Here for Our Veterans
They Served Us, Lets Serve Them
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), more than 43,000 veterans have a new cancer diagnosis each year—16% of which are rare cancers—and more than 450,000 veterans are receiving cancer care at a VA hospital or institution.
Higher Cancer Risk for Military Troops
Some Veterans of the United States Armed Forces may have been exposed to substances during their military service that can cause cancer. This means they could be at a higher risk for certain types of cancer. Our non profits is located 30 minutes south from Fort Liberty, formerly Fort Bragg which is the largest military base in the world, covering over 250 square miles and home to nearly 60,000 military personnel. With such proximity, a large population of the people we support are US Vets. Contact us today if you or a loved one are in need of support and resources in your community.
Exposure to Agent Orange and Cancer Risk
During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military sprayed over 19 million gallons of plant-killing chemicals called herbicides. The most used herbicide mix was Agent Orange, which is described on the VA's website.
The U.S. military stopped using Agent Orange in 1971. Since then, researchers have done many studies to find out if Agent Orange exposure causes cancer. Based on this research and federal law, the VA assumes that herbicide exposure is related to these cancers:
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Cancers of the bronchus, larynx, and trachea
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Some types of soft tissue sarcoma
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Amyloidosis, a serious condition related to cancer
Exposure to Asbestos in Middle Eastern
Asbestos is a mineral that was used in many different products, including building materials, because it is heat resistant. It is now known that asbestos causes lung cancer and mesothelioma, which is cancer of the lining of the lungs or abdominal cavity. Asbestos exposure can also cause lung tissue scarring that leads to breathing problems.
Veterans who served in Iraq or other Middle Eastern nations could have had contact with asbestos when buildings were demolished. Other veterans may have been exposed to this material on ships, during construction, and during vehicle and plane repairs.
If you worked in mining, milling, shipyards, construction, carpentry, or demolition, you should talk to your doctor about your risk of developing lung cancer or mesothelioma. Especially if you worked with products like flooring, roofing, cement sheet, pipes, insulation, and clutch facings and brake linings.