Korean War Veterans Cancer Study

Veterans Affairs Canada will now consider results of an Australian study when deciding disability pension claims submitted by Canadian veterans who served in the Korean War.

The Cancer Incidence Study was done by the Department of Veterans' Affairs in Australia. Overall, it showed that veterans who served in Korea were 23% more likely to have certain cancers than the general male population. For example, the study found cancers of the oesophagus, lung, rectum, prostate, colon, head and neck, and skin were higher than expected for Australian veterans who served in Korea. Cancer of the lip, tongue, salivary glands, gum, mouth, tonsils, ears, or nasal passages were included in the findings. Veterans Affairs Canada has decided to look at the study's findings because Canadians' service in Korea is so similar to that of Australian veterans' service in Korea.

Close to 27,000 Canadians served in Korea. Korean War veterans who feel they suffer from any of the above cancers because of their service are encouraged to contact Veterans Affairs Canada at 1-866-522-2122.