Lawmaker urges military breast cancer study

[unhappycamper]

Lawmaker urges military breast cancer study
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Oct 27, 2009 12:50:48 EDT

A senior lawmaker is pushing for a joint Defense Department and Veterans Affairs Department study of breast cancer rates in service members and veterans to determine if there is a link to military service.

Rep. Leonard Boswell, D-Iowa, the chief sponsor of a bill ordering the study, said the 18-month effort he is proposing would be a “first step to determining if breast cancer is service-connected.”

“There is significant anecdotal evidence that men and women who are serving or have served in our armed forces are being diagnosed with breast cancer at an alarming rate, especially for their age,” said Boswell, a Vietnam veteran who spent 20 years in the Army.

His bill, HR 3926, the Armed Forces Breast Cancer Research Act, asks for a joint report in 18 months that would report on the number of service members and veterans — male and female — who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, what kind of treatment they have received and demographic information about the age and service of the victims. Additionally, the report would address whether defense and VA officials see any service-related breast cancer risk.

The legislation comes as lawmakers and the government are looking into claims of an unusual incidence of breast cancer among men who once served at Camp Lejuene, N.C., a base that has a history of environmental problems, including contaminated water. The Senate Armed Services Committee is considering holding a hearing specifically on the Lejuene problem at the urging of Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/10/military_breastcancer_102709w/

[Berry Cool]

1. Researching a possible cause of breast cancer...

...what a brilliant idea!! K&R