The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is taking an active role in the early detection, and ultimately, treatment of lung cancer in veterans. Inspired by the success of the National Cancer Institute's National Lung Screening Trial, the VA is in the beginning stages of implementing CT scans.
As reported by DOTmed News, the VA will start “phased implementation” of the CT screenings for lung cancer at six VA hospitals. In a statement sent to DOTmed, the VA has yet to publicly announce which VA hospitals will participate or when the program will begin.
Moreover, the veterans who participate at the initial six VA hospitals will provide feedback that will allow the department to plan a system-wide program and how to best manage it. The VA wants to ensure that the entire scope of the program – from the screening itself to receiving a potential diagnosis – is handled in such a way that it alleviates veterans' concerns instead of adding to it.
The National Cancer Institute's National Lung Screening Trial which published its results in November 2010, found that a low-dose helical or spiral CT scans were more successful at spotting lung cancer than chest x-rays.
Further, the National Cancer Institute looked at 53,454 “current or former heavy smokers” and found that with a CT scan, there was a 20% reduction in deaths from lung cancer.
Based off of the success of the National Lung Screening Trial, the VA hopes to identify potentially high risk veterans who were current or former heavy smokers through early CT screenings.
For veterans, in particular, lung cancer is not solely linked to smoking. While on active duty, many veterans were exposed to chemical agents, toxins and other hazardous materials that could lead to lung cancer. One of the most common toxins active duty service members were exposed to was asbestos.
Over the years, many veterans from all branches, were unintentionally exposed to asbestos while protecting their country. However, Navy veterans who were stationed at shipyards, built ships or served on ships were especially vulnerable to asbestos exposure.
Commonly thought to cause mesothelioma, asbestos exposure is linked to lung cancer. Couple asbestos exposure with heavy smoking, many veterans are at an extreme risk for developing lung cancer.

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Last year, we reported on the establishment of a mesothelioma research project in Minnesota, which is examining the possible link between taconite mining and mesothelioma. The five-year research program received $4.9 million in funding from the Minnesota state legislature in April 2008, and is being directed by the University of Minnesota in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health.

This week, university researchers announced they are ready to begin recruiting current and former taconite workers on Minnesota’s Iron Range, and their spouses, to participate in a screening program.

Preliminary research actually began in Summer 2007, but got a boost from the legislature’s funding, allowing the study to expand significantly. The funding established the Minnesota Taconite Workers Lung Health Partnership task force.

There are four health studies associated with the project:
a motality study under the direction of the Minnesota Department of Health related to miner deathsa cancer rate incidence studya respiratory health assessment for miners or former minersan occupational exposure study
According to an update in the Star Tribune, which serves the Twin Cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul, “since last year, researchers have been collecting data they need to determine why Iron Range miners die from mesothelioma at higher rates than others.”

Researchers hope to recruit around 1,200 current and retired workers for the new screenings, plus about 800 of their spouses.

Mesothelioma has been linked exclusively to asbestos exposure, so this study seeks to determine what similarities may exist in the taconite mining industry and the taconite mineral that produce high incidences of mesothelioma among its workers.


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