Watch: Cancer Cabinet Community Conversation on expanding access to cancer care

VA invites you to watch a live virtual Cancer Cabinet Community Conversation about how VA is taking every opportunity to expand access to best-in-class cancer care for Veterans enrolled in our equal access health care system July 16 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET. 

Of the 9 million Veterans receiving VA health care benefits, one third of them live in rural areas. Approximately 60% of rural communities do not have a doctor focused on cancer, or an oncologist. Even as this gap exists, VA is committed to providing access to the full continuum of cancer care, from screening to treatment guided by Veterans’ unique genetic circumstances to post-treatment survivorship, no matter where a Veteran lives. 

How is VA Supporting Rural Veterans?

During the virtual Cancer Cabinet Community Conversation panel discussion, you will hear from VA leaders and oncologists who live and breathe the work of providing best-in-class cancer care to Veterans every day.

You’ll also hear from an Air Force Veteran whose whole family was impacted by the care she received at VA due to the results of the genetic testing that took place during her breast cancer treatment.

Join Us!

VA welcomes all members of the Veteran community to listen into the “Cancer Cabinet Community Conversation: Expanding Access to Cancer Care” virtual event.

Visit us on YouTube to set up an alert to watch on July 16, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET.

The following Veteran advocates, VA providers and others will share how VA is expanding access to best-in-class cancer care:

• Steven Lieberman, MD, deputy under secretary for Health, VA
• Vida Passero, MD, chief medical officer, National TeleOncology service​ (She/Her)
• Margaret Lundquist, DNP, National TeleOncology Hub Comprehensive Genetics Service
• Andrea Stone, RN, associate chief nurse for Specialty Care, Minneapolis VA Healthcare System (She/Her)

Delivering on the Cancer Moonshot promise 

President Biden launched the Cancer Moonshot to focus cancer research, diagnosis and treatment on reducing the death rate of cancer by at least 50% over the next 25 years. Cancer Moonshot aims to improve the experience of those living with and surviving cancer, saying: “We must come together to equitably deliver on this promise.” 

Today, VA cares for over a million Veterans across the cancer care continuum, and diagnoses approximately 56,000 new cancer cases every year. VA’s Cancer Moonshot initiatives are supporting a greater emphasis on health equity through targeted outreach to historically underserved communities and programs that actively work to reduce barriers to our best-in-class cancer care.   

Learn more about cancer care and VA  

To learn more about cancer care at VA, visit cancer.va.gov or visit My HealtheVet to learn tips and tools to help you partner with your health care team, so together you may work to manage your health.