An ounce of prevention: the American Cancer Society offers a free wellness program to businesses throughout Southeast Michigan.

Sedentary lifestyles, diets high in fat and smoking are risk factors that have been found to lead to a cancer diagnosis, making cancer, in many instances, a preventable disease.

U.S. health-care statistics show preventable illnesses make up approximately 70 percent of the burden of illness and the associated health-care costs in this country. This burden not only plagues Americans, but also their employers who are trying to manage the resulting rise in health-care costs, employee absenteeism and declining productivity rates.

In recent years, more and more businesses are adopting worksite wellness programs--an important step toward preventing unnecessary sickness and death. In fact, a worksite wellness program can give employees the information and motivation they need to modify unhealthy lifestyles and give their employers a better return on their human resource investment.

Recognizing this corporate trend, the Great Lakes Division of the American Cancer Society, the nation's leading voluntary health organization fighting cancer, has launched a worksite wellness campaign entitled ACS at Work, which provides area businesses with a program designed to promote a healthier workforce.

"ACS at Work represents a win-win relationship we have with many worksites throughout Southeast Michigan," says Megan White, MPH, regional executive director of the American Cancer Society, Great Lakes Division. "Not only are we able to serve the community by providing businesses with a tool that will help them save money and become more productive, but we're able to reach out to large populations with our vital messages of early detection and awareness, which will ultimately help us lower cancer incidence and mortality rates."

Participating businesses choose from a menu of fun and educational programs, which offer physical activity, messages of nutrition, cancer information, smoking cessation and opportunities for community outreach.

"The bottom line is that ACS at Work makes good sense by lowering unnecessary health-care costs and helping to combat cancer--the leading public health concern facing Americans today," White adds.

Comerica Bank Inc., a recent member of the Society's ACS at Work campaign, provides its employees with a smoke-free work environment, has participated in Relay For Life events throughout Michigan and has empowered its employees in the fight against breast cancer through a sponsorship of the organization's annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk.

"Comerica is committed to serving the communities where we do business, and this commitment extends beyond providing financial services," says Stacy Truax, a vice president at Comerica Securities and past participant in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk."

"I am extremely proud that Comerica participates in the ACS at Work program and is a flagship sponsor for the 2002 Making Strides event. Partnering with the American Cancer Society in this component of the program allows us to work with fellow employees as we assemble our team for this year's walk."

ACS at Work is a free program available to all businesses throughout Southeast Michigan. For more information, contact a local American Cancer Society representative at [phone].

The American Cancer Society is a Silver-level member of the Detroit Regional Chamber. Comerica is a Gold-level member.