Hi, I'm Dan "Animal" Javorsek, and am an Air Force test pilot. In 2016, I was unexpectedly diagnosed with Testicular Cancer that significantly influenced my life. While undergoing treatment, I began to research the rates of cancer in aircrew and discovered that the military has very little data on this topic. I also recalled how aircrew spouses would routinely joke that we only have daughters and I began to wonder if there was any truth beyond anecdotal evidence. I also wondered if there might be a connection between offspring gender asymmetries, cancer, and the flight environment (such as proximity to non-ionizing radiation from airborne radars or the potential impact of cosmic ray exposure due to higher altitude flight).

I am hopeful that this brief survey might capture data on aircrew offspring gender asymmetry if it exists. By answering a few anonymous questions regarding what aircraft you were flying when your children were conceived I should be able to show whether a more rigorous study would be warranted. If I receive responses from a diverse enough group including both aircrew and non-aircrew (for use as a control), including a variety of platforms, your participation might be able to provide improved advice for future airmen regarding potential health risks of aviation activities.

Thank you in advance for your time and contribution to this line of research!