Local veterans can get cancer test at no cost
Those who served “boots on the ground” in the Vietnam War, Gulf War and Global War on Terrorism may be eligible for the Galleri screening.
Veteran Steve Petty, director of the Vet Resource Center. [File photo by Bruce Ackerman]
Veterans exposed to life threatening carcinogens from sources such as Agent Orange and burn pits can now get the $950 Galleri blood test, which detects more than 50 types of cancer, for free at the Vet Resource Center in Ocala.
The website for the parent company of the Galleri blood test, GRAIL, Inc. Healthcare, in Menlo Park, California, states that the “Galleri test can be taken annually as a simple blood test and screens for a ‘fingerprint’ of many of the deadliest cancers before they become symptomatic…”
Veteran Bob Levenson, CEO of the Vet Resource Center. [File photo by Bruce Ackerman]
Providing the Galleri blood test locally through the VRC was made possible by a $300,000 grant from the Marion County Hospital District and a $50,000 Marion County Community Development Block Grant.
Marion County commissioner Craig Curry, liaison with local veterans organizations, was involved in connecting VRC with multiple funding sources and Marion County Community Services was instrumental in helping VRC secure county funding for administering the Galleri blood test.
Stacie Causey, public relations manager for the Marion County Board of County Commissioners, stated that at least one test administered by VRC revealed results that indicated additional medical attention was needed for the person tested.
Veteran Todd Belknap, treasurer and director of the Vet Resource Center. [File photo by Bruce Ackerman]
The VRC is offering the blood test, which screens for cancers including in the lung, liver and colon, at no cost to veterans over 21 who served “boots on the ground” in the Vietnam War, Gulf War and Global War on Terrorism.
The VRC has been providing the Galleri blood test for several weeks by using an outside laboratory but by the latter part of February will have techs on hand to administer the test at their location.
The article “February is National Cancer Prevention Awareness Month” posted on the Veterans Administration website va.gov states that thousands of cases of cancer are diagnosed annually by the VA healthcare system.
“Approximately 56,000 veterans are diagnosed with cancer every year in the VA system. For particular cancers diagnosed within VA, approximately 10,000 cases of prostate cancer, 7,700 cases of lung cancer, and 3,200 cases of bladder cancer are diagnosed each year in veterans,” the site states.
The GRAIL website posts the following: “The Galleri test does not detect a signal for all cancers and not all cancers can be detected in the blood. False positive and false negative results do occur. The Galleri test should be used in addition to healthcare provider recommended screening tests.”
VRC, an information and education resource for all veterans, is located in the Marion County Veterans Resource Center at 2730 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala.
VRC was formed in 2023 by volunteers retired U.S. Army captain Steve Petty, director, and his wife, Joan Petty, secretary and director; U.S. Marine Corps veteran Bob Levenson, CEO, and his wife Grace Dunlevy, director; and USMC veteran Todd Belknap, CIO, treasurer and director.
The VRC is a 501(c)(3) with a volunteer board of directors that includes a number of veterans and Curt Bromund, CEO of the Marion County Hospital District.
The VRC’s mission statement notes that the organization strives to be a “one stop shop”
with information on resources for veterans about Agent Orange, radiation, overall physical and mental health, employment, housing service dogs, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries and other issues.
Meanwhile, the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT), passed in 2022, “expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange and other toxic substances. This law helps us provide generations of Veterans—and their survivors —with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve,” according to va.gov.
PACT includes the following benefits:
▪ Expands and extends eligibility for VA health care for Veterans with toxic exposures and Veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War, and post-9/11 eras
▪ Adds 20+ more presumptive conditions for burn pits, Agent Orange and other toxic exposures
▪ Adds more presumptive-exposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation
▪ Requires VA to provide a toxic exposure screening to every veteran enrolled in VA health care
▪ Helps improve research, staff education and treatment related to toxic exposures.
Mary (Katie) Butler, public affairs specialist, Office of Communications & Outreach, VA North Florida/South Georgia Health Care Veterans Affairs, stated in an email that the Galleri test is being used as part of a research study at certain VA facilities and other cancer tests are also available.
“The North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System does not offer the Galleri test. The test is part of the protocol for a multi-site VA research study. Miami and Tampa are the VA facilities within VISN 8 participating in this research study. While NF/SGVHS does not offer the Galleri test, we offer similar testing for clinical purposes as part of our National Precision Oncology Program (NPOP),” Butler wrote.
The NPOP program, using tumor molecular testing, provides “precision oncology to predict more accurately which cancer treatment strategies will work best for each Veteran. This personalized approach, accomplished through NPOP, can ultimately lead to improved outcomes and quality of life,” va.gov states.
The VA website indicates 126 VA facilities are participating in NPOP and 18,000 veterans are receiving the care.
Berny Medina, 38, served in the U.S. Army from 2005 to 2018, including stints with special operations when he worked with SEALS and Rangers. He found taking the Galleri blood test to be a great relief.
He said his deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, the Philippines and Africa exposed him to harmful toxins from burn pits and exposure to radiation.
“It’s the new Agent Orange,” Medina said of the toxins.
When Medina returned home after seeing “horrible” things and dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, a traumatic brain injury and the loss of friends was “too much
Medina, who has been homeless and has attempted suicide three times, said worrying about the effects of the toxins and radiation added another layer.
He decided to get the Galleri cancer screening test but had to travel to Tampa where it was then offered by the VA.
Getting a clean bill of health as far as the cancer screening gave him peace of mind.
“I feel God saved me to help fellow veterans,” said Medina, who is chief of operations with Marion County Veterans Helping Veterans.
To learn more, go to vetresourcecenter.com or call (352) 843-8212.
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