Mystery of soaring breast cancer rates among women AND men in U.S. armed forces... but government STILL won't cover treatment



Warrior: 'The dog tags and camouflage are real. I am still active duty,' said Barbie, as she posed for the Scar Project to raise awareness about breast cancer

A startling percentage of servicemembers have been diagnosed with breast cancer and experts have not been able to determine why.



Historically, rates of cancer among military members have been relatively low compared to the rest of the population, especially for diseases like lung, cervical and colorectal cancers.



But for some reason, more and more men and women in the armed forces have been diagnosed with breast cancer at young ages, as female soldiers are 20 to 40 per cent more likely to get the disease.

'Military people in general, and in some cases very specifically, are at a significantly greater risk for contracting breast cancer,' Dr Richard Clapp, a top cancer expert at Boston University, to the Marine Corps Times.

Dr Clapp works for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on military breast cancer issues.

He said that a host of reasons contribute to the alarming statistics, including a higher use of birth control, which is linked to breast cancer.

In a 2009 study, doctors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center found that higher rates of the disease could be linked to exposure to dangerous chemicals.

'Military women are also more likely to be engaged in industrial jobs than females in the general population and hence potentially more likely to be exposed to chemicals that may be related to breast cancer,' the report, which was obtained by the Military Corps Times.

Mystery: A startling percentage of servicemembers have been diagnosed with breast cancer and experts have not been able to determine why. Several men at Camp Lejeune, pictured, have been diagnosed

Trend: Historically, rates of cancer among military members have been relatively low compared to the rest of the population, especially for diseases like lung, cervical and colorectal cancers. A U.S. Marine communications specialist is pictured using a radiotelephone during a training exercise at Camp Lejeune. More than 80 men at the camp have been diagnosed

Rep Leonard L. Boswell, D-Iowa, has caused for a formal investigation of the statistics after one of his staffers told him a devastating story.



An Iraq veteran, the staffer told Rep Boswell that of six of 70 women deployed on his tour developed breast cancer within five-years of returning home. Six more developed lumps in their breasts.



He has urged the Pentagon to study whether or not service members are routinely exposed to toxins that may induce the disease.



Currently, breast cancer is not considered a service-connected disability and veterans are not given benefits to treat it. Rep Boswell hopes an investigation to the cause of the increased rate will get them proper coverage.



Dangerous: Barbie said breast cancer is not properly addressed in the military. 'In my experience, it's not something that's often paid particular attention to due to the overwhelming male population,' she said

The numbers show how devastating the disease is: just as many women have been wounded in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan as have been diagnosed with breast cancer: 800.



One servicewoman who has battled breast cancer has spoken about her ordeal and posed for photographs that show her scars to raise awareness.

Standing with her hand over her face and dog tags dangling in front of her chest, 'Barbie' shares her story.



'The dog tags and camouflage are real. I am still active duty,' she said for The Scar Project portrait.



'I have been in for over 17 years and 2 combat deployments. In February 2011, I was diagnosed with Stage IIIB Breast Cancer, four months after being deployed to Afghanistan.'



Speaking to the Marine Corps Times , Barbie said breast cancer is not properly addressed in the military.



Cause for Concern: Dr Richard Clapp, left, said that a host of reasons contribute to the alarming statistics, including a higher use of birth control, which is linked to breast cancer



'In my experience, it’s not something that’s often paid particular attention to due to the overwhelming male population,' she said.



But it's not just women getting diagnosed.



At North Carolina's Camp Lejeune, scientists are trying to studying how contaminated water lead to the diagnosis of dozens of men diagnosed with breast cancer between 1957-1987.



Male breast cancer is extremely rare and usually only affects patients older than 70. More than 80 men have been diagnosed.

President Barack Obama only just signed the The Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012, which provided healthcare and benefits to the veterans and their families exposed to the contamination.