Military

Some survivors of childhood cancer wish to enlist in the military, or qualify for ROTC, the reserves, or the service academies. Survivors of childhood cancer are usually denied entrance into the military with the following exceptions:

• Survivors of Wilms tumor and germ cell tumor of the testis who have been off treatment and disease-free for 2 years.
• Hodgkin's disease survivors, treated only by chemotherapy and radiation, who have been off treatment and disease-free for 5 years.
• Large-cell lymphoma survivors who are off treatment and disease-free for 2 years.
• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) survivors with no recurrence. All other leukemias are excluded.

Survivors in the categories listed above are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants will be asked to provide information on their disease, its treatment, and their current health status. The recruiter should also be given the results from a recent medical examination and articles from the latest medical literature. If you are granted a waiver, you must still meet the physical requirements for the position sought. These are outlined in the Department of Defense's Directive No. 6130, March 31, 1986, called "Physical Standards for Enlistment, Appointment, and Induction."

Grace Monaco, JD, wrote in an article in Pediatric Clinics of North America:

The laws and regulations relating to admission to the armed services are permissive, not mandatory. This means that each of the armed services can enforce these laws and regulations if the service wishes to do so. Usually, taken on a case-by-case basis, survivors of childhood cancer who meet the requirements of the particular service and who are "otherwise physically fit for service" are eligible for a medical waiver to serve in the armed forces, reserves, and ROTC, and to obtain admission to service academies if the survivor is free of cancer and, generally, has completed therapy five years previously.

While the process may seem daunting, it's worth it if you want to enter the military. Waivers are granted for survivors. A female neuroblastoma survivor was granted a waiver and entered the US Naval Academy.

My son was diagnosed with neuroblastoma stage IV when he was 3 years old. He has had no recurrence. He wanted to join the Air Force ROTC when he entered college. He impressed the commanding officer of the detachment who recommended him for the one scholarship he personally bestows. My son did the paperwork and had the physical and was rejected solely on his cancer history.

He had excellent qualifications, was driven and self-disciplined, and was extremely goal-oriented. He had his oncologist write a letter stating that he was "cured" of the neuroblastoma. The commanding officer also went to bat for him. The Air Force reversed their decision and gave him the scholarship. He is doing extremely well 3 years later and plans on becoming a pilot.