US Military Veterans and Cancer

United States military veterans often face unique health challenges. Some veterans might have a higher risk of certain cancers because of their exposure to carcinogens during service.

Here you’ll find vital information about these risks and ways to help lower your own risk. Veterans with cancer can find resources for healthcare services, support groups, and financial help. Your service and sacrifice are deeply valued. Explore these resources and take charge of your health with confidence.

Are veterans more prone to cancer?

Some veterans of the US Armed Forces could be at a higher risk for certain types of cancer, depending on what they were exposed to during their service. The Veterans Administration (VA) estimates that more than 50,000 cancer cases are diagnosed every year in VA health systems.

What puts some veterans at higher risk?

Being exposed to substances, chemicals, and hazards during your military service can lead to health problems. Some of these problems show up soon after you are exposed. But many problems or symptoms don’t show up until months or years later. Some exposures can cause cancer to develop later in life.

Some veterans may have been exposed to:

  • Agent Orange. This herbicide was used in the past by the US military. It is no longer used.
  • Burn Pits. These open-air pits were used by the US military to burn different types of waste.
  • Asbestos. Exposure could have happened from being in buildings with older insulation, at home or work.
  • Radiation. Exposure could have come from low or high-energy radiation sources, like x-rays.
  • PFOA, PFOS, and related PFAS chemicals. These lab-made chemicals are found in certain foods. They are also found in drinking water in some communities and workplaces.

How do I learn about my cancer risk?

If you are a US veteran, talk with your healthcare team about your possible exposures. They can help you figure out your cancer risk and create a care plan, including actions you can take to help prevent cancer or lower your risk.

Your healthcare team may recommend genetic testing for cancer risk. They can also help you understand what cancer screening tests you need, when you should start these tests, and how often you need them.?

Get information about your location or conflict

To get more information based on the location or conflict where you served, healthcare providers can download , a mobile app created by the Veterans Health Administration. You can also download the mobile app and discuss it with your healthcare team.

Next:?Lowering your risk

How can veterans lower cancer risk?

Eating healthy, staying at a healthy weight, not smoking, avoiding alcohol, and getting regular physical activity may help prevent or reduce your risk of cancer.

Talking to your healthcare team can also help you understand your individual risk and make a cancer screening plan.

Information and support

From the 黑料大湿Posts Cancer Society:

More resources to help veterans quit smoking:


  • Support from the National Institutes of Health to help veterans quit smoking.?

  • A mobile app from the VA to help veterans quit smoking.

Questions to ask your healthcare team

  • Are there any known health risks connected to my military service?
  • Are there certain types of cancer I might be at risk for?
  • Can regular screenings prevent any of these cancers?
  • What screenings should I get, and when should I start?
  • Does the VA have benefits to help me and my family? What are the benefits?
  • Where can I find more information about my military exposure and how it may be harmful?

Know your cancer risk

Learn what might affect your personal cancer risk and what you can do to help lower that risk. Take the .

Next: Veterans Living with Cancer

Veterans living with cancer

If you are a military veteran diagnosed with cancer, you can find information here for every part of your cancer journey.

Understanding your diagnosis

During and after treatment

Questions to ask your cancer care team

  • Could I have been exposed to anything harmful during my service that might have caused my cancer?
  • Did my military duties put me at risk for other cancers? Are there any tests I should get to help us find out?
  • Can I get cancer treatment at the VA or do I have to go to other places?
  • Are there any clinical trials for veterans with cancer?
  • What help is available specifically for veterans with cancer?

Are there support groups for veterans with cancer?

Your local VA may have support groups, or a social worker at your cancer center might know of a group you can join. You can also look for local or online groups through the ACS Resource Search or by calling our cancer helpline at 1-800-227-2345.

Am I eligible for disability compensation?

You may be eligible for disability compensation if you were exposed to certain toxic substances during your military service and you are later diagnosed with one of 11 cancers on the VA's military service presumptive conditions list. The VA has more information at .

Caring for your mental health

As a veteran, you’ve seen things that many people have not. Situations you’ve been in and memories you have can cause stress, anxiety, fear, and depression. You may have been through things that caused fear or mental and emotional trauma, such as living through or being injured in a conflict or war.

Learn about mental health and emotional challenges and how to cope when you have cancer in Mental Health and Distress.

When to call your care team

Call your mental health provider or cancer care team if:

  • You have thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself.
  • You don’t think you are safe.
  • You have trouble breathing or feel very restless.

You can also contact the . It’s free and supportive. Call 988, then press 1 or text 838255 to begin a conversation.

Cancer and PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common among veterans. Getting the news that you have cancer can affect your thoughts and trigger your PTSD symptoms. But there are things you can do to cope and overcome it.

