trying to follow through on our recommendations, and people want to be, quote-unquote, "good patients." And that can get very overwhelming. People in large part want to feel better. They want to get better. That doesn't mean you have to take advantage of every single resource or recommendation that's being offered to you. Take a look at what's close to you, what you can access, and how you can make it work, and start somewhere. Brielle Gregory Collins: Absolutely. Sami Mansfield: And on that start somewhere, the other thing to really think about too - and Dr. Lahijani really said this - is you don't have to do-- everything at once can be so overwhelming. This is the long game. And so this exercise piece should be a lifestyle behavioral change piece that works for you in the long-term. It isn't about just, "Here I am. I want to get through just this 1 specific piece in my life." Look for something that you enjoy because you're going to be much more likely to continue. And then thinking about that support circle, it may be someone that has a similar diagnosis or understands what you're going through or have gone through. And it may be somebody that you have met or a family member that has never experienced this but is that person that you can vent to or is your accountability partner or your meet-for-a-walk or a virtual walk partner. I think we need to be really mindful, be creative about this. It should be enjoyable. It should be something that fits you. And at the end of the day, there's no right way to exercise. I think we'd all do something different here today if we all could choose. And that's okay too. Cancer is very individual, and so is this piece of that. So I think that's really empowering for all of our listeners to remember. Brielle Gregory Collins: Definitely. And that's so nice to hear, as far as there's no right way to exercise, I think that's a really helpful way of looking at it. Well, thank you both so much for your time today and for sharing your expertise, Dr. Lahijani and Ms. Mansfield. It was so great having you both. Sami Mansfield: Thank you so much for having us. ASCO: Cancer.Net Podcasts feature trusted, timely, and compassionate information for people with cancer, survivors, and their families and loved ones. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts for expert information and tips on coping with cancer, recaps of the latest research advances, and thoughtful discussions on cancer care. And check out other ASCO Podcasts to hear the latest interviews and insights from thought leaders, innovators, experts, and pioneers in oncology. Cancer.Net is supported by Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation, which funds lifesaving research for every type of cancer, helping people with cancer everywhere. To help fund Cancer.Net and programs like it, donate at CONQUER.ORG/Donate.

Cancer is a debilitating disease. The physical affects of cancer are certainly severe, as are the side effects of treatment along with the loss of control and autonomy for the patient. Despite this, cancer treatments are improving and survival rates are increasing. This presents a unique, and growing, need for fitness professionals to become a part of the cancer treatment team. Exercise oncology has blossomed in recent years, leading to growth for the need to develop a workforce to engage with patients during and after cancer treatments. This will be the topic of our chat with Sami Mansfield in episode 59. Sami is a Cancer Exercise Specialist, who has been working for nearly two decades in the field of exercise oncology. Her vast experience and perspective in this area are unmatched, as she was among the first Cancer Exercise Specialists in the world. This wide-reaching conversation explores not only some of the misconceptions associated with cancer and exercise, but explores emerging research on the critical role exercise can play in improving patient outcomes and autonomy both during and after cancer treatment. This is, indeed, a great opportunity for fitness professionals to become part of the health delivery system. In this conversation Sami provides that path fitness professionals can follow to make that a reality. Show Notes Page: https://www.wellnessparadoxpod.com/podcast/episode/59 Our Guest: Sami Mansfield Sami is the founder of Cancer Wellness for Life, which focuses on developing, implementing, and enhancing oncology wellness and exercise resources. Her consulting efforts target cancer centers, hospital and health care organizations, pharmaceutical companies, non-profits, and individuals impacted by cancer. Sami began her career in 2003 and is one of the world's first cancer exercise specialists and wellness experts. Her experience working with countless cancer survivors worldwide and seeing the power of exercise and wellness strategies in their lives is the driving force behind her persistence and passion. Sami is known for her program development and implementation skills to guide cancer programs and healthcare organizations to create cost savings strategies and deliver a high return on their investment. Sami has led efforts in policy on several state cancer control plans, emphasizing using lifestyle, exercise, and obesity management strategies to target cancer prevention and survivorship. This focus represents both sides of the goal to make wellness and exercise part of the cancer care plan from the day of diagnosis.  Sami is the Director of Oncology Wellness for the Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute at HCA Midwest Health, a program she developed in 2017. Here she provides consulting services for program development and growth of this pilot program for one of the most extensive cancer programs in the United States. She has implemented wellness coordinators as part of the multi-disciplinary team to meet with patients and caregivers from the day of diagnosis. In 2016 Sami developed BUILD, the first functional fitness exercise program for cancer survivors, which has its roots in Kansas City. After the success of this program outgrew the space it was in, Sami and her husband Jerry opened up the WeBuild4Life wellness and fitness center in Lenexa, KS, in January 2019. During the pandemic this program moved to a virtual component and has continued to reach patients from all over the world. Sami is an experienced public speaker medical professionals and individuals and has delivered over 100 presentations, podcasts and virtual events. She will make sure you get moving if you attend one of her events! 

