OUR MISSION:
COMBAT BOOTS & CANCER
Connecting Military-Affiliated Cancer Patients and their Families to the Resources They Need
We provide support to servicemembers, veterans, and military families facing a cancer diagnosis. In addition, we educate communities about the unique challenges that military affiliated families face while affected by cancer.
FACTS & FIGURES
50,000
New Cancer Diagnoses
Annually in Veterans
Nearly 50,000 cases of cancer are reported annually in the VA Central Cancer Registry. In 2010, the three most frequently diagnosed cancers in the VA health care system were prostate, lung/bronchus, and colon/rectum cancer according to a 2017 study. This list is similar to cancers observed in American men.
15,000
Veterans Diagnosed With
Prostate Cancer Annually
Every year, approximately 15,000 Veterans are diagnosed with prostate cancer. The “Gleason score” is a staging system for prostate cancer developed in the 1960s by Dr. Donald Gleason at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. Today, it is used almost universally to predict the aggressiveness of prostate cancer.
7,700
Veterans Diagnosed With
Lung Cancer Annually
Every year, VA diagnoses 7,700 Veterans with lung cancer. Veterans at risk of developing lung cancer include those with a history of smoking, who are older, and who have been exposed to environmental hazards during or after military service.
WE'RE HERE FOR YOU
Get military specific support during you or your family’s cancer experience.
DONATE TODAY
We are in the process of building and establishing our community in all major military medical treatment facilities and VAs across the United States. Due to COVID-19, we are mostly virtual. Thank you for your patience, understanding, and continued support.
Combat Boots & Cancer staff are in the works of developing a schedule for a pilot program that consists of an online support group chat sessions via Zoom. We will be separating groups for online sessions as follows:
Patients and survivors: Servicemembers & Veterans
Patients and survivors: Spouses
Patients and survivors: Military kids
Caregivers: Servicemembers & Veterans
Caregivers: Spouses
Military kids coping with their parent’s or grandparent’s cancer diagnosis
Financial Assistance
CB&C is currently developing a program for financial assistance applications and in the mean time will partner with other military affiliated organizations to fundraise for families in need.
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DOD REIGNITES CANCER RESEARCH INITIATIVE TO 'END CANCER AS WE KNOW IT TODAY'
May 3rd, 2022
Defense Department health officials will discuss cancer research efforts with the aim of reducing cancer prevalence and cancer-related deaths across the Military Health System.
“The team at Combat Boots & Cancer helped us get a ton of necessities for cancer treatment through their care packages. They put our minds at ease by answering our many questions about treatment and empowered us to advocate for ourselves in the military medical system to get the care we need.”
Melissa & Joey
MILITARY AND VETERANS
CANCER AND HEALTH LEGISLATION
As of July 2022
H.R. 6094
EXPANDING ACCESS TO FERTILITY CARE FOR SERVICEMEMBERS AND DEPENDENTS ACT
To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the coverage of assisted reproductive technology services under the TRICARE program, and for other purposes.
Represenative Maryilyn Strickland
H.R. 5599
BURN PIT PROGRAM TO REVIEW OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT OF ILER SYSTEM EFFICACY ACT
To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a biennial study on the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record program of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
H.R. 1695
TRICARE RESERVE SELECT IMPROVEMENT ACT
To amend title 10, United States Code, to remove the prohibition on eligibility for TRICARE Reserve Select of members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who are eligible to enroll in a health benefits plan under chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code.
H.R. 4794
MAKING ADVANCES IN MAMMOGRAPHY AND MEDICAL OPTIONS FOR VETERANS ACT
To improve mammography services furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
H.R. 2734
VETERAN FAMILIES HEALTH SERVICES ACT OF 2021
To improve the reproductive assistance provided by the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to certain members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their spouses or partners, and for other purposes.
H.R. 1997
TRICARE FAIRNESS FOR NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE RETIREES ACT
To amend title 10, United States Code, to improve the TRICARE program for certain members of the Retired Reserve of the reserve components.
DISCLAIMER
Combat Boots & Cancer is a leader in military specific cancer organizations and is the only one of its kind. Combat Boots & Cancer additionally is a Minnesota based nonprofit 501c3 organization certified by the federal government. We prioritize partnerships and sponsorships with Minnesota-based and veteran-owned companies.
Your donation goes directly to the operation of CB&C, as well as directly to servicemembers, veterans, and their dependents who are affected by cancer.
In addition, to champion educating the public about the special needs of the military cancer community as well as the unique stresses and unusual challenges they face; organizing a knowledge hub to create a community of support and provide informational resources related to cancer in the military community.
All monetary donations to Combat Boots & Cancer are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by US Tax Law. For more information, please contact your local financial advisor.
GUIDESTAR SEAL
2022 Gold Seal of Transparency