The William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283) Section 750,  mandated a “Study on the Incidence of Cancer Diagnosis and Mortality among Military Aviators and Aviation Support Personnel,” to examine the rate of cancer diagnosis and mortality among military fixed wing aviators (aircrew) and aviation support personnel (ground crew). The Defense Health Agency Armed Forces Health Surveillance Division conducted this study between July of 2021 and April of 2022.

Key Findings

The Phase 1 study explored cancer rates and mortality for all cancers and 12 site-specific cancers selected by high-interest veteran advocacy groups or prior studies that demonstrated increased rates in military populations. The site-specific cancers were:

• Colon and rectum
• Pancreatic
• Melanoma
• Prostate
• Testicular
• Urinary bladder
• Kidney and renal pelvis
• Brain and nervous system
• Thyroid
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Female breast
• Lung and bronchus

This study is the first time that all site-specific cancers were evaluated in a large population of military ground crew personnel. 

The finding that aircrew members had higher melanoma and prostate cancer rates is similar to findings from previous studies. However, the finding of a higher rate of thyroid cancer hasn't been previously described. 

• The finding of lower mortality rates in aircrew and ground crew compared to the U.S. population is similar to the findings of other similar studies. 
• The military study population was relatively young compared to the U.S. population, and military service members generally have better access to health care including cancer screening services. The findings may have differed if additional, older, former service members had been included in the study since cancer risk and mortality rates increase with age.