Exercise and Cancer: What Works - Sami Mansfield The Not Old Better Show, Fitness, Health and Life Welcome to The Not Old Better Show. I'm Paul Vogelzang, and as part of our Healthy Art Of Living interview series,  we have an excellent interview with the founder of Cancer Wellness for Life, Sami Mansfield.  Today's show is brought to you by InsideTracker. Sami Mansfield is the founder of Cancer Wellness for Life, an organization that develops oncology exercise resources for individuals, hospitals, and corporations. She's also Director of Oncology Wellness for the Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute at HCA Midwest Health and has been an oncology exercise specialist since 2003. Sami Mansfield is experienced in both community and hospital-based cancer centers, non-profit organizations to help patients live better healthier lives. Sami writes articles for the American Council on Exercise and has been helping patients and hospital administrators navigate the research and practice of offering exercise programs for people with cancer. The role exercise plays in cancer care is becoming increasingly important. Exercise is known to be safe and helpful for cancer survivors during and after treatment, and oncologists and their teams continue to recommend it for their patients. Recent research studies point to many specific benefits of exercise. Some show it significantly improves cancer-related fatigue compared to medications and that it can help improve survival for some advanced cancers, including metastatic colorectal cancer. Research also shows the long-term benefits of increased exercise and a healthy lifestyle after cancer to reduce other diseases, as well as the benefits of higher intensity exercise. Sami will share why exercise and activity is so crucial during cancer. Why functional fitness is so important to cancer survival.  Nutrition and hydration tips for treating cancer. Involving family, and how you can do this in a way that really helps you to get the outcomes that you want and also do it in a way that is safe and is really going to make you feel better over the long-term, even living beyond cancer.   Please join me for an upbeat, enlightening interview and in welcoming to The Not Old Better Show, Sami Mansfield. My thanks to cancer exercise expert, Sami Mansfield for her time, expertise, and thoughtful preparation in joining me today about living beyond cancer, a complex subject. Thanks to InsideTracker for sponsoring today's episode. And, my thanks, always, to the Smithsonian team for all they do to support the show.  Of course, my thanks to you, our wonderful Not Old Better Show audience.  Please keep your emails coming to me at info@notold-better.com.  Remember, let's talk about better.  The Not Old Better Show on KSCW.  Thanks, everybody.

Sami Mansfield started her career as a cancer exercise specialist in 2003. Since being inspired by coaching her first client who had been diagnosed with cancer 15 years ago, her career has been dedicated to helping people with cancer — any type and any stage — live as well as possible. Sami's experience encompasses work in both community- and hospital-based cancer centers, nonprofit organizations, developing and consulting on clinical trials, and as a speaker presenting to both patients and healthcare professionals. She is a certified cancer exercise trainer, a CrossFit Level 1 coach with extensive exercise and nutrition experience, and the founder of Cancer Wellness For Life. She also offers functional movement basics classes on the We Build 4 Life YouTube channel. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, gyms are closed and personal trainers can't visit their clients. So how can people with breast cancer stay active and continue their exercise programs? Listen to the podcast to hear Sami discuss: how to motivate yourself to exercise when you're working out alone how exercise can help both your physical and mental while being while you're isolating tips on how to exercise if you have no equipment at home Running time: 23:07

Sami Mansfield discusses the importance of taking care of your mind, body and spirit when diagnosed with cancer and how to incorporate wellness into your life for quality of life.

