Southeast Asia, Promotability and Dioxinʹs Relationship to Cancer Incidence in Operation Ranch Hand Veterans

Significant increases in systemic, melanoma, and presumedly total skin cancers are observed in Operation Ranch Hand veterans unexposed to dioxin. The spiked increase of excess systemic cancers and skin cancer incidence is the pattern expected from a 2- to 3-year exposure to cancer initiators in Southeast Asia during tours of duty coupled with brief or full promotability of initiated cells later in the United States. A discussion of promotability is undertaken. The exposure of these airmen to both Southeast Asia and dioxin is associated with a significant reduction of elevated systemic cancers and total skin cancers.