Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 1/29/2008

Question
I have son that is trying to enlist in the army.  He is 21 and had ALL (Acute Lymphocyte Leukemia)  He was treated and his Doctor at Emory states the window for reoccurrence has pasted.  The recruiter states 50 percent chance of getting approved to go to MEPS.  

Do you know if this type of leukemia is waiverable?  Have you ever known of person with similar condition getting to serve our country in the Army.

Answer
Dear Laurie --

Most medical conditions that do not cause current problems and are not likely to recur are waiverable.

I do not know enough about this specific leukemia to predict what a service medical doctor will determine on review.  I expect the recruiter is correct about 50% of the doctors will see "leukemia" and do an automatic reject.  The rest will review whether "full" recovery is possible and what future side affects of past treatment are.  Then they will determine the likelihood of a successful and healthy enlistment given those limitations and side affects.  

A letter from your son's doctor stating why he believes there is no possibility for future reoccurrence of this disease in your son, would help the waiver process.  

I know many Soldiers serving who have recovered from childhood diseases that would have disqualified them if they had had the same disease as an adult.  Perhaps your son's ALL puts him in that category.

Good luck to both of you.  Please write back, if you have additional questions during the recruitment process.