CancerCompass message board discussion started by jkmelch on 1/31/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,20510,0.htm Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ HelloI am trying to find articles that relate esophageal cancer to Agent Orange in Vietnam. If anyone spots any please email me at --Message edited by CancerCompass staff. For personal protection, email address removed. Consider private reply. Please review CancerCompass Member Guidelines at http://www.cancercompass.com/common/guidelines.html-- Thank you jkmelch Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT My husband is a Vietnam veteran, he was in a helicopter batallion in South VietNam in 1969-70. I, too, believe that agent orange may have played a role in his EC. I know there are articles about veteran's benefits, if that is what you are looking for. It's hard to find really specific info regarding Agent Orange and cancer, but it's out there, I will see what I can find in my files, if you're interested. Or you can go to google and keep asking, and many sites will pop up. May I ask if you, or a loved one is a veteran and has EC, is that why you are asking? We never looked into any veteran benefits, we'd rather leave those funds for the veterans who really need them. Thankfully, we have good insurance coverage for my husband's EC. No one can "help cover" the mental anguish. My best wishes for successful treatment goes out to you, or your loved one. chersesg Sat, 02 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 1/31/2008 jkmelch wrote:HelloI am trying to find articles that relate esophageal cancer to Agent Orange in Vietnam. If anyone spots any please email me at --Message edited by CancerCompass staff. For personal protection, email address removed. Consider private reply. Please review CancerCompass Member Guidelines at http://www.cancercompass.com/common/guidelines.html-- Thank youHi.  my husband was also in Vietnam.  This was on the government web site and there are many other articles/rulings.  You might want to take a look there.Agent Orange - Herbicide Exposure Vietnam Veterans Benefit From Agent Orange RulesVietnam veterans may be eligible for compensation and health care for certain diseases associated with Agent Orange, the defoliant sprayed to unmask enemy hiding places in the jungles throughout Vietnam.Special health care and compensation benefits are available to the 2.6 million men and women who served in Vietnam between 1962 and 1975, only 3,300 of whom remain in uniform today. Those discharged during that period are the largest group of veterans receiving VA health care and monthly compensation.A small percentage of their disability claims are for illnesses that scientists have listed as being associated with Agent Orange. VA presumes that all military personnel who served in Vietnam were exposed to Agent Orange, and federal law presumes that certain illnesses are a result of that exposure. This "presumptive policy" simplifies the process of receiving compensation for these diseases since VA foregoes the normal requirements of proving that an illness began or was worsened during military service.Based on clinical research, the following diseases are on VA's Agent Orange list of presumptive disabilities: acute and subacute peripheral neuropathyporphyria cutanea tardachloracneprostate cancerchronic lymphocytic leukemiarespiratory cancersHodgkin's disease   (lung, bronchus, larynx and trachea)multiple myelomasoft-tissue sarcoma, acutenon-Hodgkin's lymphomaType II diabetes mellitusIn addition, monetary benefits, health care and vocational rehabilitation services are provided to Vietnam veterans' offspring with spina bifida, a congenital birth defect of the spine. Children of female veterans who served in Vietnam are authorized health care and monetary benefits for certain additional birth defects.Veterans who served in Vietnam during the war also are eligible for a complete physical examination. If a VA physician suspects a disease might be related to Agent Orange, VA will provide free medical care. Those who participate in the examination program become part of an Agent Orange Registry and receive periodic mailings from VA about the latest Agent Orange studies and new diseases being covered under VA policies. Vietnam veterans and their families can contact VA for more information about these benefits. For the Agent Orange Registry physical examination, call a local VA hospital or clinic listed in the government pages of your phone book. To file a compensation claim for a current disability related to Agent Orange, veterans can call 1-800-827-1000 for an application form or visit VA's Web site at: http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov. Hope this helps.     Chessie Sat, 02 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT It's been a while since I posted a message.  The last few months have been difficult, and gets worse each month.My husband is suffering from adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus, and was a Vietnam vet, in helicopter repair, flying helicopters too. Same years of service 1968-1970. Today the VA denied our claim that there is a service connection to agent orange and esophgeal cancer.  This cancer is not on the VA approved cancer list.  