The Air Force is investigating possible links between service members working at any of the nation’s intercontinental ballistic missile bases and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, according to a press release.

The Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine will take "a comprehensive look across multiple Air Force Specialty Codes, locations, and possible additional cancer" concerns raised by service members at bases in North Dakota, Montana and Wyoming, the military branch said Wednesday.

"While we continue to work through this process, service members, their family members and former service members who may have concerns or questions are encouraged to speak with their health care providers," Gen. Thomas A. Bussiere, head of Air Force Global Strike Command, said in the press release.

Nine military officers who had worked decades ago at a nuclear missile base in Montana have been diagnosed with blood cancer and there are "indications" the disease may be linked to their service, according to military briefing slides obtained by The Associated Press in January.

All of the officers, known as missileers, were assigned as many as 25 years ago to Malmstrom Air Force Base, home to a vast field of 150 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile silos. The nine officers were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, according to a January briefing by U.S. Space Force Lt. Col. Daniel Sebeck.

Missileers ride caged elevators deep underground into a small operations bunker encased in a thick wall of concrete and steel. They remain there sometimes for days, ready to turn the launch keys if ordered to by the president.

"There are indications of a possible association between cancer and missile combat crew service at Malmstrom AFB," Sebeck said in slides presented to his Space Force unit this month. The "disproportionate number of missileers presenting with cancer, specifically lymphoma" was concerning, he said.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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