Marine Corps veteran Matt Howard knew something didn’t feel right, but like many veterans, he put off going to the doctor. Eventually, a trip to the ER revealed stage 4 prostate cancer that had already spread beyond his prostate.

Doctors gave Matt roughly a 30% chance of surviving three to four years.

Five years later, he’s still here.

In this episode of Veteran Cancer Talk, Ashton sits down with Matt to talk about his cancer diagnosis, treatment, the importance of his wife and support system, mental health, finding purpose after diagnosis, and the mindset that helped carry him through some of his hardest days.

Matt calls it being a “cheerful warrior” and making every day matter.

They also discuss military exposures, veteran cancer risk, the importance of earlier detection, and why veterans shouldn’t wait until something is seriously wrong to start paying attention to their health.

This is a conversation about cancer—but even more, it’s about what you choose to do with the days you have.

Veteran Cancer Talk is presented by the Veteran Cancer Network.

Earlier Answers. Stronger Futures.

Cancer treatment can affect more than your health. It can also impact your ability to work, pay bills, and stay financially stable.

In this episode of Veteran Cancer Talk, Casey explains how veterans with active service - connected cancer may qualify for a temporary 100% VA disability evaluation during treatment. He also discusses what may happen when treatment ends, how VA reevaluations work, and why veterans should document lasting side effects and secondary conditions as early as possible.

Topics include:

• Temporary 100% VA disability during active cancer treatment
• Preparing for a future VA reevaluation
• Filing claims for secondary conditions and treatment residuals
• Documenting neuropathy, fatigue, brain fog, kidney damage, sexual dysfunction, and other lasting effects
• Getting help from a Veterans Service Officer or VA-accredited representative

The temporary 100% evaluation may help during treatment, but preparing before treatment ends can make a major difference afterward.

Visit VeteranCancerNetwork.org to access our VA Quick Start Guide and other resources for veterans and families facing cancer.

This episode is based on personal experience and is for general educational purposes only. It is not legal, medical, or financial advice.

Veterans are constantly told that help is available - but finding the right resource can be overwhelming, confusing, and full of dead ends.

In this episode of Veteran Cancer Talk, Ashton sits down with Army veteran Daniel O’Dell, founder and CEO of MFV Resources. After struggling to find support during his own transition out of the military, Daniel created a free national directory to help service members, veterans, and military families find verified resources by state and category.

Daniel explains how MFV Resources evaluates organizations and connects people with support for transportation, housing, employment, entrepreneurship, recreation, serious illness, caregiving, and more.

They also discuss why veterans shouldn’t give up after hitting a dead end and several valuable programs many families may not know exist.

Find resources and learn more at MFVresources.com

The 3 Changes That Could Save Veterans' Lives

What if three simple changes could help improve healthcare for millions of military members and veterans?

In this solo episode of Veteran Cancer Talk, Casey Kroner, Marine Corps veteran, testicular cancer survivor, and co-founder of Veteran Cancer Network, shares the three ideas driving the organization's mission.

In this episode, Casey discusses:

• Why Veteran Cancer Network believes cancer should be looked for earlier in military members and veterans.

• Why every healthcare provider should ask one simple question: "Have you ever served in the military?"

• How better communication between the VA and civilian healthcare, combined with responsible use of AI, could help identify health problems earlier and improve care.

This isn't about blaming the healthcare system. It's about starting a conversation on how we can improve outcomes for those who served.

Whether you're a veteran, active-duty service member, caregiver, healthcare professional, policymaker, or simply someone who wants to see better healthcare, this episode explains the vision behind Veteran Cancer Network and why these conversations matter.

Learn more about Veteran Cancer Network: https://veterancancernetwork.org

If this episode resonates with you, please follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who cares about improving veteran healthcare. Every conversation helps move this mission forward.

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What happens when you know something is wrong with your body—but no one listens?

In this episode of Veteran Cancer Talk, Ashton sits down with Lacey Pritchard, a United States Marine Corps veteran living with Stage IV colon cancer. After years of abdominal pain, back pain, night sweats, and other warning signs, her symptoms were repeatedly explained away. It wasn't until a doctor finally ordered a CT scan that she received the diagnosis that changed her life.

