Nasopharyngeal Cancer and Agent Orange

GC64

letalane said:

Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
My father served in Vietnam and actually died of metastatic cancer after being diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. This was 23 years ago. My sisters and I are now fighting for accrued benefits from VA for service related disability leading to death. We have all of his medical records and just looking at them shows that the physicians from VA and any other doctors he saw for his symptoms didn't have a clue as to what was going on or how to treat what was happening. My father was 35 years old when he died and he too became a diabetic that we have discovered through some research was exclusively developed in those exposed to the chemicals during the vietnam war. I ended up in this forum doing research in hopes of finding concrete facts and documentation to send back to VA to support our claim. I would greatly appreciate any information that anyone has on the disease and what the VA is doing about.

My husband passed away in
My husband passed away in 1992. He also had Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. Maybe if more had been known about this cancer, the cancer would have been detected earlier, and he could have gotten treatment. He died at 39 yrs of age. I have just found out that his base in Thailand was added to the registry in 2010, and have filed a claim in March. We (and his doctor) always thought it was just a cronic sinus infection. There have been cases that have been approved, it just takes time. I have a service officer to help me, and she seems to think that we could win this on an appeal. If there is anything I can help you with let me know. traudel@bellsouth.net I know it has been a couple of yrs since you posted this, maybe you check in at times.

Marvin25

MarineE5 said:

VA and Agent Orange

HAWVET,

I have been following this thread for a little bit. I called Ms. Paxton as her name was mentioned on another site or post. Although I didn't have the same cancer as you, I had Base of Tongue cancer and the person posting said to call Ms.Paxton if you had Tonsil cancer so she could add you to a list to be presented to a board in the near future.

Long story short, I called her and told her about my cancer and she basically brushed me off and seemed unconcerned about me being a Vietnam Vet with Head and Neck cancer. Needless to say, I was very disappointed.

I am going to be sending you a private message in the very near future.

WELCOME HOME

My Best to You and Everyone Here

I am new to this site.

My father reasonly died from nasopharyngeal cancer and I filed a claim on my mother's behalf.  My father was on the agent orange register for heart condition.  However, the nasopharyngel cancer is not in the respiratory system the claim was immediately denied. his canceer was through the nasal and logged in the back of his neck.  How can I get additional information to file an appeal with the VA

MarineE5

Marvin25 said:

I am new to this site.

My father reasonly died from nasopharyngeal cancer and I filed a claim on my mother's behalf.  My father was on the agent orange register for heart condition.  However, the nasopharyngel cancer is not in the respiratory system the claim was immediately denied. his canceer was through the nasal and logged in the back of his neck.  How can I get additional information to file an appeal with the VA

Marvin25,

I am guessing that you used a Veteran's Service Officer with a Military Organization. If you have, you may want to help them by researching the VA's site and looking at the Board of Appeals rulings for each year. It can take a little bit of an effort, but you will see which cases are approved and denied. Read those that are approved, even if the nasopharyngeal cancer is not on the Agent Orange register, Service connection may be approved by case and "Expert Opinions" in favor of the Veteran.

My Best to You, Your Mom, and Everyone Here

HAWVET

MarineE5 said:

Marvin25,

I am guessing that you used a Veteran's Service Officer with a Military Organization. If you have, you may want to help them by researching the VA's site and looking at the Board of Appeals rulings for each year. It can take a little bit of an effort, but you will see which cases are approved and denied. Read those that are approved, even if the nasopharyngeal cancer is not on the Agent Orange register, Service connection may be approved by case and "Expert Opinions" in favor of the Veteran.

My Best to You, Your Mom, and Everyone Here

Echoing MarineE5's comments

Marvin25,

Am assuming the claim has been denied and you are now in the process of appealing the claim.  I think I read just about all nasopharyngeal cases at the VA site and my guess is less than 10 percent are approved on appeal.  The key to the approval process was locating a doctor who will place on paper that Agent Orange cannot be ruled out as being the cause of the cancer.

VA appeals website:  http://www.index.va.gov/search/va/bva.html

Here are three cases that were approved.

VA Citation Nr 0216265, decision date 11/13/02

VA Citation Nr 0303647, decision date 03/04/03

VA Citation Nr 0601099, decision date 01/13/06

I had a listing of a few more and as recent as last year, but it has been so long that my claim documents are not as well organized at this time.

When on site, do not place the word "Cancer" in the Search blank area.  Just type in the word "nasopharyngeal" and those cases would go to the top.  The cases would give you a general idea on why and how they were approved.

My case was disapproved and I had a very bad service officer.  I could not located a doctor who would provide me that statement.  I was not too concerned since I am drawing retirement pay after 30 years of service.  Plus, I have disability payment based on some other issues.

There is one case (think there were two) that was approved when the doctor stated that you cannot exclude the pharyngeal from being part of the respiratory system.

