Gynecologic cancers in veterans and military service members compared to non-veterans, 2004–2021: A National cancer database study

Women are the fastest growing demographic within the military-Veteran population in the United States. Our objective was to characterize gynecologic cancer occurrence, and trends over time, in Veterans and service members compared to non-veterans. We performed a retrospective cohort study using National Cancer database comparing cancer occurrence, age at diagnosis, histology, and survival among veterans and service members compared to non-veterans from 2004 to 2021. Annual new gynecologic cancer diagnoses increased among Veterans from 301 in 2004 to 883 in 2021. Veterans now account for 1% of gynecologic cancer diagnoses nationwide. Veterans were diagnosed with gynecologic cancers at younger ages and earlier stages than non-veterans. Cancer histologies differed from non-veterans with endometrioid uterine cancer, germ cell ovarian cancer, and cervical adenocarcinoma being more common in Veterans. Overall survival was similar among Veterans and non-Veterans. As the proportion of women in the military has grown, gynecologic cancer diagnoses and survivorship among service members and Veterans are increasing. Further work is needed to understand the epidemiology of gynecologic cancer and optimize gynecologic cancer prevention and care delivery for service members and Veterans.