VA Preventive Measures Help Women Veterans Reduce Risk of Cervical Cancer

WASHINGTON (February 1, 2024) – As diagnosed cancer cases have increased in recent years, cervical cancer has also increased as the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

VA also says it is most frequently diagnosed in women age 35 to 44, and needed treatment often disrupts lives and introduces new challenges. However, VA’s National TeleOncology Breast and Gynecologic System of Excellence program is available for women facing cervical cancer.

The program, currently available at 82 VA facilities, provides personalized support and resources to Veterans enrolled in the program whether they receive care through VA or through a Community Care Network (CCN) provider.

Dr. Haley Moss is director of the program, also serving as a gynecologic oncologist to help women Veterans reduce the risk of cancer.

“Cervical cancer is in most cases a completely preventable cancer,” Moss says. “If it is diagnosed early enough, it is very preventable with surgery alone,” she adds.

Through the VA program, staff uses telehealth care to connect enrolled Veterans with oncologists and other cancer specialists anywhere in the nation. One primary advantage of the telehealth care connection is that it enables Veterans to meet with a VA provider or receive a second opinion, if desired. Once enrolled, nurse navigators contact program enrollees to learn more details and share relevant resources to each enrollee diagnosed with cervical cancer.

More information is available in the recent VA News item "VA preventive measures to reduce the risk of cervical cancer."