• Leann A Lovejoy, Craig D Shriver, and Rachel E Ellsworth.
• Clinical Breast Care Project, Chan Soon-Shiong Institute for Molecular Medicine at Windber, Windber, PA 15963, USA.
• Mil Med. 2024 Jan 23; 189 (1-2): e58e65e58-e65.

IntroductionAs members of the military, all active duty service members (ADS) must meet physical fitness requirements and are provided with equal-access healthcare through the DoD. In addition, 92% of ADS are ≤40 years of age. Together, these characteristics suggest that ADS represent a healthy population that may have a low risk of cancer. Each year, however, >800 ADS are diagnosed with cancer and the resulting in time off for treatment, reassignment, or medical retirement may significantly impact force readiness.Material And MethodsRelevant literature was identified by searching the PubMed database using search terms ACTIVE DUTY and CANCER. Only articles written in English were included.ResultsMelanoma is the most common cancer in ADS, while testicular cancer is the most common cancer in males and breast cancer is the most common in females. Cancer incidence patterns in ADS differ from those in the general U.S. population and from military veterans. Tumor etiology in ADS may be influenced by military-enriched exposures such as prolonged use of oral contraceptives, suboptimal use of sunscreen, exposure to volatile organic compounds, or germline predisposition/family history.ConclusionsThe etiology of cancer within ADS remains largely unknown. A number of new research programs may provide the means to improve understanding of the etiology of cancer in ADS. Together, these efforts will improve prevention, early detection, and clinical management, thus improving the outcomes of ADS and preserving force readiness.© The Association of Military Surgeons of the United States 2022. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

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