Getting information: Getting relevant, trusted, and timely information about your cancer care and treatment is important to help control PTSD triggers.

Asking for help: If a trauma event is not treated, it can develop into PTSD, depression, or other problems. If you have PTSD, talk to your cancer care team for help.

Finding community: Finding a group of people who’ve gone through something similar can help you cope with PTSD, depression, fear, and anxiety. You can ask about support groups through the VA or your community.

Caregivers and PTSD

Caregivers can be affected by PTSD, too. Taking care of a loved one who has cancer, seeing them go through medical care, emergencies, or pain can cause trauma and triggers. It may not happen at the moment you are caring for your loved one. It can happen months or years later.

Learn more in Caregiver Support.

Next: Resources for Veterans

Resources for US veterans

If you're a US veteran with cancer, help is available to support you and your family. The resources listed here offer care-related support and information for health, housing, transportation, and more.?

黑料大湿Posts

My HealtheVet

is an online resource that connects you to your healthcare team and helps you manage your care. Through My HealtheVet, you can easily access the VA pharmacy, contact your care team, manage appointments, view your health records, and more.

Housing

黑料大湿Posts Cancer Society Hope Lodge
Offers a free place to stay that is close to cancer treatment centers for people with cancer and their caregivers.


Provides a free place to stay that is close to a loved one in a hospital or VA medical center.?

Financial support


Provides financial support to members of all branches of the US Armed Forces and their families.

Insurance

Health Insurance for the Military, Veterans, and Their Families
Information from the 黑料大湿Posts Cancer Society to help you navigate insurance and the cost of care.

Transportation

黑料大湿Posts Cancer Society Road To Recovery
Provides free rides to cancer-related medical appointments.


Provides free transportation to and from VA medical facilities for veterans who are sick or injured.


Provides transportation to VA-related appointments for eligible veterans.


Reimburses eligible veterans for travel costs to and from the VA facilities.

Crisis support


Free confidential support to veterans, service members (including National Guard and Reserve), and their family members and friends in crisis. Call 988, then press 1 or text 838255 to start a conversation 24/7.?

* Inclusion on this list does not imply endorsement by the 黑料大湿Posts Cancer Society.

More resources from the 黑料大湿Posts Cancer Society (ACS)

ACS Resource Search
An online tool that helps you and your loved ones find programs to manage your lives through treatment and recovery, and get the emotional support you need.

Cancer Helpline
Our 24/7 cancer helpline provides support for people dealing with cancer. We can connect you with trained cancer information specialists who will answer questions about a cancer diagnosis and provide guidance and a compassionate ear. Call us at 1-800-227-2345.

PDF: How to Use cancer.org
A printable PDF highlighting resources and information for US military veterans on cancer.org.?

View all ACS programs and services

The Veterans section is supported, in part, by Regeneron.

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The 黑料大湿Posts Cancer Society medical and editorial content team

Our team is made up of doctors and?oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as editors and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.

Last Revised: August 24, 2026

黑料大湿Posts Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.

The following sources were used in creating this information about veterans and cancer:

Veterans and cancer risk

黑料大湿Posts Society of Clinical Oncology. Veterans. Cancer.net. Content is no longer available.

Bullard AJ, Tupper HI, Su K, et al. Equity and cancer survival among Veterans Health Administration patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Netw Open. 2026;9(7):e2621585.

Bytnar JA, McGlynn KA, Nealeigh MD, Shriver CD, Zhu K. Cancer incidence in the US military: An updated analysis. Cancer. 2024 Jan 1;130(1):96-106.

Griffin AC, Troszak LK, Van Campen J, Midboe AM, Zulman DM. Tablet distribution to veterans: an opportunity to increase patient portal adoption and use. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2023 Jan 1;30(1):73-82.

Rasmussen P, Farmer CM. The promise and challenges of VA community care: Veterans' issues in focus. Rand Health Q. 2023;10(3):9. Published 2023 Jun 16. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10273892/

PTSD and mental health in veterans with cancer

Dent KR, Szymanski BR, Kelley MJ, Katz IR, McCarthy JF. Suicide risk following a new cancer diagnosis among Veterans in Veterans Health Administration care. Cancer Med. 2023 Feb;12(3):3520-31.

Recklitis CJ, Michaud A, Blackmon JE, Orsillo S, Chang G. Evaluating posttraumatic stress in young adult cancer survivors: implications of revised DSM-5 traumatic event criteria. Psycho-Oncology. 2023 Jun;32(6):895-903.

Springer F, Kuba K, Ernst J, Friedrich M, et al. Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and adjustment disorder in hematological cancer patients with different treatment regimes. Acta Oncol. 2023 Sep 2;62(9):1110-7.?