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Bladder Cancer// Agent Orange??
Fellow Warriors
Recently I went down to the Government offices that take claims for consideration on illnesses suffered related to Vietnam. Bladder Cancer is one cancer along with Prostate that are considered. If you were in Vietnam and have either you may want to make an appointment to see the Services Division. They will get all my records from the Cleveland Clinic, review them and let me know if I have a successful claim. Who knows what particular body situation sparks this disease, its up for grabs on cause in each case. This could have attributed to mine.
Gene -
25 Replies
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Regarding diesel, it has been some time since I have studied, but do searching for these terms:
World Health Organization diesel lung bladder cancer press release
Great Britain occupational study diesel bladder cancer
Look closely for words such as those, and even add the specific occupation / job in military. Then go into your personal military records and find any evidence of military exposure to diesel fumes / exhaust.
http://helpdesk.vetsfirst.org/index.php?pg=kb.printer.friendly&id=76 Look at 3.5 Nexus to understand the role your treating physicians letter would play in the claim and how to ask your physician to word the letter.
If you have not found the free online version of the IOM’s NAP book Veterans and Agent Orange Update 2014 (published March 2016), then download a free copy from National Academies Press and look at the bladder cancer section – last two or three pages of that chapter in particular. I think veterans are now adding those pages to their claims.
You will find the Korean Vietnam Veterans Health study listed in that chapter…find the condensed version about bladder cancer from the actual Korean study, showing an increase in bladder cancer for their Vietnam Veterans.
Look at the other evidence presented by the IOM in their publication above. Find that published evidence and share all of this with your doctor……just the few pages of each report that apply, as the files get thick at VA – per our VSO. Underscore the key words in dark ink…..these reviewers have a lot to read so make it easy for them to find what you are sending in as few pages as possible to show the results of each report.
Things change and you must stay on top of all of this. My understanding has increased over the last 3 years, but still just an average person searching – just determination as I was reading day and night and sharing with anyone who would read and listen.
Hopefully Secretary McDonald will get feedback from the other committee he asked to review the IOM’s changes – very soon we hope – and can make a proper determination to add BC to the list.
None of us are in this alone….we are all searching for answers. I hope some of my suggestions can be of help….but it is really up to you to jump in as get it presented clearly and concisely. Someone told me that they are keeping their claims open with more evidence as they find more. Wishing you all well.
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And all the Vietnam veterans who suffer not just from BC but from numerous other diseases that are as likely as not (to use VAs own wording) due to their exposure to AO and the other herbicides that were used in Vietnam. Now my husband is deceased as a result of his exposure, we had hired an attorney prior to his death to handle the claims and appeals that are still pending. Frankly, I had never thought the expression delay deny until they die was factual but the more I see of VA the more I tend to be a believer of that comment. Wishing all well. BTW, I along with several others spoke to the IOM at their last meeting to discuss BC connect to AO. That’s how they bumped it up to the perhaps is due to the exposure rather than no way at all. We all will wait, it’s what we do. Wishing all well with their claims.
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Here’s some updated information that may help those (like my DH *Dear Hubby*) who were exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam:
http://www.militarytimes.com/story/veterans/2016/03/10/agent-orange-exposure-linked-bladder-cancer-hypothyroidism/81583512/This is potentially GREAT news.
DH (Dear Hubby)…
Diagnosed: March 2013
TURBT (non-invasive, aggressive), CIS: April 2013
BCG began: May 2013
Completed initial BCG: July 2013
JrFox your guess is as good as anyone elses. Who knows how VA thinks or doesn’t think? I surely do not. My husband’s claim was also turned down and we are appealing it. Since he has so many things going on that should be approved we finally after 5+ years of dealing with it all have turned it over to an attorney who is supposed to be pretty good. I will tell you that I spoke along with some others to the IOM, the group who decides what is recommended to VA/Congress for approval as presumptive, regarding our research about BC/AO connection. Hopefully when they release their recommendations we will find BC included. I am never very optimistic when it comes to VA but we never know do we?
Wishing you the best!
I was just turned down by the VA for my claim of bladder cancer associated with agent orange, how are others getting approval but not all?
VA has not approved BC as an AO presumptive. The Institute of Medicine IOM is reviewing a number of diseases including evidence I along with some others offered them when we spoke at their meeting in April of last year. The report should be out by March of this year. Here’s hoping.
As far as AO being mixed with diesel I cannot say but there was a lot of diesel in VN. If you are wanting a notarized statement re: this I suggest you go the “buddy letter” route. Try to contact someone you served with who may have had knowledge of this and have them write a statement saying this, notarized it and use as part of your proof/evidence.
Good luck with your claim. I am not sure but believe Di is a lady I’ve worked with in research for BC/AO connection.
