Honoring Service, Expanding Access: Supporting Veterans Through Cancer Care

Honoring Service, Expanding Access: Supporting Veterans Through Cancer Care

Each Veterans Day, we pause to recognize the courage, sacrifice and dedication of those who have served our country. At Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS), honoring veterans also means understanding and addressing the unique healthcare challenges many face, including cancer risk and access to specialized treatment.

Military service can expose veterans to environmental and occupational hazards that may increase the risk of developing certain cancers later in life. According to the National Cancer Institute, veterans face a 20% to 40% higher risk of cancer than the general population, with an estimated 56,000 new cancer diagnoses each year. As awareness of these risks continues to grow, so does the importance of ensuring veterans can access timely, high-quality cancer care close to home.

One of the significant challenges for many veterans is access to specialty care. While Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers provide essential services, some veterans must travel long distances or face extended wait times to receive specialized oncology treatment. The VA MISSION Act has helped expand options for veterans, allowing eligible individuals to receive care closer to home when certain criteria are met.

“Many veterans don’t realize they have options for receiving cancer care in their local communities,” said Jessica Schmit, MD. “Navigating the system can be complex, and that’s where we help. Our team works closely with veterans to ensure they understand the benefits available to them and can access the care they’re entitled to receive.”

To better serve those who have served our country, FCS developed ValorCare, a veteran-focused care model designed to reduce barriers and improve the cancer care experience. Through ValorCare, veterans have access to dedicated navigation support, expedited scheduling for their initial visit, staff trained in military culture and veteran-specific resources, screening for social determinants of health, and connections to community organizations and support services. The program is designed to help veterans receive the care they need with greater ease and coordination.

Recognizing the critical role of research in advancing cancer treatment, FCS is also expanding opportunities for veteran participation in clinical trials. FCS offers more than 180 clinical trials at 29 clinics statewide, including studies focused on the cancers that most commonly affect veterans, such as prostate, lung, bladder, colorectal and breast cancers. By bringing innovative research opportunities closer to where veterans live, FCS helps ensure that more patients have access to tomorrow’s treatments today.

These initiatives are part of FCS’ broader integrated approach to cancer care, which combines rapid access to specialists, virtual care, personalized medicine, innovative programs and robust clinical research. Together, these efforts are designed to meet the urgent needs of veterans while advancing scalable models for the future of community oncology.

Through ValorCare, clinical trial access, patient navigation support and a statewide network of cancer experts, FCS is committed to helping veterans overcome barriers to care. By bringing advanced treatments, leading clinical expertise and compassionate support closer to home, FCS empowers veterans to focus on what matters most: their health, well-being and quality of life.

This Veterans Day, FCS proudly honors all who have served and remains dedicated to ensuring veterans across Florida have access to the exceptional cancer care they deserve.