Veterans Day falls on November 11 each year to honor the men and women who have served in the United States military. Each year, we celebrate Veterans Day on this date in remembrance of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. The date marks the armistice between the Allied Nations and Germany, which brought an end to what would become known as World War I on November 11, 1918.
Initially called Armistice Day, within one year of the end of the war, the United States began commemorating the momentous occasion with parades and parties, including a nationwide business pause at 11 o’clock in the morning. On this occasion in 1921, the remains of an unidentified American veteran killed in action during the war were buried at Arlington National Cemetery. In 1926, Congress passed a resolution to declare Armistice Day a national holiday, and in 1938, November 11 became a legal Federal holiday. Following the events of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day in 1954 when President Eisenhower signed the legislation to focus the American holiday on Veterans who served in all wars.
As we pay special honor to all those who have served today, it presents a valuable opportunity to reflect on the unique and well-documented cancer risks Veterans face, even after they have left active military service. These risks are a direct result of the unique exposures that they may have encountered during service, underscoring the need for targeted healthcare.
One such exposure that affects Veterans of the Vietnam War is Agent Orange, a compound chemical mixture used by the United States military to kill trees and vegetation throughout the Vietnam Theater. Agent Orange exposure in Veterans correlates with the incidence or prognosis of several malignancies, including lung, prostate, and bladder cancer.
Burn pits, methods the military used in their bases in the Middle East to burn waste using a chemical accelerant, pose another significant exposure to Veterans of the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Persian Gulf. While research has yet to link burn pit exposure to lung cancer risk directly, it has documented the negative implications for respiratory health. Further, chemicals linked with burn pit emissions do cause cancer, raising further concerns.
Veterans may also have an increased exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, such as that from sunlight, compared to the general public. This exposure has led to an increased risk of melanoma and keratinocyte cancers in United States Veterans.
According to the United States Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), nearly 56,000 Veterans are diagnosed with cancer annually. Exposures to carcinogens and other toxic substances during service can have a lasting impact on the health of Veterans. This underscores the importance of advocacy for access to high-quality healthcare. Healthcare programs targeted towards Veterans should include increased screening protocols for cancers linked to specific exposures. In addition, Veterans could benefit from focused cancer prevention strategies, such as offering better standards for sun protection.
While it is essential to remember the men and women who selflessly serve our country every day, it is also important to acknowledge these individuals in a special way during today’s Veterans Day observance. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Veterans among our Labroots readers for their service, especially.
Sources: J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, Acta Oncol, JAMA Netw Open, JAMA Netw Open, Cutis, Cutis