What up, Get Up Nation? My name is Ben Biddick, the Host of the Get Up Nation Podcast and Co-Author of Get Up: The Art of Perseverance with former Major League Baseball player and CEO of Lurong Living, Adam Greenberg. Recently I had the honor and privilege of speaking with Leah Saragusa, a cancer survivor, co-survivor, and caregiver about her and her husband’s journey facing cancer together. Sami Mansfield connected me with Leah. Sami joined me on the podcast for Episode 17 to share her passion for empowering those battling cancer with a functional fitness program called Build as part of www.cancerwellnessforlife.com. I am honored by the introduction and am honored Leah shared her journey with Get Up Nation. Listen here as Leah shares how she has remained resilient by her acceptance of her mortality, her celebration and adoration of strength, disciplining herself to ask for help when she needed it, advocated for herself during her treatment, and continually challenges herself to get beyond her comfort zone to truly live a life of meaning, purpose, connection, and accomplishment. This Get Up Nation Podcast episode concludes with a song called “Hush, Hush Baby” by Lxandra. Thank you Lxandra for giving me permission to include your amazing song in this podcast episode. If you’re looking for insights in how to be more resilient, experience more peace and strength in your life during adversity, or an increased ability to overcome your challenges, subscribe to the Get Up Nation Podcast at www.getupnationpodcast.com! Music: "Awaken" by Ethan Rank, “Halation” by Evolv, and “Hush Hush Baby” by Lxandra You Tube: https://bit.ly/2Mh0AK6 Facebook: @getupnationpodcast itunes: apple.co/2xZPeih Instagram: @getupnationpodcast Twitter: @getupnationpod Soundcloud: https://bit.ly/2O2YMlE iHeart Radio: ihr.fm/2Jr08DU Stitcher: bit.ly/2yzoklu Overcast: https://bit.ly/2L4pg8B Castbox: https://bit.ly/2LndDt0 Spreaker: bit.ly/2l4pmR3 Acast: bit.ly/2z1P6AM Buy Get Up at: amzn.to/2rt2lWN --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/get-up-nation-podcast/support

Guest: Sami Mansfield, www.cancerwellnessforlife.com What up, Get Up Nation? My name is Ben Biddick, the Host of the Get Up Nation Podcast and the Co-Author of Get Up: The Art of Perseverance with former Chicago Cub, Miami Marlin, and current CEO of www.lurongliving.com, Adam Greenberg. Welcome to Episode 17 of the Get Up Nation Podcast which is brought to you by Ideal State Consulting, an organization committed to creating a New Era of Effective Public Service. Recently, I had the honor and privilege of speaking with Sami Mansfield of www.cancerwellnessforlife.com. In Episode 17, we hear how Sami’s love of physical fitness and passion to serve the members of her community battling cancer is revolutionizing the medical community’s understanding of what is possible when it comes to quality of life during cancer treatment. Sami’s passion to help previvors and survivors sustain their highest quality of life at any point in their battle against cancer is becoming a world-wide movement that annihilates fear, helplessness, and isolation and is revolutionizing how medical oncology treatment teams are caring for those battling cancer. She is leading the way! Check it out, Get Up Nation! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/get-up-nation-podcast/support

Sami Mansfield is a cancer exercise specialist and founder of Cancer Wellness for Life. She provides educational content about cancer wellness to clinical staff in hospitals and organizations, along with patients and survivors. Sami also runs “BUILD” a functional program run through a crossfit gym in Kansas, that is designed to combat treatment related side effects and improve the quality of life of cancer patients and survivors. In this episode, we chat about Sami’s programs, how she started collaborating with hospitals and what the BUILD program does for cancer patients and survivors. Find out more about Sami at www.cancerwellnessforlife.com, @cancerwellnessforlife on Instagram and @bewellwithsami on twitter. Keep up with us at reachbeyondcancer.com or follow me on twitter @ciaranfairman.     Sami Show notes   3:30 – Sami’s background & how she got started working with cancer patients and survivors. 6.00 – Cancer terminology is like learning a new language. 8.45 – How moving into survivorship can be a really challenging period. 10.00 – Challenges with research based exercise prescription & getting physician buy-in. 15.30 – Physical activity guidelines is not on physicians, it’s on exercise physiologists. 19.30 – What do we mean when we say strength training for cancer patients. The risk of inactivity by far outweighs the risks of exercises.   25.00 – Improving the translation of research – moving beyond professionals talking to each other. 26.00 – Sami’s Cancer Wellness for Life program: what it is and what she does. 40.00 – 5 year survival rates have improved across a lot of cancer - but we care about quality of life, not just quantity. 44:00 – Sami’s BUILD program and working with cancer patients and survivors. 52.00 – The community aspect of BUILD and crossfit. 56.00 – People looking to join the BUILD program – what to expect. 61.00  Advice for professionals getting into the area.  

Combining Cancer and CrossFit Sami Mansfield is a Cancer Exercise Specialist and runs an incredible program she calls, Build. It's a functional fitness program for cancer survivors designed to reduce both the physical and emotional side effects from cancer diagnosis and treatments. In the world of cancer fighters, competing daily is everything. Sami works on a clinical team during the day and runs Build in the evenings, devoting her life to the encouragement and rehabilitation of cancer patients. We talk about how Sami came to work with cancer survivors, her plans for growing the program, the community of cancer survivors she's built, and why you have no excuse but t