Breast Cancer Awareness
It affects ALL the women in your life!
As a woman business owner, I can’t imagine what would happen to my businesses if I found out I had breast cancer!! I know – firsthand how breast cancer affects a family, because my mother is an eighteen year breast cancer survivor.
HR News Magazine is taking a different approach this month, in support of Breast Cancer Awareness.
In this issue of HR News Magazine, I’ve had the privilege of interviewing two very savvy business owners, who in their own way are striving to help people improve their health and improve self-confidence of those women who have been affected by breast cancer.
“Diet and Activity Factors That Affect Risks for Breast Cancer”
American Cancer Society – www.cancer.org/healthy
The risk of breast cancer in women is increased by several factors. Both increased body weight and weight gain as an adult are linked with a higher risk of breast cancer after menopause. Alcohol also increases risk of breast cancer, even low levels of alcohol.
Many studies have shown that a diet that is rich in vegetables, fruit, poultry, fish, and low-fat dairy products has also been linked with a lower risk of breast cancer in some studies. Additionally, moderate to vigorous physical activity is linked with lower breast cancer risk.
At this time, the best advice about diet and activity to possibly reduce the risk of breast cancer is to:
Reduce lifetime weight gain by limiting your calories and eat healthy.
Get regular, intentional physical activity.
Avoid or limit your alcohol intake.
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In this issue we ask Melanie MacLaren who is a Naturopathic doctor to discuss ways individuals can develop a healthy life style in a natural way to prevent illnesses.
Interview with Melanie MacLaren, ND, RYT, Naturopathic Doctor – Dragonfly 360
Dr. MacLaren is a board certified Naturopathic doctor with the ANMCB and is a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance. She offers individualized programs for healing using nutrition and natural remedies. She also provides stress management with yoga, meditation and deep relaxation. Dr. MacLaren is also available for speaking engagements and regularly conducts educational workshops. Her practice is in Indianapolis, but is available for phone consultations at 317-344-9840 or via email at Melanie@dragonfly360.net
THE INTERVIEW:
HR: As you are aware, this month’s issue is on breast cancer awareness. One of the topics in this issue is how illness, breast cancer, and many other illnesses can impact not only the individual and the individual’s family and friends, but the workplace as well. With that said, let’s begin with you sharing with our readers what lead you to your current field and also how Dragonfly 360 came about.
MM: I was inspired by my own self healing. About eight years ago when I was living in California I was very ill with a lot of chronic illnesses. I went to a naturopathic doctor and with his help I became healthy by changing my diet, supplementing and reducing my stress.
HR: How long did it take you to improve your health and is this something anyone could put into practice?
MM: Absolutely, anyone could put that into practice. It all depends on how ill a person is and what they’re recovering from. It took me about a year, but I was on 10 different medications. I felt so strongly about my healing that I decided to pursue my doctorate in naturopathy.
HR: You mentioned that you were on a lot of prescription medications. Is what you’re practicing now replacing the prescription medications with more natural methods?
MM: Not necessarily. What I do now is find natural ways to bring the body back into balance so they may not need prescription medication. It’s not like a certain natural remedy can replace a prescription medication. It’s about using nutrition, herbs, homeopathic remedies, essential oils and stress reduction to support the body while it heals. Our bodies have an innate ability to self-heal.
Click HERE to read the complete interview.
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PRESENTEEISM – The Productivity Drain
Article by Sally Stephens – President, Spectrum Health Systems
Are your employees present, but not working at full capacity? It could be costing you more than you realize.
Research shows that the average U.S. employee loses 115 productive hours each year due to health conditions, costing employers approximately $2,000 per worker per year. Accordingly, there isn’t an organization today that does not struggle with managing the direct cost of health care. And while most financial and benefits managers evaluate claims data or tweak the plan design in an effort to reduce the impact utilization has on the bottom line, they do not routinely factor indirect costs into health care financing.
The Cost Drain
C. Daniel Mullins, Ph.D., Center on Drugs and Public Policy, states that “annual indirect health care costs have been estimated at $837 billion, twice the $418 billion figure many cite as the direct cost of health care.” Many employers struggle to fight not just absenteeism but the phenomenon of presenteeism, fully effective. Presenteeism is considered as costly, if not more so, than absenteeism. Recent studies have shown that presenteeism can have a greater impact on productivity than absenteeism and short-term disability.
Click HERE to read the full article: PRESENTEEISM – The Productivity Drain
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Interview with Deborah Ellis – Owner & Certified Mastectomy Fitter – Euphoria Spa & Wellness Center
Euphoria Spa & Wellness Center is one-of-a-kind. Located on old U.S. 36, Euphoria opened its doors in 2004, and has since built a strong reputation for offering some of the finest wellness services in the area.
In 2007, Euphoria added a women’s specialty “boutique” to its offerings in order to serve the unique needs of breast cancer survivors and others in our community and the surrounding counties. Our mission is to offer each woman the information, services, products and support necessary to help her look and feel her best following breast surgery or other cancer treatments.
Euphoria is an ABCOP accredited facility, and post-mastectomy products are typically covered by insurance. Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance are accepted.
THE INTERVIEW:
HR: I want to say up front that HR News Magazine appreciates your willingness to share information with our readers that could guide and offer support to those who may not otherwise have access to the information in the area of your expertise.
My first question deals with some of the problems that can be a part of the various medical treatments. The medical treatments for cancer often come with undesirable side effects. I understand that the women who come to you have usually already had breast surgery, is that correct?
DE: Yes, that’s usually the case. By the time patients arrive at our door they usually have already had breast surgery.
HR: I’m no expert, but I’ve done some research on this topic, and I’m hoping you’ll share information with our readers that can be of real value to them. Let’s start with your boutique services. Why don’t you share when you started the boutique services, what it offers your clients?
DE: At Euphoria, the boutique component is a wonderful service we offer in addition to our Spa Services.
The boutique services, the part we’re going to talk about today, the post mastectomy boutique services, actually started in 2007, so we’ve had this component of the business for about five years.
It includes a number of services and products. We do personalized fittings for breast prostheses (also called breast “forms”), and that includes full forms for women who have had a mastectomies, as well as partial forms for women who’ve had lumpectomies and just need some minimal shaping to recreate their natural symmetry. We also offer nipple prostheses which might be used by women who’ve had reconstruction. We offer all the fittings, pocketed bras and other garments a woman would need in order to wear the different types of prostheses. We also offer wigs, scarves, turbans, hats, pocketed swimwear — all the things she might need to help her lead a full life after breast surgery.
Click HERE to read the complete interview.
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You could be the next 
SUPER STAR INTERVIEW.
How would you like to see your picture and your Company name (it’s great publicity) in an upcoming issue of HR News Magazine? If you are a business owner dealing with all areas of Human Resources, and would like to share your experiences and ideas, please contact us at info@hrnewsmagazine.com
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