Breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer in American women. Women in the United States get breast can-cer more than any other cancer, except skin cancer. Avoiding cancer risks such as smoking or being over-weight may help prevent some cancers. Certain pro-tective factors, such as eat-ing a healthy diet and exer-cising may also help prevent some cancers. The following factors may increase the risk of breast cancer: Estrogen. Being exposed to estrogen over a long time may increase the risk of breast cancer. Women with early menstruation, late menopause, late pregnancy or never being pregnant are all situations that prolong the exposure of estrogen to the breast tissue. Hormone Re-placement Ther-apy. Being ex-posed to labo-ratory-made estrogen in combination with progester-

one increases the risk of breast cancer. Studies show that when women stop tak-ing estrogen combined with progesterone, their risk of breast cancer decreases. Exposure to Radiation. Radia-tion therapy to the chest for the treatment of cancer in-creases the risk of breast cancer. The risk depends on the dose of radiation and the age it was given. Obesity. Obesity increases the risk of breast cancer in post menopausal women who have not used hor-mone replacement therapy.

New ways to prevent breast cancer are being studied in clinical trials.

Alcohol. Drinking alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer. The level of risk rises as amount of alcohol consumed rises. Inherited Risk. Women who have inherited certain

changes in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes have a higher risk of breast cancer, and the breast cancer may de-velop at a younger age. Exercise is considered to be a protective factor against breast cancer. Exercising

four or more times per week may de-crease hor-mone levels and help lower breast cancer risk.

Talk to your doctor about how you might lower your risk of cancer. To learn more about breast cancer risk, download a free fact sheet entitled Estimat-ing Breast Cancer Risk at http://www.cancer.gov/images/documents/ac1e8937-d95b-4458-a78a-1fe33dbfcbdc/Fs3_95.pdf. For more informa-tion about breast can-cer preven-tion, log onto http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/prevention/breast/patient/allpages. Source: National Cancer Institute

Breast Cancer: Learn the RisksBreast Cancer: Learn the RisksBreast Cancer: Learn the RisksBreast Cancer: Learn the Risks

Fall 2010Fall 2010Fall 2010Fall 2010 Volume 8 Number 4Volume 8 Number 4Volume 8 Number 4Volume 8 Number 4

Breast Cancer: Learn the Risks

1

Update on the 2010-2011 Flu Season

2

What Causes Preterm Labor & Birth?

2

GBS CarePlus™ Patient Rights & Responsibilities

2

Diabetes: Family History is a Risk Factor

3

So Does That Make Me a Family Caregiver?

3

Osteoporosis 3

Inside this issue:

Visit our Health & Wellness Center on the web at www.gbsio.net

GBS Group Benefit Services, Inc. CarePlus™ Care Management 6 North Park Drive, Suite 310 Hunt Valley, MD 21030 Toll free (800) 337-4973

DISCLAIMER: This newsletter is published quarterly for clients of Group Benefit Services, Inc. and the CarePlus™ Department. The details herein are intended as general health information only and should not be construed as medical advice. Readers are urged to contact their health care provider to discuss specific health questions. Members may contact CarePlus ™to inquire about our care management programs toll free at (800) 337-4973 Monday-Friday 8:30 am-5:00 pm EST. CarePlus™ is URAC Accredited in Health Utilization Management and Case Management.

Fall Health Observances

October

20 World Osteoporosis Day

Breast Cancer Aware-ness Month

Talk About Prescrip-tions Month

November

Prematurity Awareness Month

National Family Care-givers Month

American Diabetes Month

December

5-11 National Hand-washing Week

CarePlus™ BulletinCarePlus™ BulletinCarePlus™ BulletinCarePlus™ Bulletin Information and Tips for More Healthful LivingInformation and Tips for More Healthful LivingInformation and Tips for More Healthful LivingInformation and Tips for More Healthful Living

preterm labor or deliver their babies preterm. But there are factors that place a woman at higher risk of preterm labor or birth: • Certain infections • A shortened cervix • Previously given birth preterm The March of Dimes recommends that expec-tant mother be provided education and access to materials relating to pregnancy, childbirth, and infant care. GBS CarePlus™ does that and more. Our voluntary, confidential program provides personal support to high-risk expec-tant mothers by an experienced perinatal RN. If you or a covered dependent is expecting, call toll free (800) 337-4973 to learn about how our maternity programs can help you. Source: National Institute of Child Health & Human Develop-ment, March of Dimes

What are preterm labor and birth?

