Reducing the risk of cancer

Rising healthcare costs have several employers looking for ways they can cut back costs. Some companies have found that they can reduce their healthcare costs by taking steps toward preventing cancer among their employees. Companies that have overweight employees and employees that smoke are often in a higher risk insurance pool to begin with, so they need to start taking steps toward cancer prevention if they want to reduce their healthcare costs and keep their employees.

You can reduce your risk of cancer by staying away from tobacco. If you have employees that smoke, encourage them to give up the habit. If you can get your employees to quit smoking, you will reduce other employee's exposure to secondhand smoke, which is just as dangerous as smoking. Everyone knows that smoking causes lung cancer, but it also causes other types of cancer. Cancer of the throat, lip, kidney, mouth, cervix, bladder, and pancreas are some of the other types of cancer it causes.

Another way you can reduce the risk of cancer is to lose weight. People that are obese are at an increased risk of developing cancer and diabetes. Individuals that have extra adipose fat (belly fat) are causing several health problems for themselves. Exercising daily for at least 30 minutes can reduce your risk of cancer. Being overweight has been liked to breast cancer, colon cancer, kidney cancer, prostate cancer, esophagus cancer, stomach, and uterus cancer.

You can also reduce your risk of cancer by eating healthier foods. Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. You also need to eat whole-grain foods, and foods high in protein. People that consume diets high in vegetables and fruits have prevented their risk of colon and stomach cancer.

Many people don't realize how harmful the sun is. Although the sun is extremely beneficial for your body because it gives you the Vitamin D your body needs to feel energized, it also causes skin cancer. Skin cancer is easily preventable. To prevent skin cancer, stay in the shade when you are outside and try to avoid being outside when the sun is at its peak intensity from 10am to 4pm. Always apply heavy amounts of sunscreen and apply it often.

Employers can prevent cancer by offering on-site exercise facilities for their employees. They can even offer them gym memberships. Instead of having a 2-hour staff meeting, take people on a walk for 30 minutes before your staff meeting. This is a great way to help your employees get in a brisk walk and you can all enjoy being away from your desks and focusing on work.

Another way employers can prevent cancer is by encouraging their employees to get immunized. Some cancers like HPV and Hepatitis B have vaccines that prevent certain types of cancer. Most insurance companies will pay 100 percent for vaccinations that prevent against cancer and other infectious diseases. Encourage your employees to have regular cancer screenings. Self-examinations for breast and prostate cancer should be a common practice by your employees. Your employees should also visit their doctor to be screened for rectal cancer, skin cancer, mouth cancer, and a long list of other cancers. If doctors can catch cancer early, your chances of being cured are much higher.

Employers should also take a look at the foods they are offering their employees. If they are not offering a variety of fruits and vegetables, they need to start. Get rid of the candy bars and sugary soda pops and start offering milk, water, 100 percent fruit juice, granola bars, apple chips, carrots, and celery sticks instead. You should offer healthier food options for lunch and during staff meetings.