A Marine Corps veteran’s legacy of service lives on through a law that expands breast cancer screening for veterans and ensures research continues into toxic exposures and breast cancer.
The Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas Supporting Expanded Review for Veterans in Combat Environment was signed into law on June 7, 2022. Thomas was a Marine Corps veteran and public health professional who deployed to Iraq in 2005, where she was exposed daily to a burn pit on base. In 2018, she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. She died on April 5, 2022, at the age of 42, according to a VA release.
No direct link has been found between toxic exposure and breast cancer.
“VA is committed to providing state-of-the-art breast cancer services to all eligible veterans. Through the SERVICE Act, we honor Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas and other veterans whose service to our nation may have exposed them to life-threatening toxins,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough.
As a result of the SERVICE Act, VA will expand breast cancer risk assessments and clinically appropriate mammograms to women veterans who have experienced toxic exposure. This risk assessment and mammogram also includes transgender women who have been on hormone therapy for more than 5 years, and transgender men who still have breasts.
VA is also collaborating with the Department of Defense to identify additional locations and time periods of service for toxic exposure, beyond those indicated in the current law. This will expand eligibility for these services in the future.
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The Making Advances in Mammography and Medical Options for Veterans Act also provides for additional research. Under MAMMO, VA will ensure Veterans living in rural areas and those with paralysis, spinal cord injuries or other disorders have access to breast cancer screening. Through MAMMO, VA will also develop a Tele-screening Mammography Pilot using its Telehealth technology.
On-site mammograms are available at over 70 VA health care facilities and at convenient locations in the community.
If you are not currently enrolled in VA health care, you may still be eligible for screening due to expanded eligibility under the SERVICE Act. Explore health care enrollment here.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.
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