I have spent twenty years working as an oncology nurse practitioner, caring for people at every stage of cancer. I have seen the toll it takes on patients and families and the heartbreak of a diagnosis that might have been caught earlier.
Now, at Previvor Edge, I’m helping people take a different path: understanding their unique risks and acting to detect cancer early or reduce the likelihood of a cancer diagnosis. The shift is profound.
The challenge is real. About 40 percent of Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Cases of early-onset cancers are rising sharply. And yet, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends routine screening for only four cancers.
Fortunately, we have the tools to change that story. We can identify who is at higher risk and what is driving that risk, and we have proven ways to lower it through lifestyle changes, medication, and surgery. At the same time, new technologies such as advanced imaging and blood-based tests are expanding our ability to detect cancer earlier than ever before. The key is bringing all of these approaches together in the right way for each individual.
Said another way, the problem isn’t that we lack the science (though, science will always evolve); it’s that we haven’t yet implemented it effectively. And this failure underscores the urgency to do things differently.
As we’ve begun to see our first patients at Previvor Edge, three powerful insights reveal what might be most effective to act on this urgency; what it takes to help people feel safe, supported, and empowered in taking charge of their health; and why we believe real change is possible.
Insight #1: Fear can become empowerment
The word “cancer” carries so much weight. I understand why many people hesitate to look too closely at their risk. It can feel easier to push those thoughts away. But I’ve seen time and again with our initial patients that when people are met with compassion and clarity, fear gives way to confidence.
Interestingly, the people who had the greatest need for information and support were often the most hesitant to begin. Many were afraid of what they might learn or worried that knowing more would only make them anxious. But when they realized they would not have to face that information alone, that our clinical team would be with them every step of the way, helping them interpret results, understand next steps, and manage whatever came up, they felt empowered to move forward.
In our early patient surveys, peace of mind was the most commonly cited benefit. One person shared, “The program took a more amorphous fear and ‘what if’ and turned it into something actionable.” Another said, “I feel the Previvor team has my back and will be there for my journey.” People know they will not be left on their own to navigate difficult information. That understanding changes everything.
We recognize that this journey can be emotionally heavy. Compassion and partnership are just as vital as the science itself, and both are at the heart of how we care for people.
Insight #2: A multidisciplinary approach makes all the difference
Cancer risk is shaped by many factors: medical history, family history, genetics, lifestyle, and environment, and no single one tells the full story. For most people, the information they get from different clinicians is fragmented, making it hard to see the bigger picture.
Our patients tell us that having a team who connects those dots is one of the most helpful parts of their experience. One shared, “The holistic evaluation of my cancer risk and compilation in one place of the actions I can take to reduce it are incredibly helpful.” Another said, “Having these experts come together and be able to say, based on all these things we’re looking at, here’s what we recommend for you to do in the next year—that is proactive medicine.”
In our first cohort, more than 90 percent of patients experienced a change in their prevention or detection strategy that otherwise would have been missed. That number illustrates what’s possible when care is comprehensive.
Insight #3: Actionable steps, coupled with education, create real progress
Many people don’t realize they could be at increased risk for cancer, or that there are concrete steps to lower it beyond age-appropriate screenings and one-size-fits-all advice.But to take action, people need to understand their risk and guidance that feels personalized and achievable.
One woman learned that she should aim for 120 minutes of exercise each week to help decrease her risk for cancer. “This gives me something I can do that actually feels really productive,” she said. Another patient told us, “It’s fine to tell me what’s healthy today. It’s much better to know how to stay healthy and get ahead of these problems.”
Our patients often share how much it means to truly understand their results and what to do next. One said, “The team simplified complex information and guided me through each step with clarity and empathy. That gave me confidence to take an active role in my health decisions.” Another shared, “The insights not only clarified my understanding but also gave me a stronger sense of agency and confidence.”
That’s why we take the time to educate each patient. And it’s why everyone receives a personalized one-year plan that turns science into clear, practical steps, tailored specifically to them, that they could begin right away. And knowing plans only work if they can be implemented, we help by ordering appropriate testing, interpreting results, coordinating with their other providers, ordering screening and troubleshooting barriers that can get in the way of follow-through.
Why haven’t we made more progress preventing and detecting cancer?
It’s a question I’ve asked myself many times. The truth is, we haven’t made more progress because we are still primarily focused on treatment and we haven’t had the model to make prevention and early detection work at scaleWe have extraordinary science: genetic testing, advanced imaging, medical and lifestyle research. But those strategies have existed in isolation, without a coordinated system to bring them together in a way that’s actionable for each person.
That’s why we need to change the paradigm around how we prevent and detect cancer. It’s time to move from episodic care. From waiting for symptoms to acting on risk. From generalized screening to personalized, proactive planning.
We will keep learning and sharing as we go, because progress against cancer will not come from one discovery. It will come from many people, working together, choosing to act early.
Getting ahead of cancer isn’t about fear. It is about empowerment. It is about having the knowledge, the plan, and the team to take charge of your health.
That is what gives people an edge against cancer.