I just seen your message that the VA is recognizing AO, I looked on their Web Page
and still not recolonized. Can you please guide me where to look for this.
Thanks,
Sebastian
Do you know where I can find proof that herbicides were mixed with diesel fuel or someone who would give notarized statement? None of my extensive research included this. I don’t doubt you but I can’t just say that in my VA request. Is it on Internet site?
Itsamama the care at VA isn’t free, the men surely earned the care for their service. But, with being said the care is good at some places not so much at others. We hear varying comments.
Di, I’ve been screaming since July 2010 when Jim had his initial diagnosis. Then again in August 2010 when he had his RC/IC. It is a hard row to hoe for sure. I believe many Vietnam Veterans due to the reception they received on returning home have not done much with VA. So the numbers aren’t there for them to calculate. I think you are right in having as many who are Vietnam veterans file a claim with VA so the numbers are there. It is astounding the things they do count as presumptive cancers and diseases but not BC. Anyway I could go on and on but won’t. It took BC for my husband to file a claim with VA. It was denied. VA will treat you for BC if you meet criteria for it but other than that no compensation for the disability involved.
Sebastian they do not recognize BC as an AO cancer presumptive for compensation. Sadly so.
I mistyped web address:
http://www.hindawi.com/journals/mbi/2011/718974
Review article title: Arsenic Biotransformation as a cancer promoting factor by inducing DNA damage and disruption of repair mechanisms.
pages 2-5 are the report.
pages 6-12 are 143 referencesPlease read this report.
Bladder is mentioned on pages 1, 2, 4, 5. Page 3 talks about carcinogenicity in humans.Search on the web: Agent Blue Arsenic
Do you see a connection?
I am wife, mother, grandma. I am not a scientist. I read and study and WE MUST ALL UNITE ON THIS ISSUE. Yes, a scream. I am new member. Please don’t be offended by that scream.
I’ll monitor for more info. Bladder & prostrate taken in 2010 and looks like skin cancer may be developing.
I’m 70, retired heat/air contractor. After 4 months of keymo ileal conduit (IC) surgery removed bladder & prostate May 2010
These is so much information out there. Below is one I found recently.
I wanted to share one website with arsenic and bladder cancer information.
http://www.hindi.com/journals/mbi/2011/718974
Look at the conclusion and find this ” These populations experience particularly exacerbated rates of cancer in organs where arsenic is most concentrated or is excreted, including lung, bladder, and skin cancers”.
The above is taken from
Molecular Biology International
Volume 2011 (2011), Article ID 718974, 11 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2011/718974
Review ArticleArsenic Biotransformation as a Cancer Promoting Factor by Inducing DNA Damage and Disruption of Repair Mechanisms
Victor D. Martinez,1,2 Emily A. Vucic,1 Marta Adonis,2 Lionel Gil,2 and Wan L. Lam1
1Department of Integrative Oncology, BC Cancer Research Centre, 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 1L3
2Biomedical Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Independencia 1027, 8380453 Santiago, Chile
Received 16 March 2011; Accepted 6 June 2011
Academic Editor: Frédéric Coin
Hubby served 1967-1968, 555th Triple Nickel as heavy equipment operator building roads and runways.
Reading above from ITSAMAMA, I have never heard of anyone getting a VA doctor to say it is due to Agent Orange. That information would be beneficial to ALL.
I have met many on another board, BCAN, search Vietnam Veterans with Bladder Cancer. I found your group here searching for information. There is a lot of information on the other board, so with this one and that one perhaps we can share information and get it in the right hands.
Have any of you been to the Agent Orange Registry? They will do a physical at your local VA medical office – free as I understand.
IF all of the Vietnam Veterans would do this, and IF VA will keep records of sickness, like Bladder Cancer, then perhaps they will ad BC to the list.
All I can do at this point is keep letting others know that their voice counts, and we all need to get working on this, by getting the Agent Orange Registry and physical, and sharing information so that something will be done.
Agent Blue is part of the Agent Orange Registry and contained arsenic. Research arsenic and bladder cancer and you will find that arsenic is a known cause of bladder cancer. Why cannot VA admit this and add bladder cancer to the list of presumptive disease? I have met several great veterans on the other board who have struggled for years with their bladder cancer, and still trying to get hearings on their individual case, some denied and reapplied. This is not right.
Let’s work on this together! I have written my congressman early in my search and received a nice reply. By researching I am finding what I feel is evidence that they cannot refute. Just must get it to the people who care and will do something for our veterans.
There is no reason that each veteran should do years of research and file appeal after appeal. SO MUCH evidence that arsenic is a cause of bladder cancer. VA, if you are reading this, and I hope you are, please get this done NOW.
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