I’m a 25 year USAF veteran. I was a Fighter Aircraft Crew Chief. Been retired since 2018. Was diagnosed with stage 2A melanoma this year. This last Feb the SecDef signed a letter that stated my career field and pilots/aircrew are drastically more at risk for multiple cancers including melanoma. The sad part is that no VA doc or base doc ever saw or recognized the “ugly duckling” on my back. It was the first visit to a VA community care chiropractor that said something. Thank god she did, because it saved my life. At no time during my service was skin cancer screened for or even briefed. My surgical oncologist asked me to please get the base on board with doing skin checks, as she has treated a ton of veterans.
I’m a 25 year USAF veteran. I was a Fighter Aircraft Crew Chief. Been retired since 2018. Was diagnosed with stage 2A melanoma this year. This last Feb the SecDef signed a letter that stated my career field and pilots/aircrew are drastically more at risk for multiple cancers including melanoma. The sad part is that no VA doc or base doc ever saw or recognized the “ugly duckling” on my back. It was the first visit to a VA community care chiropractor that said something. Thank god she did, because it saved my life. At no time during my service was skin cancer screened for or even briefed. My surgical oncologist asked me to please get the base on board with doing skin checks, as she has treated a ton of veterans.