I did a lot of research doing internet searches and made copies of everything I found that proves dioxin exposure causes all sorts of cancer. But this particular cancer is not on their list. They thanked me for enlightening them about dioxin, but without a letter from his doctor saying the magical words "it's just as likely as not that the cancer may have or could have been caused by agent orange" the appeal went nowhere. We don't have private insurance for my husband, just the VA medical coverage, so naturally our VA doctor/oncologist WOULD NOT write such a letter. We now have to try to find a private doctor and pay for an evaluation ourselves, without the guarantee that a letter would be written.  Some vets have been approved - but only because they got opinion letters from the doctor treating them.  Without a letter, a claim gets denied.They say that people with head and neck tumors are susceptible to EC. My husband had a tumor removed from his spinal cord several years ago, which was thankfully benign. But from there on, private health insurance was totally unaffordable for us due to his history.  I really think Agent Orange was responsible for that tumor also, as well as one on the salivary gland later that year.Sorry to say this, but our Vietnam Vets are in a terrible position when it comes to proving agent orange connection with this disease. My husband is now in Stage IV, and 3 years ago weighed 300 lbs., now down to 185. He can't swallow regular food, lives on Ensure Plus, cream of wheat, soft foods, fruit and soup. His pain never ends. He's on pain patches now, which I change every 3 days, and also pain pills for break-thru pain. Doctor wants him to start palliative radiation treatments, but he doesn't want to suffer needlessly when no cure is in sight.  Radiation really does cause lots of discomfort and soreness, and it only slows the tumor down, it can't destroy it.  Sometimes it helps to vent our feelings, even if it sounds negative. LindaLloyd Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT Are you looking for articles related to cause? treatment? medical research?  military assistance/nonassistance?There is a lot out there and dozens of website.  PLease narrow your request and some of us might be able to assist you.Vietnam Veteran Widow vietnam vet widow Sun, 10 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT The Herbasite website is interesting but regarding many of the places outside Vietnam which were sprayed with dioxins - the govt has been vague.The VA while its personnel are professional and nice -- fights every claim where the disease is not on the presumptive list.  And the VA is very inconsistent.  So much so -- some people want to form a class action suit.Each state has State paid VA assistance program separate from the federal program.  There are 33 legitimate Military Organizations like  Military Offficers Association of American, Disabled American Veterans, VFW, American Legion etc.  Some of these 33 groups have volunteer assistance programsquality varies.Good luckVietnam Veteran Widow    vietnam vet widow Sun, 10 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi-I'm not sure where to tell you to find the information, but was talking to a friend who is a vet a few days ago and mentioned your post and that EC was not recognized as related to Agent Orange.  He said he just read a recent article in one of the Veteran's magazines that EC has been added to the list of Agent Orange related cancers, so maybe you need to try to find a way to narrow the search and revisit the issue. He said it was a very recent change in policy. tongrenhealer Sun, 17 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 2/17/2008 tongrenhealer wrote:Hi-I'm not sure where to tell you to find the information, but was talking to a friend who is a vet a few days ago and mentioned your post and that EC was not recognized as related to Agent Orange.  He said he just read a recent article in one of the Veteran's magazines that EC has been added to the list of Agent Orange related cancers, so maybe you need to try to find a way to narrow the search and revisit the issue. He said it was a very recent change in policy.It would sure be helpful to have the name of the magazine. We get some of them, and I follow some online. Did a search, and did not find it. LindaLloyd Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT To date esophageal cancer has not been added to the presumptive list..I'm sorry. I've been battling the VA for DIC benefits as my husband, a Marine in Viet Nam, died from EC.  I am now in the appeals process.  I submitted 6 doctors letters with no luck.  You have to have more than "atleast as likely".  Your doctor has to be specific and most doctors are not willing to do this.There are a group of EC widows that pass info back and forth.  Three of our group have been approved, one with the help of her congressman, Dr. Kagen.  It's really all in who you know and who will come forward for you.If you go the the VA website and check the appeals section..key in esophageal, you will find a few approved cases and hundreds of denied cases.  I KNOW that my husbands ec was from Agent's used in Vietnam but have no proof.  The IOM is taking a second look at EC now and not lumping it with other gastric cancers....that might be a plus for us who are trying to get compensation.I still think that that is power in numbers and if enough of us whose spouses have EC or have died from EC unite that maybe we can get this ungodly cancer on the presumtive list.  