Four and a half years ago, Korina Pateli-Bell’s life was suddenly shattered when she faced the painful loss of her husband, Simon Bell, to cancer.
A young man, athletic, handsome, full of energy, and passionate about life, passed away within a year after a rapid progression of lung cancer.
The pain, grief, and anger over Simon’s initial misdiagnosis—which resulted in the loss of valuable time, ineffective chemotherapy treatments, and the inability to receive an innovative targeted therapy—were transformed into a life mission: Fair Life Lung Cancer Care.
Simon’s wife, Korina Pateli-Bell, with all the strength she had, managed to turn loss and pain into a non-profit organization aimed at helping not only cancer patients but also their families and caregivers.
In an interview with CNN Greece for World Cancer Day, Ms. Pateli Bell speaks about the long journey of grief, the stigma that still exists, the gaps in the public healthcare system, and the inequalities that persist even today. For example, molecular testing is not reimbursed, forcing patients to pay a significant amount themselves. She highlights the need to include lung cancer screening and the low-dose CT scan in the national healthcare system (ESY) and stresses that no one should die from cancer today with pain and fear.
She also emphasizes the importance of preventive screenings for everyone, noting that if the problem is detected early, the course of the disease can have a completely different outcome.
Moreover, 20% of people diagnosed with lung cancer have never smoked.
A weak link in lung cancer cases is women.
Ms. Pateli Bell also reminds us of something very important that we often forget:
“If you have lungs, you can get lung cancer.”
“That’s why we’ve launched a thorough awareness campaign about lung health and respiratory diseases,” she says, adding that FairLife offers free lung cancer screenings through its programs, aiming to screen two million Greeks.
She adds:
“I trust the leadership of the Ministry of Health. After all, Mr. Adonis Georgiadis himself had approved the reimbursement for biomarkers during his previous term, so I believe the same will happen now, ensuring that patients can access innovative therapies after undergoing biomarker testing.”
She also refers to influential personal stories that inspire and motivate.
“What Princess Kate and King Charles did was significant. These personal stories give strength to others who are battling the disease. I encourage everyone to share their story.”
Her message is clear:
“Decisions must turn into actions because every cancer is unique, yet it holds many stories together.”
Finally, Ms. Pateli Bell speaks about the future of FairLife, which must continue to operate as a living organization of support, care, and advocacy.
The new campaign for World Cancer Day 2025-2027, titled “United by Unique,” places people at the heart of care and explores new ways to make a difference. It’s a three-year journey from raising awareness to driving action.
You can watch the full interview here
FairLife Lung Cancer Care actively participates in this global campaign, reinforcing the importance of prevention and early diagnosis.
As Ms. Pateli Bell highlights, author and actor Giorgos Karamihos, having personally experienced cancer, actively supports this effort. His personal story is a living testament to the power of resilience and the significance of early diagnosis. He conveys a deep, human message:
Behind every diagnosis there is a person with dreams, hopes, and the right to life.
World Cancer Day, taking place on February 4, serves as a constant reminder that cancer affects us all.
Today, across Europe, there are 3.5 million new diagnoses and 20 million cancer survivors. According to OECD data, 28% of deaths in Greece are due to cancer, while the EU average is 18%.
February 5, 2025
