Recently, Congressman Neal Dunn, M.D. introduced the Veterans Prostate Cancer Treatment and Research Act. Prostate cancer is the number one cancer diagnosed in the Veterans Health Administration with over 489,000 veterans undergoing treatment.
This new bill will direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national clinical pathway for prostate cancer and a standardized system of care for the treatment of what is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the veterans’ health system.
“After everything our veterans experience while serving, the last thing they should be faced with is yet another enemy – prostate cancer,” Dunn said. “The key to overcoming prostate cancer is early detection. Veterans deserve a system that streamlines the pathway from early detection to successful treatment. This bill is a solid first-step forward to save fellow veterans lives and defeat this deadly adversary.”
Along with Dr. Dunn, Congressman Joe Cunningham is the lead Democrat co-sponsor of the legislation.
“Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis among veterans, and more prevalent among African American veterans than anyone else – one of the many health disparities that African Americans face,” Cunningham said. “This bipartisan legislation will go a long way toward improving health care outcomes for our veterans by standardizing treatment options and expanding access to cutting-edge clinical trials.”
It has been shown that veterans who have been in contact with toxins, such as Agent Orange, are at higher risk for prostate cancer. The establishment of a clinical pathway will standardize treatment options and result in improved outcomes for these patients. This bill will also create a real-time registry to track patient progress and will allow patients greater access to cutting edge clinical trials.
“The AUA is proud to support this important piece of legislation, which we believe will standardize treatment options and result in improved outcomes for prostate cancer patients. The VHA – as a national system for healthcare delivery – is perfectly positioned to create this program,” said AUA President Dr. John H. Lynch.