Ahead of Veterans Day, clinicians are urging former service members to get screened for lung cancer even when they feel healthy and have no obvious symptoms.
Dr. Martin Edelman said lung cancer rarely shows early warning signs, and that years of smoking or exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange and asbestos can raise veterans' risk long after they leave active duty.
Local coverage from WBBJ highlighted the message for West Tennessee veterans who may qualify for low-dose CT screening based on age and smoking history under current guidelines.
Doctors stressed that waiting for a lingering cough or unexplained weight loss can mean catching disease later, when treatment options are narrower and recovery is harder.
Veterans Day events across the region often focus on ceremony and gratitude. Health partners said screening conversations belong in that same week of attention to people who served.
Advocates encouraged veterans to talk with VA or primary-care clinicians about eligibility rather than assuming they are too young, too healthy or too far from a VA hospital to need a scan.
Community clinics in Jackson and surrounding counties said they can help veterans schedule referrals if they are unsure where to start after hearing the Veterans Day reminder.
West Tennessee viewers following the story through local television will see updates as officials release more detail.
Community leaders said they will keep watching developments and share verified information rather than rumors circulating on social feeds.
The station will continue covering developments tied to this headline as new confirmed details emerge.
Sources: WBBJ