Starting on July 27, 2023, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that veterans UNDER forty (40) years old, who may have been exposed to open burn pits and other toxics, are now eligible for breast cancer assessments and mammograms at VA facilities.

Previously, the VA had followed the American Cancer Society guidelines and had restricted the breast cancer assessments and screenings to veterans forty (40) years old and older.

Under the new VA policy, veterans are eligible for these screenings regardless of age, symptoms, family history and whether they are enrolled in the VA health care system.

The new VA guidelines was initiated as a part of implementing the Doctor Kate Hendericks Thomas Supporting Expanded Review for Veterans in Combat Environments (SERVICE) Act.

Dr. Hendericks Thomas was a Marine Corps Veteran, who deployed to Iraq in 2005. She was exposed to the open burn pits during her tour. In 2018, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer and died on April 5, 2022 at the age of 42 years old.

“We at VA are expanding breast cancer screenings for toxic exposed veterans because early detection saved lives,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough.

“This is an important step toward making sure that breast cancer is diagnosed early, treated early, and — hopefully – sent into remission early,” concluded the VA Secretary.

Theses services are available to veterans who served in the following places and timeframes:

  • Iraq between August 2, 1990 and February 28, 1991 and from March 19, 2003, until VA determines burn pits were no longer used in Iraq.
  • The Southwestern Asia Theater of Operations including Kuwait; Saudi Arabia; Oman; and Qatar (but not including Iraq) from August 2, 1990 until VA determines open burn pits are no longer used in such locations.
  • Afghanistan, Djibouti, Syria, Jordan, Egypt; Lebanon; and Yemen from September 11, 2001, until VA determines burn pits are no longer used in such locations.
  • Other locations and time periods as determined by the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pits Registry.

The Risk Assessment is a series of questions about a patient’s toxic exposure (s); family medical history; and other risk factors to determine whether they should have a mammogram.

Getting screened for breast cancer is an important part of maintaining overall health and mammograms are the best way to find out and treat breast cancer early, when there is a ninety-nine (99%) percent survival rate.

The Central Pillar of the President’s Cancer Moonshot Program is early detection. This Program has two (2) clear goals. First, to prevent more than four (4) million cancer deaths by 2047.

Second, to transform the experience of people who are touched by cancer. Veterans who are interested in breast cancer risk assessment screenings can contact their VA Primary Care Provider or the VAMC facility.

My Opinion: Believe it or not, I have significant problems with the overall implementation of this new legislation. I know my recommendation may be costly initially to the VA, but in the log run it would support the goals of the President’s Cancer Moonshot Program.

Simply put, provide breast cancer risk assessments and mammograms to ALL veterans, regardless if they are under forty (40) years old OR if they did not serve in the countries and timeframes specified by the Doctor Kate Hendericks Thomas SERVICE Act.

Early detection of cancer is the key – and veterans are the population group that is more likely to come in direct contact with airborne toxic substances.

Don’t make veterans wait until they are forty (40) years old to obtain this vital screening! Their military service has earned them this right!

BioSketch: John Plahovinsak is a retired 32-year Army veteran who served from 1967 to 1999. He is the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Department of Ohio Hospital Chairman and Adjutant of DAV Chapter #63 (Clermont County). He can be contacted at: plahovinsak@msn.com.