Feel free to contact me..my heart goes out to all of you who are still fighting this disease.  Susan4951 Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 1/31/2008 jkmelch wrote:HelloI am trying to find articles that relate esophageal cancer to Agent Orange in Vietnam. If anyone spots any please email me at --Message edited by CancerCompass staff. For personal protection, email address removed. Consider private reply. Please review CancerCompass Member Guidelines at http://www.cancercompass.com/common/guidelines.html-- Thank you My husband, a viet Nam vet died from esophageal cancer.  Any new information on benefits for the widow and family? jdynelson Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT I've posted before...my husband died from EC (adenocarcinoma), he was a Vietnam Vet,  machine gunner I Corp, heavily exposed to agent orange, no cancer in his family.  I KNOW dioxins killed him and I have been battling the VA since he was first diagnosed in 2004 (he died May 2006).  I have supplied the VA with much evidence including 7 good doctor's letters, Zumwalts report,  copies of cases approved for EC (found about 12 or so in the appeals section on the va website) all to no avail.  I appealed a year ago so my case now sits in Washington and probably will for another year, atleast.I am fed up with the system, I am fed up with fighting for what my husband should have received while he was alive, I am mad because he was never acknowledged as a casualty of the Vietnam war.  Many are still dying from a war that was over 40 years ago.  Widows wait while the VA continues to ignor their responsibility.  Agent Orange not only stole my husband but stole my life as his wife not to mention the career I lost to proudly be his caregiver.  You all know exactly what I mean.I belong to a group (about 14 of us) who are all widows to EC/AO.  Three have been approved for EC, the rest of us are still fighting.If you believe that your EC was the result of AO please consider joining our group.  We  feel that if we have a large enough membership, maybe, just maybe, someone will listen to us.I can be contacted through this site. Susan4951 Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thank you, how do you connect with other widows of Viet Nam vets who died from EC.  My husband also died in May 06.  Hopefully if we have enough people we can make a difference.  How did the 3 get approved? jdynelson Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 3/14/2008 Susan4951 wrote:I've posted before...my husband died from EC (adenocarcinoma), he was a Vietnam Vet,  machine gunner I Corp, heavily exposed to agent orange, no cancer in his family.  I KNOW dioxins killed him and I have been battling the VA since he was first diagnosed in 2004 (he died May 2006).  I have supplied the VA with much evidence including 7 good doctor's letters, Zumwalts report,  copies of cases approved for EC (found about 12 or so in the appeals section on the va website) all to no avail.  I appealed a year ago so my case now sits in Washington and probably will for another year, atleast.I am fed up with the system, I am fed up with fighting for what my husband should have received while he was alive, I am mad because he was never acknowledged as a casualty of the Vietnam war.  Many are still dying from a war that was over 40 years ago.  Widows wait while the VA continues to ignor their responsibility.  Agent Orange not only stole my husband but stole my life as his wife not to mention the career I lost to proudly be his caregiver.  You all know exactly what I mean.I belong to a group (about 14 of us) who are all widows to EC/AO.  Three have been approved for EC, the rest of us are still fighting.If you believe that your EC was the result of AO please consider joining our group.  We  feel that if we have a large enough membership, maybe, just maybe, someone will listen to us.I can be contacted through this site.Please e-mail me with information to join the group of spouses, widows of Vietnam Vets w/ Esophagial Cancer.  Can we get enough complete files together to compare and find the similarities to show somebody something.  I have a niece studying nursing, and her boyfriend studying to be a doctor.  We need fresh eyes looking at this argument with the government, and I think I found something that might be in all the files that should not be.--Message edited by CancerCompass staff. For personal protection, email address removed. Consider private reply. Please review CancerCompass Member Guidelines at http://www.cancercompass.com/common/guidelines.html--    klt107 Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am currently on appeal.  My husband was a Vietnam Vet and was 100% perm and total disabled.  He submitted his claim for EC in November, denied in February and died in March of last year.  They denied the claim and since I am not unemployed, they have denied me and my daughter any financial support.  I am very frustrated with the system.  I have talked to doctors until I am blue in the face with no luck.  How can I join the EC widows group?  I believe there is power in number.  I am not willing to give up at this point. youngwidow Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT