(Mitch Jelniker) - Veterans face higher lung cancer risk from military exposures. Early screening and clinical trials save lives. Honor their service this month.

America’s heroes risked everything to protect our freedom, yet many remain unprotected from one of the deadliest threats they face at home: lung cancer. A simple, painless scan, a low-dose CT, can detect lung cancer early, when it’s most treatable. But despite its proven power to save lives, far too few Veterans are getting screened.

For those who served, this gap isn’t just a statistic; it’s deeply personal. Military service can mean exposure to asbestos, burn pits, radon, and other toxic substances that dramatically increase lung cancer risk. The Department of Veterans Affairs has committed to identifying and screening Veterans at risk, yet thousands still go without this potentially lifesaving test.

Let's ensure that “thank you for your service” also means protecting their health.

Air Force and Navy Veteran Donnita Butler knows firsthand the critical importance of early detection. A routine low-dose CT scan caught her cancer early, and she credits screening with saving her life.

“It’s a simple test that gave me more time,” says Butler. “I tell every Veteran I meet: if you qualify, get screened. It can save your life, too.”

Now, Butler is helping to lead a new mission to inspire others to participate in cutting-edge blood-based research that could revolutionize cancer detection. 

Scientists are developing simple blood tests that may one day identify lung cancer and other cancers through a single vial of blood.

These next-generation tests rely on biomarkers, which are molecular “fingerprints” from tumor cells circulating in the blood, that can also guide personalized treatments, including targeted therapies and immunotherapies that are more effective and less toxic than traditional chemotherapy.

Veterans are once again at the forefront, volunteering for clinical trials that are accelerating this research. 

“Our Veterans are heroes in more ways than one,” says Dr. Drew Moghanaki, Chief of Thoracic Oncology at UCLA Health’s Department of Radiation Oncology. “By participating in studies and screenings, they’re not only protecting their own health but helping advance science for everyone.” 

Dr. Moghanaki and Donnita Butler are partnering with Lung Cancer Foundation of America (LCFA) through its Breath of Honor program, an initiative dedicated to increasing lung cancer screening among Veterans and raising awareness of clinical research opportunities. Together, they’re spreading the message that early action can mean the difference between life and loss.

“Tomorrow’s treatments are available today through screening and clinical trials,” says Dr. Moghanaki. “Veterans deserve access to both.”

Learn more to find out if you qualify for lung cancer screening, explore clinical trial opportunities, or learn more about LCFA's Breath of Honor program, visit LCFAmerica.org.

About LCFA

LCFA is dedicated to dramatically improving survival rates and quality of life for people diagnosed with lung cancer. Through funding innovative research, amplifying patient stories, and raising awareness, LCFA brings hope to the millions impacted by the world’s deadliest cancer. Learn more at lcfamerica.org.