Preterm labor (also called premature labor) is labor that begins before 37 weeks of preg-nancy. Because the baby is not fully grown at this time, it may not be able to survive out-side the womb. Health care providers will often take steps to try to stop labor if it oc-curs before this time. A baby born before 37 weeks of pregnancy is considered a preterm birth (or premature birth). Preterm births occur in about 12 per-cent of all pregnancies in the U.S. It is one of the top causes of infant death in this country. Who is at risk for preterm labor and birth? Health care providers currently have no way of knowing which women will experience

tips and resources, go to http://www.cdc.gov/clean hands/. The GBS CarePlus™ Case Management Program is an added benefit provided by your employer. Our Case Man-agers are RN’s with years of specialized ex-perience who assist patients during a serious illness or after a hospitalization. Our staff has joined the movement for Health Literacy, to promote the importance of understandable health information. We only provide information to our program participants that meet our strict guidelines for health literacy. For additional infor-mation on our care manage-ment programs, please contact the GBS CarePlus™ depart-ment toll free at (800) 337-4973, option 7, option 1. We

are available Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. EST. Still smoking but thinking of quitting? The Great Ameri-can Smoke Out, held the third Thursday in No-vember, is a great way to prove to yourself that you can quit for a day and longer. To learn more, go to http://www.quitsmoking. com/info/articles/smokeout.htm.

Promoting Safe Use/Prevent Abuse is the theme of Talk About Prescrip-tions Month, ob-served in October.

To download a free checklist that contains helpful steps to avoid medication errors, go to http://www.talkaboutrx.org/assocdocs/TASK/269/make_notes.pdf.

Vaccines for the 2010-2011 flu season were recently ap-proved by the FDA. The Cen-ters for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Commit-tee on Immunization Practices encourages everyone 6 months of age and older to receive the flu shot. To ask about your benefits for a flu shot, contact Client Services at 800-337-4973. For detailed information on the upcoming flu season, log onto http://www.fda.gov /BiologicsBloodVaccines/ default.htm and then click on the Influenza Virus Vaccine for the 2010-2011 Season icon. National Handwashing Week is Decem-ber 5-11. The CDC reports that Handwash-ing is still one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick. To review

GBS CarePlus™ Helping You Stay InformedGBS CarePlus™ Helping You Stay InformedGBS CarePlus™ Helping You Stay InformedGBS CarePlus™ Helping You Stay Informed

What Causes Preterm Labor & Birth?What Causes Preterm Labor & Birth?What Causes Preterm Labor & Birth?What Causes Preterm Labor & Birth?

GBS CarePlus™ GBS CarePlus™ GBS CarePlus™ GBS CarePlus™ Patient Rights & Patient Rights & Patient Rights & Patient Rights & ResponsibilitiesResponsibilitiesResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

As a CarePlus™ member, you have rights & responsibilities You have the right to: • Be treated fairly

and respectfully • Objective medical

review services and timely notification of decisions

• Access to emergency care

• Confidentiality of health information

• File a complaint about service issues

• File a grievance when you disagree with a medical review decision

You have the responsibility to: • Satisfy your plan’s

notification requirements

• Disclose relevant information and communicate your wants and needs

• Become involved in your healthcare decisions

• Become knowledgeable about your health plan coverage

• Utilize the plan’s complaint and grievance procedures to address concerns that arise

• Show respect for other patients and other health workers

Send written complaints or grievances to the CarePlus™ Manager at our corporate office or call 1-800-337-4973 and ask to speak directly to the CarePlus™ Manager.

