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For Your Benefit
For and about Hawaii's military
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VA offers breast cancer advice
Question: October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Does the VA do anything to promote this type of cancer awareness?
Answer: The chance that a woman will be diagnosed with breast cancer over her lifetime is one in eight. Mammograms every year are encouraged for women ages 40 to 70, especially for high-risk women who have had a first-degree relative diagnosed with breast cancer.
While the causes of breast cancer are unknown, here are some tips that may help cut the risk of developing the disease:
» Don't smoke, exercise regularly, and maintain a healthy weight.
» Eat fresh fruits and vegetables daily.
» Conduct self-breast examinations monthly.
» Reduce the negative stress in your life.
The VA has classes open to veterans and their spouses. Call 433-7676 for more information.
Q: Can a language other than English be used for inscriptions on VA headstones and markers?
A: Inscriptions, such as terms of endearment, are permitted on VA headstones in a language other than English. Those inscriptions must be based on the Latin alphabet and be compatible with VA's mission to honor deceased veterans. Standard inscription items -- the veteran's name, date of birth, date of death and military information -- must be in English. These rules apply to headstones in VA-run national cemeteries and to headstones and markers provided by VA for use in other cemeteries.
For more information, contact the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at 532-3720.
If you have questions about your benefits as a veteran, call Fred Ballard at the Veterans Affairs at 433-0049 or visit the VA Web site at
www.va.gov/hawaii or the Star-Bulletin at 529-4747.
