Beyond the political fight over the DoD’s new testosterone screening mandate remains a clinical question: Does population-level screening of a mostly asymptomatic, young military population offer significant benefit or simply raise risk?
Somatic Tumor Risk Assessment Predicts Prostate Cancer Overall Survival
Even though tumor comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) has revolutionized the care of many cancers and identifies patients for biomarker-specific therapy, it had not been available for all variations.
Which Veterans With Cancer Are Most Likely to Attempt Suicide?
In recent years, the conventional wisdom has been that patients at risk for suicide after being diagnosed with cancer usually were older white males with advanced or poor-prognosis cases.
Head and Neck Cancer Rates Highest in Active-Duty Army Servicemembers Who Are Male, Older
Active-duty servicemembers who are male, enlisted in the Army and age 40 and older have the highest incidence rates of head and neck cancer, according to a recent study.
U.S. Veterans with Lung Cancer Experienced Greater Survival Gains Than Other U.S. Patients
Advances in lung-cancer screening and treatment have improved survival for patients across the United States. But new research suggested that healthcare delivery might be just as important as medical innovation in determining outcomes.
Military Population Shows High Adherence to Stool DNA Colorectal Cancer Screening
Colorectal cancer screening rates remain below national targets in the general U.S. population, but a large new study suggested that adherence might be substantially higher among military members, retirees and their families.
Polygenic Scores Show Limited Value in Cardiovascular Risk Prediction for Breast Cancer Survivors
Approximately 4 million women in the United States are living with breast cancer, a number that reflects advances in screening and treatment. As survivorship improves, attention has increasingly shifted toward long-term risks such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), a leading cause of mortality in this population and a growing concern within the VA, given the increasing number of women veterans.
Multiple Myeloma Survival Lower Than Previously Reported, but Powerful New Later Line Options Offer Hope
Including survival statistics for the nonmalignant precursor of multiple myeloma (MM), smoldering multiple myeloma, has led to a significant overestimation of 5-year survival patients with MM. But the news is not all bad. Recent approval of powerful new later line options are offering hope for patients who have tried multiple therapies are offering hope for more durable survival.
Cancer Vaccines in Lung Cancer: A New Strategy to Overcome Immunotherapy Resistance
Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) resistance can be caused by tumor evasion mechanisms that prevent T cells from recognizing or killing cancer cells. Cancer vaccines are designed to address those challenges by stimulating the immune system to recognize tumor-specific antigens. Unlike preventive vaccines, these therapeutic approaches can “induce de novo or amplify pre-existing tumor-specific immune responses, thereby enhancing long-term immunological memory while maintaining a favorable safety profile,” according to a new study.
More Genetic Testing, New Drug Combinations Hold Promise for Prostate Cancer With Germline Variants
Pathogenic germline variants might be found in a relatively small percentage of prostate cancer patients, but they can make the prognosis much, much worse. Now, the future is looking brighter, with the VA and other healthcare systems spearheading more testing. At the same time, drug combinations involving PARP inhibitors are showing some success in lengthening survival.
High Rates of HIV, HPV and Toxic Exposure Make Anal Cancer a Concern for Veterans
Veterans are at especially high risk for squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal (SCAC) because of high rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and human papillomavirus (HPV). It also is one of the gastrointestinal cancers considered a presumptive service condition for those deployed to many areas in the Middle East and Africa.
Agent Orange Exposure Linked to Myelodysplastic Syndromes for First Time
For decades, questions have persisted about whether exposure to Agent Orange contributes to the development of blood cancers among Vietnam War veterans. New research sheds light on this issue, identifying a significant association between Agent Orange exposure and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a group of bone marrow disorders that can progress to acute leukemia.
Renal Cell Carcinoma Trends in California Reflect Changing Therapies, Risk Factors
PALO ALTO, CA – Despite its importance, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) tends to be understudied in the United States, according to a new study. A report in Lancet Regional Health – Americas suggested that California, with its large, racially and socioeconomically diverse...