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Many serious diseases run in families, including diabetes. Talking about health history with your family may make all the difference when it comes to preventing type 2 diabetes. If you have a father, mother, brother or sister with type 2 diabetes, you are at risk. Although you cannot change your health history, knowing about it can help you work with your health care team to take action on the things you can change. People at risk for type 2 diabetes can take steps to prevent or delay the onset of the disease. Small Steps to prevent type 2 diabetes:

• Make a healthy lifestyle plan that includes losing a small amount of weight if you are over-weight—5-7 percent (10 to 14 pounds for a 200 pound person) - and becoming more ac-tive.

• Lose weight by making healthy food choices, such as fruits and veggies, fish, lean meats, poultry with-

out skin, dry beans and peas, whole grains and low fat or skim milk and cheese. Choose wa-ter to drink. Cut back on calories by

eating smaller portions. Make half of your plate veggies and/or fruit, one fourth whole grains such as brown rice and one fourth a protein food, such as lean meat, poultry or fish or dried beans.

• Be active at least 30 min-utes, five days per week to help you burn calories and lose weight. You don’t have to get all your physi-cal activity at one time. Split your physi-cal activity into three daily 10-minute sessions. Choose some-

thing you enjoy and invite your family members to join you. The more you like the activity, the more likely you are to continue to be active.

• Write down all the foods you eat and drink, along with the number of min-utes you are active each day. To help reach your goals, take time to review it every day.

For more information on preventing type 2 diabetes, order a free copy of Your GAME PLAN for Preventing Type 2 Diabetes from

the National Diabetes Educa-tion Program (NDEP) at http://www.YourDiabetes Info.org or call toll free 1-888-693-6337. Check out NDEP’s online library of support for Behavior Change information by logging onto http://www.YourDiabetesInfo.org/ SBCR. Sources: National Diabetes Education Program

And you are not alone. According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, • More than 65 million people pro-vide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member, friend or loved one • The value of services provided by family caregivers for “free” is esti-mated to be $375 billion a year. • 20 hours per week is the average number of hours family caregivers spend caring for their loved ones. What is the common thread of family caregiving? The National Family Caregivers Association found

Who are family caregivers? If you provide assistance to someone who is disabled or who needs help with day-to-day activities because of a chronic condition, cognitive limita-tions or aging, you are a caregiver. Caregiving can mean shopping for groceries once a week for a home-bound relative or neighbor, helping an aging parent with his or her fi-nances, or providing hands on care for a member of your household.

that the emotional impact remains the common bond of all family caregiv-ers, including feelings of isolation, stress, and sadness. Help is available for family caregivers. To access numerous free caregiving resources provided by the NFCA, in-cluding a quarterly newsletter written to provide information, insight, sup-port and knowledge, log onto http://www.thefamilycare giver.org/caregiving_resources/. Source: National Family Caregivers Association

Diabetes: Family History is a Risk FactorDiabetes: Family History is a Risk FactorDiabetes: Family History is a Risk FactorDiabetes: Family History is a Risk Factor

So Does That Make Me a Family Caregiver?So Does That Make Me a Family Caregiver?So Does That Make Me a Family Caregiver?So Does That Make Me a Family Caregiver?

Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease. With osteo-porosis, our bones become weak and are more likely to break. If we don’t eat right and get enough of the right exercise, our bones can become weak and even break. Broken bones and fractures can be pain-ful and sometimes need surgery. They can also cause long-lasting health prob-lems. But the good news is that it is never too late to take care of your bones. To learn more about bone health and osteo-porosis, go to http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Bone_Health/bone_health_for_life.asp?print=yes. Source: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Fall 2010Fall 2010Fall 2010Fall 2010 Volume 8 Number 4Volume 8 Number 4Volume 8 Number 4Volume 8 Number 4