Cancer: It’s terrifying. While we all run
the risk, there are things we can do to
keep a serious diagnosis at bay with the most effective methods being prevention and early detection.
Smart Business
asked Kathy Lukity, RN, at Akron General
Medical Center’s oncology department for
some guidance on ways companies can
encourage workers to make health — and
cancer prevention — a high priority.
What are some of the ways companies can
encourage cancer prevention?
Education about cancer is essential.
Following a healthy lifestyle will lessen the
risk of cancer, while screening for cancer
will allow early diagnosis and treatment.
Companies can assist in this process by
providing information to employees and
encouraging them to exercise, maintain a
healthy weight, eat a proper diet and
become informed on their own about
screenings and further prevention.
The health of the company’s employees
will benefit the company overall. Insurance
rates and costs to the company can be lowered. Healthy staff means less absenteeism, fewer days of family medical leave
and less loss of productivity.
Is smoking still a big problem?
Unfortunately smoking is still a problem.
According to the American Cancer Society
(ACS), smoking is responsible for nearly
one in five deaths in the United States. It is
estimated that approximately 20 percent of
all adults smoke and the numbers are
increasing in the younger population.
Smoking accounts for 30 percent of all
cancer deaths and it is the major cause of
cancers of the lung, larynx, oral cavity,
throat, esophagus and bladder, along with
a contributing cause of cancer of the pancreas, cervix, kidney, stomach and some
forms of leukemia. Smoking is also a major
cause of heart disease, aneurysms, bronchitis, emphysema, stroke and asthma.
Encouraging staff to quit smoking will
allow them to have some very immediate
health benefits and will reduce their risk of
the aformentioned diseases.
Talk about screening programs.
We recommend that people 20 and older
have health exams and health counseling.
Here are the screening guidelines for specific cancers according to the ACS:
Breast Cancer: Yearly mammograms
starting at age 40, clinical breast exams
every three years for women in their 20s
and 30s and yearly after age 40. Self breast
exam education is encouraged for women
in their 20s. MRIs are recommended for
women at high risk.
Colon and Rectal Cancer: Beginning at
age 50, men and women should follow one
of the five testing schedules — yearly fecal
occult blood test or fecal immunochemical
test, flexible sigmoidoscopy every five
years, yearly fecal occult blood or fecal
immunochemical test plus flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years, double contrast
barium enema every five years,
colonoscopy every 10 years.
Cervical Cancer: Women should begin
cervical cancer screening no later than the
age of 21 or three years after they begin
having sexual intercourse. Screening is
done yearly with a Pap test or every two
years using the newer liquid based Pap
test. Beginning at age 30, women who have had three normal Pap tests in a row can get
screened every two to three years.
Endometrial Cancer: At time of
menopause, women should report any
unexpected bleeding to their doctor and
should be educated about endometrial cancer.
Prostate Cancer: At age 50, annual digital rectal exams and prostate specific
blood tests should be offered. High-risk
men should begin testing earlier based on
their family history and recommendations
of their physician.
Does health insurance provide coverage for
such programs?
Health insurance typically covers cancer
screening according to ACS guidelines.
The exact coverage will vary by the policy,
deductibles and co-pays. Some health
insurance also will cover programs for
weight reduction.
What are some other things a company can
do to help workers lessen their risk of cancer?
Some companies pay for health education programs and basic screening services. We participate in company health fairs
and education programs related to specific
cancers, smoke-free environments and
assisting employees in smoking cessation
efforts. Companies can post information
about community events and education
programs. Some companies offer exercise
areas, weight loss challenges or group
walking programs.
If food is available at the company, offer
healthy food choices. Newsletters are
another way to provide information to
staff.
KATHY LUKITY RN, BSN, graduated from the Akron General
Medical Center School of Nursing and completed her BSN at the
University of Akron. She is the Care Coordinator of the Breast and
Lung Center at AGMC, established to facilitate timely diagnosis of
breast and lung cancer. Reach her at (330) 344-2778 or (330)
344-5864.