From Cure to Combat: Deployment After Lymphoma

Background: Lymphoma is the most common hematologic malignancy diagnosed in active-duty service members (ADSMs). Service members treated for lymphoma often face uncertainty regarding their fitness for duty, which carries implications for individual careers and force readiness. In this retrospective, exploratory study we aimed to (1) determine the proportion of previously deployed ADSMs who deployed after a lymphoma diagnosis, and (2) characterize those deployments. Methods: Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) cases diagnosed between 2001 and 2022 were identified from the Defense Health Agency Cancer Registry using International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, Third Edition histology codes. Deployment variables were obtained from the Defense Manpower Data Center. Analysis was restricted to service members who were on active duty at diagnosis and had a history of deployment; those who had never deployed were excluded. This study was exempt from full institutional review board review. Results: A total of 866 previously deployed ADSMs with lymphoma were identified (455 HL, 411 NHL). Of these, 119 (13.7%; 95% CI 11.6-16.2) deployed after their lymphoma diagnosis, including 86 of 455 with HL (18.9%; 95% CI 15.6-22.8) and 33 of 411 with NHL (8.0%; 95% CI 5.8-11.1). HL survivors were significantly more likely than NHL survivors to deploy after diagnosis ( p < 0.001). The mean interval from diagnosis to deployment was 5.1 years (SD 3.7) for HL and 4.5 years (SD 2.3) for NHL. As of 2022, all 119 individuals were alive at last follow-up. Conclusions: Among previously deployed ADSMs with lymphoma, roughly one in six deployed after their diagnosis and treatment, typically within five years. These findings indicate that deployment after lymphoma treatment is achievable for a significant subset of service members, highlighting both the success of cancer care in military treatment facilities and the favorable impact of modern oncologic care on operational readiness.