Veterans on the Front Lines: How Screening Saved One Life and Powers Tomorrow’s Cures

Our nation's Veterans are on the front lines of a new fight: advocating for lung cancer screening and powering the next wave of research using blood tests to screen for lung cancer.

Air Force and Navy Veteran Donnita Butler shares how a simple low-dose CT scan saved her life after she advocated for screening despite initial pushback. Alongside Dr. Drew Moghanaki, a leading expert in Veterans' lung cancer care, they reveal how today's VA screening programs are catching cancer early when it's most curable—and how thousands of Veterans are donating blood to help develop tomorrow's breakthrough detection methods.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Why Veterans face higher lung cancer risk due to toxic exposures (asbestos, burn pits, Agent Orange)
• How the VA's new screening policy is saving lives by systematically identifying at-risk Veterans
• The simple 3-minute screening process that can catch lung cancer at its earliest, most curable stage
• Exciting research on blood-based biomarker tests that could detect cancer even before it shows on scans
• How Veterans can access screening through the PACT Act and VA healthcare
• The importance of biomarker testing and clinical trials in personalized treatment

Featured Guests:

Donnita Butler: Air Force and Navy Veteran diagnosed with stage 1A lung cancer through screening, now thriving at 70

Dr. Drew Moghanaki: Veterans Health Administration lung cancer specialist leading screening initiatives and biomarker research

Key Takeaway:

Lung cancer is curable if caught early. If you're a Veteran over 50 with a smoking history, talk to your doctor about screening today. As Dr. Moghanaki says: "Leave no one behind."

Show Notes | Transcript | Watch Video

Veteran Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• PACT Act Benefits & Eligibility - Expanded VA health care & benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances.
  https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/ 
• VA Lung Cancer Screening (Free LDCT Screening for Eligible Veterans)
  Learn more and talk to your VA provider:
  https://www.prevention.va.gov/preventing_diseases/screening_for_lung_cancer.asp
• Airborne Hazards & Burn Pit Registry
  Document deployment exposures and stay informed about related health concerns.
  https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/burnpits/registry.asp

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