Lacey shares her journey through chemotherapy, multiple surgeries, and the daily realities of living with metastatic cancer. She also talks about the importance of advocating for yourself, why veterans should never ignore symptoms that don't feel right, and how the military culture of "pushing through the pain" can sometimes come at a devastating cost.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• Living with Stage IV colon cancer
• The danger of dismissed symptoms
• Why listening to your body matters
• Cancer screening and early detection
• Military exposures and long-term health
• The emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis, including being "ghosted" by friends
• Finding hope through family, community, and fellow veterans

Lacey's story is honest, emotional, and filled with resilience. Her message is one every veteran—and every family member—needs to hear:

You know your body better than anyone else. If something doesn't feel right, keep advocating until someone listens.

Support the show

Support Veteran Cancer Network

If you believe every veteran deserves earlier answers and better cancer care, please consider supporting our mission.

Your donation helps Veteran Cancer Network continue providing education, advocacy, peer support, and resources for veterans and their families while we work to improve cancer screening and awareness across the veteran community.

❤️ Support our mission: https://givebutter.com/VeteranCancerNetwork

To learn more about Veteran Cancer Network, visit www.veterancancernetwork.org.

If this episode impacted you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear Lacey's story. Together, we can make sure no veteran fights cancer alone.

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Army veteran Thomas Firak thought he was healthy. Then a routine blood test revealed something that couldn't be ignored.

In this episode of Veteran Cancer Talk, Thomas shares his journey from serving in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom to being diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer linked to burn pit exposure and other toxic exposures veterans may face during service.

Thomas opens up about the early warning signs, being anemic for years before diagnosis, undergoing a stem cell transplant, CAR-T therapy, and the physical and emotional challenges that came with treatment. He also discusses the importance of filing VA disability claims, keeping military records, and advocating for your own health.

This conversation is filled with practical advice, hope, and hard-earned lessons for veterans, caregivers, and anyone facing a cancer diagnosis.

Topics discussed:
 • Iraq deployment and burn pit exposure
 • Multiple myeloma symptoms and diagnosis
 • Stem cell transplant experience
 • CAR-T therapy and side effects
 • VA disability claims and the PACT Act
 • Mental health during cancer treatment
 • Support systems for veterans and caregivers
 • Why early detection matters

If you're a veteran experiencing unexplained symptoms, don't ignore them. Early action can make all the difference.

Learn more about Veteran Cancer Network:
 Veteran Cancer Network.org

Support the show

Support Veteran Cancer Network

If you believe every veteran deserves earlier answers and better cancer care, please consider supporting our mission.

Your donation helps Veteran Cancer Network continue providing education, advocacy, peer support, and resources for veterans and their families while we work to improve cancer screening and awareness across the veteran community.

Support our mission: https://givebutter.com/VeteranCancerNetwork

To learn more about Veteran Cancer Network, visit www.veterancancernetwork.org.

If this episode impacted you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear Lacey's story. Together, we can make sure no veteran fights cancer alone.

Send us Fan Mail

Cancer treatment may end, but for many survivors, the challenges continue long after they hear the words "cancer free."

In this episode of Veteran Cancer Talk, Ashton and Casey sit down with men's pelvic health physical therapist Matt Johnston to discuss an often-overlooked part of cancer survivorship. From urinary leakage and pelvic floor dysfunction to sexual health concerns and loss of confidence, many men struggle with side effects they never expected and rarely talk about.

Matt explains why these issues are more common than most people realize, how physical therapy can help, and why no survivor should feel embarrassed to seek support.

The conversation also explores the role of exercise during and after cancer treatment, how movement can improve recovery and quality of life, and why so many men suffer in silence instead of asking for help.

Whether you're a prostate cancer survivor, caregiver, veteran, or healthcare professional, this episode offers practical advice, hope, and a reminder that survivorship is about more than simply beating cancer.

Learn more about Veteran Cancer Network at VeteranCancerNetwork.org.

Support the show

Support Veteran Cancer Network

If you believe every veteran deserves earlier answers and better cancer care, please consider supporting our mission.

Your donation helps Veteran Cancer Network continue providing education, advocacy, peer support, and resources for veterans and their families while we work to improve cancer screening and awareness across the veteran community.

