Veterans are at risk for developing lung cancer at more than twice the national average—but at Asheville VA, early detection and timely, personalized treatment are transforming outcomes.
A hybrid operating room at the medical center allows VA doctors to find early-stage lung cancers and remove them in a minimally invasive procedure. This cuts time between assessment, testing and treatment—and when it comes to cancer, time is everything.
“Veterans have unique exposures—burn pits, Agent Orange, asbestos—on top of smoking history,” said Dr. Carsten Schroeder, an Asheville VA thoracic surgeon. “That adds up to a significantly higher risk of lung cancer than the general public.”
‘Don’t slouch on it’
Army Veteran Robert Young spent time in Haiti, Kuwait and Iraq, where he saw burning oil wells, burn pits and other kinds of smoke and dust.
“I had a checkup about a year ago, and they identified something they said they needed to keep an eye on,” said Young. “When I got a checkup this year, they said it had doubled in size.”
After talking with his wife and the doctor, Young decided to not wait to get the growth removed.
His advice for his fellow Veterans: “Don’t ever hesitate, don’t slouch on it. Get it checked out.”
Nationwide, only about 25% of eligible people get screened for lung cancer. Patients move around a lot, and many don’t maintain consistent primary care that can help them track their risks.
Thanks to the VA health system, at-risk Veterans are automatically flagged for screening.
“Their smoking history and age are already in the computer,” explained Schroeder. “So, during an annual visit, the nurse or doctor gets a prompt: this patient is due for lung cancer screening.”
Every millimeter counts
In the Hybrid OR, doctors can locate and remove tiny lung tumors, even ones under one centimeter in a single procedure.
“Every millimeter counts,” Schroeder said. “Once that nodule grows from 1 to 2 to 3 centimeters, the survival rate drops significantly, from 92% down to 75%.”
Schroeder says the VA system gives him the flexibility to act fast and decided on a treatment plan that is best for the Veteran.
One Veteran who can attest to that is Navy Veteran Gary Book, who knew he was at increased risk because of exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam and smoking when he was younger. When he enrolled in VA health care, one of his first requests was to get another lung screening.
When tests revealed a growth, Book met with Dr. Schroeder and decided to have it removed. Now more than five years later, Book says he is still cancer free. He credits VA with saving his life.
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The best VA anywhere.
They call me every year to get my lungs looked at, because I smoked for 26 years. Wonderful Doctors, Nurses and other staff. The hospital is always clean and the time I walk in the door someone always say “how are you” ? Im good, very good thank you.
I am a 63 yo female disabled veteran. I smoked for 30 years but quit 14 years ago. I know of working in Fitzsimons Medical center, which had asbestos tiles hanging in basement where we stored our record fish. We also had many damaged ceiling tiles in bad condition throughout the hospital. I was diagnosed with a well circumscribed right upper lobe noncalcified ovoid nodule that was 4.5mm perifireal lung. Over 10 years it has grown to 9mm and has changed slightly. My doctor tells me it is probably benign. I am extremely stressed 24/7. Please give me advice.
How do you check?
Is this true for national guard from the 1970-1980’s too. Are they eligible for any benefits?
I was blessed when my jobs doctor requested that I get a chest x-ray, so I went to the VA and got the x-ray and they found a small nodule that was cancer, I had surgery a few weeks later, that was 8 years ago and I am still cancer free thank God.
Trying to get a return phone call, or appointment is almost impossible
If you’ve signed up for VA Health Care, you can email the facility and always get a response (in NC, Hickory)
At the Asheville VA ?
I have never waited over 3 days for my call back to set the appointment. Make sure your doctor requested for you to be seen at the clinic you need. If you are in primary one. We have been waiting on our replacement doctor to learn the system. Its been over a year now since my last visit to primary one.
Early detection is the BEST METHOD FOR DETECTING AND TREATING Lung Cancer patients. I’m not completely sure Syracuse VA Hospital has the advanced clinical test/trials that Asheville, VA. has and is currently doing.
Great message— my PCF at Syracuse VA HOSPITAL says once a year is enough even though some images show detailed annomonies . I am a Combat Veteran stationed in Vietnam 1968-1969 during the TET OFFENSIVE when operation Ranch Hand -AGENT ORANGE was being heavily used to combat VC AND N. Regulars aggression to take over many of the larger cities. My AO was only 40klicks north of Saigon – a major city that front and center for major take over by the Vietnam enemy forces. I was also ordered to burn toxic human waste. What would be your thoughts for me going forward?
Cut the political crap. Stick with the medical. Sounds like you’ve got a handle on things ” PCF at Syracuse VA HOSPITAL says once a year is enough even though some images show detailed anomalies .”
Gosh, my outside provider referred this over-65, exsmoker for CT Lung Scan four years before Battle Creek VAMC got around to offering that dx imaging. Guarranteed veterans died because of the delay.
Well, Medicare suggested old smokers should get (and would pay for) a CT Scan all along. So I copied that to the VA and had one done ASAP. Didn’t cost me dime one. I use the VA as my primary HC Provider period!
good info thanks for sharing
Early screening found my lung cancer twice and treated immediately by doctors from a local cancer center at my VA center. Between the professionalism of the staff at the Cincinnati Veterans Medical Center and the doctors from the University of Cincinnati my treatment was 5 Star.