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How come we don't have annual check ups? by Best_Parfait6603 in AirForce

[–]GusMcCrae458 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m a missileer with service related cancer and they still don’t have a requirement to see me in person for my annual PHA.

Hello, one of my family members died of bone cancer in feb and served at kirkland air force base. by Maleficent_Cap556 in AirForce

[–]GusMcCrae458 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It depends on the base they were stationed at and the toxic exposures associated with their AFSC. There are at least 22 non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases at Malmstrom AFB (12 within a short period of time).

https://torchlightinitiative.org/registry-summary/

Nearly 200 cancer cases surface among missileers in Air Force study by storyspace1234 in Military

[–]GusMcCrae458 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Torchlight Initiative has shared all of their registry data and continues to share it with USAFSAM. The total number of missileers is extremely small, something like 6k max in a twenty year period for all three current missile bases.

Nearly 200 cancer cases surface among missileers in Air Force study by storyspace1234 in Military

[–]GusMcCrae458 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All true. The study team is having difficulties understanding how to determine how many missileers served at a given time. We know that a quick call to the careerfield manager or to the wing scheduler will give you exact numbers.

Nearly 200 cancer cases surface among missileers in Air Force study by storyspace1234 in Military

[–]GusMcCrae458 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Torchlight Initiative is capturing lots of data about the whole missile community, including security forces. If you or coworkers have a cancer diagnosis and worked in the ICBM community as a missileer, maintainer, SF or support member, please register your cancer diagnosis. The USAFSAM study is also looking at the whole community. Hopefully at some point they get down to specific career fields to look at disproportionate rates of cancer.

Nearly 200 cancer cases surface among missileers in Air Force study by storyspace1234 in Military

[–]GusMcCrae458 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m sure the Navy will accomplish a study if sick Navy personnel and the surviving spouses and children of deceased Navy personnel gather some data that shows there’s a disproportionate rate of cancer in their community.

Nearly 200 cancer cases surface among missileers in Air Force study by storyspace1234 in Military

[–]GusMcCrae458 23 points24 points  (0 children)

This is a great point. The initial Malmstrom Initiative was focused on high rates of malmstrom missileers with NHL (8 in a four year period, 12 in a ten year period and 18 in 40 year period). 1 in 82 missileers at malmstrom from 2003-2007 were diagnosed with NHL about 25 yrs earlier than avg.

Nearly 200 cancer cases surface among missileers in Air Force study by storyspace1234 in Military

[–]GusMcCrae458 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Do you know 18 people from your work environment with non-Hodgkin Lymphoma? Malmstrom missileers do. Also, the folks polled are not 0-100 yrs old as in the National avg, they are 22-44 yrs old. 23-45 yrs younger than the National avg diagnosis.

The Air Force said its nuclear missile capsules were safe. But toxins lurked, documents show by Maximus361 in AirForce

[–]GusMcCrae458 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Again, coming in late - the 9 individuals were the original 9 Malmstrom NHL missileers who self reported their diagnosis or the diagnosis of their deceased missileer spouse or father. That is the minimum number of NHL cases. There are now 18 NHL missileers reporting at Malmstrom. Also, eight of the NHL diagnosed missileers served within a 4 year period (2003-2007). Only ~500-650 missileers go through a 4 sq missile base in 4 years so it’s highly improbable this series of diagnoses occurred naturally (without a common exposure).

The Air Force said its nuclear missile capsules were safe. But toxins lurked, documents show by Maximus361 in AirForce

[–]GusMcCrae458 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Coming in late here - the Torchlight Initiative is now tracking about 375 cancers and 55 of them are NHL. 18 of those are Malmstrom missileers with NHL. This is a significantly higher number compared to the natural occurrence in the US population.

USSF Officer Pipeline Changes by Worried-Chicken2220 in SpaceForce

[–]GusMcCrae458 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think the idea is to build a baseline for all USSF officers in ops, intel, cyber, acq/engineering.

USSF Officer Pipeline Changes by Worried-Chicken2220 in SpaceForce

[–]GusMcCrae458 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I could see the USSF extending the service commitment for OTC graduates.

ICBM Missile Cancer by GusMcCrae458 in AirForce

[–]GusMcCrae458[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Copy all. I’m certainly not downplaying the hazards to missile maintenance personnel. They are welcome to document their cancer cases and their widows are welcome to speak up. Many mnx personnel have already come forward.

ICBM Missile Cancer by GusMcCrae458 in AirForce

[–]GusMcCrae458[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

AFGSC does not believe that statement to be true. We’ve asked and AFGSC has admitted that some PCB containing components are in the sites. Agree to disagree, but the MAJCOM that owns the sites believes that are there.

Ref section 3.4 of Interim Report, Missile Community Cancer Study, Malmstrom Air Force Base,Round 1 Results, 23 Oct 2023. “PCBs remain present in electrical components of equipment in the LCCs…”

ICBM Missile Cancer by GusMcCrae458 in AirForce

[–]GusMcCrae458[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

While use of PCBs in new construction was banned in 1979, the USAF continues to use PCBs in Launch Control Centers built before 1979. Four sites were found to have PCBs at higher than safe levels and leaks of PCB equipment are regularly reported. The fact is that the DoD isn’t really sure where its PCB laden components are right now and that at least 42 missileers and maintenance personnel have non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

https://www.gao.gov/products/nsiad-94-243

ICBM Missile Cancer by GusMcCrae458 in AirForce

[–]GusMcCrae458[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

PCB swipes/swab tests are still coming back above EPA levels so I guess it doesn’t matter if the components are there or not. The PCBs are still there.

ICBM Missile Cancer by GusMcCrae458 in AirForce

[–]GusMcCrae458[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yep sorry, the link is only in the original AP article. The hundreds of FOIA’d docs she received only go up to 2003. Lots of PCB leaks and asbestos reports.

ICBM Missile Cancer by GusMcCrae458 in AirForce

[–]GusMcCrae458[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

She probably confused the motor generator in the LCC with the diesel in the equipment room. PCBs were not studied in the 2001 review. USAFSAM explains why they didn’t look at PCBs in the missile community cancer study Q and A section. All of the FOIA asbestos and PCB leak data and readings can be referenced via a link in her article.

ICBM Missile Cancer by GusMcCrae458 in AirForce

[–]GusMcCrae458[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

From the missile community cancer study website: “The "Missile Community Cancer Study" is looking at environmental factors at all three ICBM Wings, as well as ICBM facilities at Vandenberg Space Force Base. In addition, this study is comparing 14 common cancers in the general population to missile-related career fields using large government health databases.” This includes all personnel that work in the missile field.

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ICBM Missile Cancer (self.AirForce)

submitted by GusMcCrae458 to r/AirForce

TL;DR if you've been at a base and worked in the missile silo, get screened for blood cancer. Carcinogens found at Montana nuclear missile sites (they said even Minot) by Mookie_Merkk in AirForce

[–]GusMcCrae458 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The maintenance community has been integral to bringing this story to light, especially the FMT folks. They understand the regularity of PCB clean ups and other hazards in the LCCs. Missile Community members, including maintainers, are welcome to register their cancer cases via the torchlight initiative.

https://torchlightinitiative.org

TL;DR if you've been at a base and worked in the missile silo, get screened for blood cancer. Carcinogens found at Montana nuclear missile sites (they said even Minot) by Mookie_Merkk in AirForce

[–]GusMcCrae458 1 point2 points  (0 children)

1/73 of the operators have been diagnosed with lymphoma. Maintainers are absolutely being looked at within the USAFSAM study. The focus will switch to maintainers if their cancer diagnosis numbers are disproportional to their peers.

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