Could Your Cancer Be Service-Related?

If you served in a technical trade that involved regular use of chemicals or were deployed in Afghanistan and exposed to burn pits, your cancer could be linked to your military service. Veterans with Cancer Inc. encourages veterans who may have been affected by such exposures to consider filing a claim with Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC).

    

Veterans with Cancer Inc. has a Dual Mission

  

Awareness  

To inform veterans  who were exposed to environmental hazards that their cancer may be service related; and,

  

Advocacy

To advocate for change at Veteran’s Affairs Canada (VAC) to level the playing field for veterans with cancer.

     

Veterans with Cancer Inc. is an incorporated not-for-profit organization dedicated to advocating for veterans affected by cancer. The organization’s mission is twofold: to raise awareness about the connection between cancer and exposure to toxic chemicals while in military service, and to advocate on behalf of all veterans with cancer to ensure that they receive the support and benefits they deserve.

     

     

Chemical Exposure: A Hidden Injury
Unlike physical injuries sustained during deployment, exposure to carcinogenic chemicals may not show symptoms immediately. A veteran who was exposed to toxic substances while in uniform might not experience the effects of that exposure until many years later. In some cases, the link between cancer and military service is not immediately obvious, especially when the onset of cancer occurs long after the exposure.

Veterans who sustained a physical injury, such as a back injury from a fall, can usually trace the cause of their injury directly to a specific event. However, with chemical exposure, the long delay between exposure and the appearance of cancer often obscures the connection to military service. Moreover, because chemical-related injuries have many equivalents in the civilian population, it can be harder for veterans to recognize that their cancer may have been caused by the same chemicals they were exposed to while in the military.

Legal Framework for Service-Related Cancer Claims
Under Veterans Well-Being Regulation para 50(g), veterans who were exposed to environmental hazards during their service are entitled to have their cancer presumed to be service-related, unless there is clear evidence to the contrary. This regulation is designed to make it easier for veterans with cancer to file claims with VAC, but many veterans are unaware of this provision and fail to make a claim because they mistakenly believe that the long gap between exposure and diagnosis disqualifies them.

We urge veterans and their families to take a closer look at whether they might have been exposed to hazardous chemicals during their military careers. If cancer has been diagnosed, consider whether the exposure occurred while in service, as this could entitle you to benefits from Veterans Affairs Canada.

How You Can Help?
Veterans with Cancer Inc. asks for your help in spreading awareness about this issue. If you know a veteran who has been diagnosed with cancer, encourage them to consider whether they were exposed to carcinogens during their service. By sharing this information, you can help ensure that veterans receive the support and recognition they deserve. For specific concerns leave a message at: (226) 664-1672 and we will return your call.
To date we have realized some success in this area. We have have met with the Director General for Service Delivery and anticipate meeting with the Director General for Policy in the near future. We have also briefed the members of the Veterans Review and Appeal Board (VRAB) at their annual training session in Charlottetown this year and have partnered with the National Council of Veterans Associations aimed at encouraging legislative change to improve the process for veterans who developed cancer as a result of their exposure to chemicals during their service.  

Please review the many documents and procedures you will find on this site. We are collecting data on veterans' cancers and exposure. Please take a minute to tell us about your cancer and exposure (Click Here). Your name and email are optional. We just need your type of cancer and the chemicals you were exposed to during your service. Also your trade or classification would be helpful.