❤️ Support our mission: https://givebutter.com/VeteranCancerNetwork

To learn more about Veteran Cancer Network, visit www.veterancancernetwork.org.

If this episode impacted you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear Lacey's story. Together, we can make sure no veteran fights cancer alone.

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Army veteran Matt Roll spent more than a year searching for answers after persistent pain was repeatedly dismissed as an ulcer. Trusting his instincts ultimately led to a diagnosis of multiple myeloma at just 41 years old.

In this episode, Matt joins Veteran Cancer Talk to discuss his military service, concerns about toxic exposures, the road to diagnosis, undergoing a stem cell transplant, and what life looks like today while living with cancer in remission.

Matt also shares the critical role his wife and family played throughout treatment, the importance of advocating for yourself when something feels wrong, and why veterans need to pay attention to changes in their health.

This is a powerful conversation about resilience, family, survivorship, and the reality many veterans face when navigating cancer.

If something doesn't feel right, keep pushing for answers.

You are your own best advocate.

Support the show

Support Veteran Cancer Network

If you believe every veteran deserves earlier answers and better cancer care, please consider supporting our mission.

Your donation helps Veteran Cancer Network continue providing education, advocacy, peer support, and resources for veterans and their families while we work to improve cancer screening and awareness across the veteran community.

❤️ Support our mission: https://givebutter.com/VeteranCancerNetwork

To learn more about Veteran Cancer Network, visit www.veterancancernetwork.org.

If this episode impacted you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear Lacey's story. Together, we can make sure no veteran fights cancer alone.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of Veteran Cancer Talk, Ashton speaks with Heather King — military brat, breast cancer survivor, doctoral candidate, and founder of Rooted Resilience — about the overlooked issue of toxic exposure and long-term health risks facing military families.

Heather shares her experience growing up in military housing and later being diagnosed with breast cancer at 33 despite living a healthy lifestyle and staying proactive with screenings.

Together, they discuss:

•  Military family toxic exposure 
•  Cancer and environmental exposure concerns 
•  Healthcare gaps affecting military families 
•  Early detection and advocacy 
•  Holistic wellness during treatment 
•  Caregiver support and burnout 
•  Nutrition, inflammation, and recovery 

This is a powerful conversation about the questions healthcare systems still are not asking military families.

Learn more about Veteran Cancer Network:
 www.VeteranCancerNetwork.org

Support the show

Support Veteran Cancer Network

If you believe every veteran deserves earlier answers and better cancer care, please consider supporting our mission.

Your donation helps Veteran Cancer Network continue providing education, advocacy, peer support, and resources for veterans and their families while we work to improve cancer screening and awareness across the veteran community.

❤️ Support our mission: https://givebutter.com/VeteranCancerNetwork

To learn more about Veteran Cancer Network, visit www.veterancancernetwork.org.

If this episode impacted you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear Lacey's story. Together, we can make sure no veteran fights cancer alone.

Send us Fan Mail

What happens when you’re still serving your country… and get diagnosed with stage 4 cancer?

In this episode, we sit down with Ron and Kate Belany — a Navy family navigating life after a stage 4 colon cancer diagnosis.

From early symptoms that were easy to dismiss… to a misdiagnosis… to starting treatment just weeks later — this conversation dives into what that journey really looks like.

We also talk about:

•  The moment everything changed 
•  What treatment is actually like day-to-day 
•  The role of the caregiver (and why it’s just as hard) 
•  Military support systems that helped along the way 
•  The mental battle behind cancer 
•  And how perspective shifts when nothing is guaranteed 

Ron’s mindset is simple: stay positive, stay present, and keep going.

This is a real conversation about resilience, family, and fighting forward.

Support the show

Support Veteran Cancer Network

If you believe every veteran deserves earlier answers and better cancer care, please consider supporting our mission.

Your donation helps Veteran Cancer Network continue providing education, advocacy, peer support, and resources for veterans and their families while we work to improve cancer screening and awareness across the veteran community.

❤️ Support our mission: https://givebutter.com/VeteranCancerNetwork

To learn more about Veteran Cancer Network, visit www.veterancancernetwork.org.

If this episode impacted you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear Lacey's story. Together, we can make sure no veteran fights cancer alone.