As Breast Cancer Awareness Month drew to a close in October 2025, two very different stories unfolded across the United States—one marked by celebration and support, the other by concern and controversy. In Falls Church, Virginia, survivors gathered for a day of pampering and solidarity at the annual Epic Beauty Day of Hope Glam and Pamper Event, while thousands of miles away, a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) policy change left male veterans with breast cancer facing new hurdles in accessing care.
Lizeth Alvarado, the driving force behind the Epic Beauty event, welcomed women who had survived breast cancer to a day designed to uplift and honor them. As reported by DC News Now, the event was a heartfelt gesture to recognize the resilience of women who had endured not only the physical toll of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery—including mastectomies—but also the emotional and social challenges that come with a cancer diagnosis. "I want it to be an event where they just come and relax and feel pampered," Alvarado explained. "They don’t have to do anything, and they don’t have to pay for anything, just enjoy a time where you are truly celebrated and catered to."
Survivors were treated to professional makeup sessions, glamor shots, and a chance to connect with others who understood the unique journey of recovery. For Crystal Bozeman, owner of Shazier Enterprises LLC and a 15-year cancer survivor, the event has become a cherished annual tradition. "There are other survivors, and we are helping them feel good about themselves," Bozeman said. "You build relationships and you bring others to the event and say this is for us." Alvarado acknowledged the challenge of organizing such an event but emphasized the worth of seeing smiles, hugs, and even tears of happiness. She’s already looking forward to next year’s gathering, continuing her mission to provide a safe, celebratory space for survivors.
While survivors in Virginia found community and affirmation, a storm was brewing over at the VA. On November 3, 2025, ProPublica reported that the VA had issued a memo implementing a Trump administration order titled "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government." Effective September 30, the VA would no longer presume that male breast cancer in veterans was connected to their military service—a reversal of the Biden-era Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, which had expanded coverage for diseases linked to toxic exposure.
For approximately 100 male veterans newly diagnosed with breast cancer each year, this change means a significantly higher burden: they must now prove their cancer is service-connected to qualify for coverage. Previously, the PACT Act—passed by a bipartisan Congress three years ago—had made it much easier for veterans exposed to toxic substances to access health care and benefits by presuming certain diseases, including male breast cancer, were related to military service. More than 200,000 veterans have benefited from these presumptive conditions, according to ProPublica.
Dr. Anita Aggarwal, a recently retired VA oncologist who spent years researching and treating breast cancer, told ProPublica, "Cancer in male veterans should be covered. These people have put their lives at risk for us." She emphasized that male and female breast tissue are similar and that the treatment protocols are the same. Research, she noted, has also linked breast cancer to toxic exposures—a risk not uncommon among veterans.
The new policy, however, draws a sharp distinction. VA press secretary Pete Kasperowicz confirmed the change, stating, "As of Sept. 30, the department no longer presumes service connection for male breast cancer." Veterans who had previously qualified for coverage can keep it, but new cases must meet the tougher standard. The Trump administration’s memo argued that the Biden administration had "falsely classified male breasts as reproductive organs" in order to expand coverage under the PACT Act.
For veterans like Jack Gelman, an 80-year-old former Navy fighter pilot whose breast cancer recently returned, the policy shift is both baffling and infuriating. "I’m astonished," Gelman told ProPublica. "This is really nickel and diming a very small group of people who should be taken care of." Kirby Lewis, another veteran diagnosed more than a decade ago and now living with Stage 4 cancer, echoed the sentiment: "If exposure occurs, they should take care of those people." Lewis also raised concerns about the stigma attached to male breast cancer, commenting, "There’s this machinismo aspect that they don’t want to accept that we have breasts, but we do. It’s very upsetting."
Rosie Torres, a prominent advocate for the PACT Act, accused the administration of putting politics above the well-being of veterans. "It shouldn’t matter who signed the bill," she told ProPublica. "If you don’t like the ‘reproductive’ word, do it under another category. Don’t remove it. These are peoples’ lives."
Despite assurances from VA spokesperson Kasperowicz that veterans can still receive coverage if they can prove a service connection, experts and advocates warn that the process is often arduous and can lead to delays or denials of care. "The department grants disability benefits compensation claims for male Veterans with breast cancer on an individual basis and will continue to do so," Kasperowicz stated, encouraging veterans to file claims if they believe their illness is tied to military service.
The policy change comes amid broader challenges at the VA, including staff departures and declining morale. Secretary Doug Collins has insisted that "veterans benefits aren’t getting cut," claiming that services are actually improving. Yet, some lawmakers and advocates worry that the rollback of presumptive coverage for male breast cancer could signal further reductions. In 2025, House Republicans passed a bill proposing cuts to the PACT Act fund, citing concerns about oversight, though it has not passed the Senate. Meanwhile, Project 2025—a conservative initiative to reshape federal policy—has called for "target[ing] significant cost savings from revising disability rating awards." While the Trump administration has not yet enacted broader cuts, the VA has declined to comment on whether additional changes are planned.
These two stories—one of support and celebration, the other of policy and protest—underscore the complex landscape facing breast cancer survivors in America. For women in Falls Church, community events like Epic Beauty offer a rare moment to reclaim confidence and joy. For male veterans, the path to care has become more uncertain, raising tough questions about how the country honors those who have served and suffered.
As the debate over veterans’ benefits continues, survivors and advocates alike are left to navigate a system where compassion and bureaucracy often collide, and where the fight for recognition and support remains as urgent as ever.
