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Beyond the Battlefield: Lymphoma Outcomes in Post-9/11 Service Members and Veterans
Steven J Gibson1, Matthew J Rendo2, Helen Ma3,4
1Brooke Army Medical Center, JB San Antonio, Ft Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX 75284, USA.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
|July 15, 2026
Summary
Deployment status did not significantly impact survival for U.S. military service members diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Further research is needed to assess environmental exposures and improve military cancer registries for future veterans.
Area of Science:
- Hematologic Malignancies
- Military Health
- Cancer Epidemiology
Background:
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is the most common blood cancer in U.S. military personnel.
- The influence of deployment and associated exposures on NHL survival is not well understood.
- Military service may involve exposure to environmental hazards and trauma, potentially affecting lymphoma outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between deployment status and survival in U.S. military service members with NHL.
- To explore the impact of deployment characteristics on mortality among deployed personnel.
- To identify potential risk factors and inform future military health strategies.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Defense Health Agency Cancer Registry to identify NHL cases (2001-2022).
- Linked data from the Department of War and National Death Index for deployment history, demographics, and mortality.
- Employed multivariable Cox models to compare survival between deployed and non-deployed service members.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in all-cause, lymphoma-specific, or non-lymphoma mortality were observed between deployed and non-deployed cohorts.
- Deployment location, duration, number of deployments, and occupational category did not influence survival outcomes.
- Observed differences in lymphoma subtypes between groups were more likely due to confounding factors than deployment-related risks.
Conclusions:
- Deployment status does not appear to be a major determinant of survival for military personnel with NHL.
- There is an urgent need for validated exposure assessment tools for military personnel.
- Enhancing military cancer registries and incorporating exposure assessment are crucial for managing future veteran health concerns.
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