Surgical Procedures Effective for Metastatic RCC, But Risk Factors Increase Recurrence
MADISON, WI – It is possible for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) with oligometastatic disease to achieve radiographic disease-free (M1 NED) status following cytoreductive nephrectomy and concurrent complete metastasectomy (CNCM). A new study...
Rates of CVD Rising in Metastatic RCC Patients, Especially Males
MIAMI BEACH, FL – Cancer-specific outcomes have been significantly improved by therapies treating advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with distant metastasis. Those patients remain at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and related events, however. A new...
Docetaxel Rechallenge Shows Promise in Select Patients With mCRPC
For more than two decades, docetaxel has been a cornerstone in the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Since its introduction in 2004, it has remained a foundational therapy, later joined by cabazitaxel—another taxane approved in 2010 for patients whose disease progresses after docetaxel.
Comorbidities Linked to Higher Complication Risk After Prostate Cancer Surgery
Men undergoing surgery for prostate cancer often present with more than their malignancy. Many also are managing chronic comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hypertension.
The Interplay of Military Exposures, Diagnostic Delay and Precision Medicine in CRC
Care for a veteran with a new diagnosis of colorectal cancer in 2025 reflects a treatment algorithm that is more precise, more individualized, and more effective than anything available 10 years ago.
Molecular Profiling Now Guides Every Major CRC Treatment Decision
A veteran sits across from his or her VA oncologist with a new diagnosis of metastatic colorectal cancer. Ten years ago, the conversation followed a well-traveled path: Treatment included a chemotherapy doublet, maybe with a biologic. CRC was no less molecularly complex, but fewer biomarkers had been identified or targeted.
Colorectal Cancer in Veterans: Keeping Pace With a Rapidly Changing Disease
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is, at first glance, a public health success story. Incidence among adults over 50 has fallen nearly 50% since the mid-1980s, driven by the steady expansion of colonoscopy screening and the removal polyps before they can progress. Mortality rates in the over-50 population similarly have declined.
The CRC Map Is Complete. How to Use It?
In the mapping of colorectal cancer for much of the past three decades the dominant question has been “which molecular features of this tumor matter?” Now, the question shifts to “how can veterans benefit?”
How Mental Health, Substance Use Affect Mammography Uptake in Women Veterans
Women veterans are more likely than their civilian peers to experience mental health disorders, yet how those conditions affect preventive care—such as mammography—has been unclear.
Duration-Based Lung Cancer-Screening Criteria Might Improve Equity Among Diverse Populations
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, and early detection through screening is one of the most effective ways to reduce mortality. Yet despite expanded eligibility criteria, racial and ethnic disparities in lung cancer screening persist.
Lung Cancer Screenings Often Find Esophageal Cancer, As Well
An added benefit of lung cancer screening (LCS) at the VA is that it also often identifies incidental esophageal abnormalities.
Identification, Management of Incidental Findings in VA Lung Cancer Screening Program
Incidental findings (IFs) are common on low dose CT obtained during lung cancer screening (LCS) of veterans.
As Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Care Evolves, TURP Shows Fewer Complications but More Retreatment
For decades, transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)—a surgical procedure that removes excess prostate tissue through the urethra to relieve urinary obstruction—has been regarded as the gold standard surgical treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
How Do Statins Impact Prostate Survival in Veterans?
A new study identified a strong minimum effective dose/duration type relationship with statin use in veterans with prostate cancer receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).
Male Breast Cancer Higher in Veteran Prostate Cancer Survivors
Male breast cancer incidence is rare, but veteran status is found to be associated with increased risk, and a higher prevalence has been identified for male veteran prostate cancer survivors.
MRI Findings Can Help Stage Prostate Cancer
MRI findings should be considered in prostate cancer staging, according to a new study led by Duke University and the Durham, NC, VA Healthcare System.
MRI Instead of Biopsy in Prostate Cancer Under Active Surveillance Appears to Result in Underdiagnosis
For about three decades, active surveillance (AS) has been the preferred management for favorable-risk prostate cancer (PC) and has traditionally included confirmatory biopsy to address any under sampling at diagnosis.
