The Link Between Mesothelioma Cancer and Veterans

Both during and after their time in the military, veterans face a number of service-connected conditions.

Some, like post-traumatic stress disorder, are extremely common. Others, like mesothelioma, are less frequently diagnosed – but equally deserving of attention.

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that almost always develops after a patient is exposed to asbestos. It can originate in the lining of the lungs, stomach or heart, and it spreads quickly after it develops.

Mesothelioma is relatively rare, affecting around 3,000 Americans each year. However, a disproportionately large number of patients are veterans, with around 30 percent coming from a military background.

Mesothelioma can affect men and women from any branch of service. Every military occupation – from Navy technician to Army rifleman to Air Force mechanic – had its own set of asbestos exposure risks throughout the 20th century.

Asbestos exposure risks in the military were especially high before the 1980s. Although the government began phasing out their use of asbestos products in the 1970s, they had already used asbestos in many of their vessels, vehicles and bases.

The Navy even mandated asbestos insulation on all of the ships they produced from the 1930s until the 1970s.

The military’s most commonly used asbestos products included:

·         Pipes

·         Brakes

·         Gaskets

·         Valves

·         Boiler parts

·         Tiles

·         Cement

·         Caulking

Veterans often encountered these products on a daily basis. Many of their operations had the potential to disturb the fibers – as did damage sustained during battle.

Many exposure sites (i.e. ships, submarines and aircraft) were poorly ventilated. As a result, asbestos fibers often circulated in the air for prolonged periods of time.

Once inhaled or ingested, asbestos fibers can become lodged inside the body. Over a period of several decades, the trapped fibers cause scarring and inflammation. The fibers can also trigger malignancies such as mesothelioma or lung cancer to develop.

Resources for Veterans with Mesothelioma

Veterans who have already received a mesothelioma diagnosis can access treatment through the VA health care system. Some of the world’s leading mesothelioma experts – including Dr. Avi Leventhal – work at VA hospitals.

Veterans can use their VA benefits to cover the costs of treatment, travel and other expenses. These benefits are available to all veterans who can link their asbestos-related disease to service-related exposure.

Depending on their specific diagnosis, some veterans may even receive their benefits on an expedited schedule.

Veterans who have not yet developed an asbestos-related disease should consider registering for regular health screenings. These screenings can help detect mesothelioma and other asbestos-related conditions in their earliest stages, when treatment is most effective.

For more information on veterans, asbestos, and mesothelioma cancer please visit http://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/ .

Author bio: Faith Franz has spent nearly two years researching and writing for The Mesothelioma Center. As an advocate for alternative medicine, she encourages patients to explore all of the treatment options that could potentially save their life.