This weekend, we will remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice with their lives during service. Memorial Day is sacred, sobering and an opportunity to come together as a grateful nation. For survivors, we must also acknowledge the physical and mental impacts and the risks these brave men and women continue to manage their entire lives. With renewed patriotism, the flags are flying. The wreaths are ceremoniously laid. The speeches, moving. The celebrations necessary, so that we never forget. While we can quickly move past the holiday that the opening day of summer provides, there are thousands of others continuing with lifelong journeys deeply impacted by service. Although they did not lose their lives in the line of duty, their service, even if brief, has changed them forever.

New to the intake forms in the centers is one question: did you serve in the military? Why would this be an important question along with medical history? Is it because we are looking to see if they have VA benefits? No. It is because there is a cloud of uncertainty once a man or woman has been exposed and we are learning more and more about those effects. Veterans are often impacted well beyond their risk of eminent danger during battle. If you have a loved one who has served, you recognize that their healthcare is more complicated. I want to take this opportunity to remind us that it is not just wartime service that impacts these brave men and women.

We stand witness to their sacrifice long after deployments. While there is relief in home coming, the dangers beyond battle persist. We are aware of PTSD, inability to assimilate back into society, depression, severe life limiting physical wounds. They have increased life long risk for specific cancers, including lung cancer, prostate cancer, bladder, and kidney cancer, melanoma and other more rare cancers. Ubiquitous use of deadly Agent Orange herbicide in Vietnam, burn pits, burning waste in open air, asbestos exposure and high risk radiation in pilots, and many chemicals even found in food and drinking water have exposed these men and women to life threatening damage. The forgotten or hidden effects are enormous and life altering for veterans and their families. The ongoing life long injury to those survivors of military service must be acknowledged, honored and managed aggressively. We have our own duty to serve them with honor and wisdom and great care.

The VA PACT ACT is a law passed that expands VA healthcare and there is a portal to file a claim online or review a condition. (Va.org). There is recognition for more than 20 conditions related to these toxins. There are specialized VA oncology programs, including screening initiatives, a national oncology, service and precision oncology program. Additional resources can be found at cancer care and triage care. A good website is always the americancancersociety@ cancer.org.

So this Memorial Day, be sure that the veteran you know and love is tapping into everything they deserve. They do not have to receive services through the VA system, they may be referred to community care or use their own private insurance. Healthcare is complicated, especially oncology, so your interest and help is valuable. Today, thank a veteran, hug a veteran and pray for the families of the veterans who have passed. Encourage every veteran to be screened, receive attention and care, recognizing that the sacrifice of their service is lifelong. It’s the least they deserve, as we also step up to keep our heroes safe.