Wishing you the very best.

alsa412

letalane said:

Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
My father served in Vietnam and actually died of metastatic cancer after being diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. This was 23 years ago. My sisters and I are now fighting for accrued benefits from VA for service related disability leading to death. We have all of his medical records and just looking at them shows that the physicians from VA and any other doctors he saw for his symptoms didn't have a clue as to what was going on or how to treat what was happening. My father was 35 years old when he died and he too became a diabetic that we have discovered through some research was exclusively developed in those exposed to the chemicals during the vietnam war. I ended up in this forum doing research in hopes of finding concrete facts and documentation to send back to VA to support our claim. I would greatly appreciate any information that anyone has on the disease and what the VA is doing about.

Agent Orange Claim

Hello,  I realize you posted to this site over 2 years ago but I am wondering what the results were with your claim.  My husband died in 1993 of the same cancer as your father and I am just now filing a claim.  I know it will be a longshot because he died so long ago and because he was bluewater Navy on an aircraft carrier off the coast of VN.  I do remember him saying that he used to flyover the Vietnam jungles and spray Agent Orange.  He was there 1965-1967.

GC64

Marvin25 said:

I am new to this site.

My father reasonly died from nasopharyngeal cancer and I filed a claim on my mother's behalf.  My father was on the agent orange register for heart condition.  However, the nasopharyngel cancer is not in the respiratory system the claim was immediately denied. his canceer was through the nasal and logged in the back of his neck.  How can I get additional information to file an appeal with the VA

Nasal Cancer

I read your comment about your Dad.  My husband died in 1992 from NPC.  I am in the process of an appeal right now. My husband was stationed in Thailand, and they only approve cases were the vet was a MP, working in the perimeter.  In my case the physician no longer lives, and the cancer treatment center of America, destroyes all records after 7 years.  I am sure to fight a losing battle, but there is always a little hope.   

TDeMont

Nasopharyngeal Cancer

Does anyone have any update to this post.

Calvinhenry

My husband was diagnosed in 1992 with 

Nasopharyngeal Cancer

. We have tried for benefits but they refuse to acknowledge this cancer type being caused by agent orange. Working with another VA hospital and waiting for response. Served in Viet Nam 1962-64. He is on feeding tube due to radiation treatments that caused swallowing difficulties. Lung aspiration...

JPC

NPC

My father is  Vietnam vet who passed away in 1992 of NPC.  His claim was denied as was my mother's survivor claim. 

melissa3484

nasopharygeal cancer & Vietnam

My dad (USAF) was diagnosed with NA cancer in 1988 and died 2 years later. The VA repeatedly denied his claims. However, last week, I received the Agent Orange newsletter (addressed to my father) and it states that the base he was stationed at was recently added to the validated Agent Orange sites. I am furious that 26 years later they are taking basic responsibility.

lanuwoods2002

ST4RK3Y said:

I am Nasopharyngeal Cancer Survivor My father is a Vietnam Vet!
Hello,I joined this community about 4 months ago. I never did anything with it.. I actually came here to vent a bit. I am a soon too be 28 year old Nasopharyngeal Cancer Survivor. My father Robert Charles Nicklow is a Vietnam Vet that is 100% Disabled/Compensated for Agent Orange, Diabetes Type 2, Loss of Hearing, PSD and Sterile. He Currently has Colon Cancer that has spread to his liver. His Tumor was removed and from his colon and he now has a colostomy bag. His Colon Cancer is not recognized by the VA even though Liver Cancer is. He has been fighting his cancer for 5 years now.

I was diagnosed when I was 24 years old in 2005 I do believe If my terrible memory serves me correct. For the longest time I have searched for reasons why this Rare form of cancer had destroyed my life. The Doctors at the University Of Pittsburgh Medical Center told me it was a cancer caused by Chemicals. Before my treatment they asked my work enviroments and such. I grew up in front of a steel mill in Sharon Pennsylvania. Many People in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio have got some form of cancer. However what was weird to me is that I was 24 years old and as healthy as ox. I worked as a waiter for Quaker Steak and Lube Resteraunt in Downtown Sharon since I was able to work as a teenager. I have never worked in any mill or been exposed to chemicals. So for years now Ive always asked my self why.. and I came up with two logical answers. The Theory that I believe is my father is a proven agent orange exposed Vietnam Vet. This means that my dads DnA or something along that line has been altered and passed on to me. My whole life as a child I had Sinus problems and Dr's thought I had Asthma. I never treated for Asthma and played sports and learned to just deal with it. When My father was about 5 months in two his diagnosis and surgery for his cancer I had a lump form on the right side of my neck the size of one half of a NFl Football and my nose started bleeding all the time out of the blue. After makeing my way to pittsburgh and being correctly diagnosed by real doctors and not small town quacks.. (by the way they almost killed me) my first question was how did I get this type of rare cancer? My oncologist said,"Shawn somehow you came into contact with chemicals that caused this. See I thought I had got it from smokeing even though I had quit a year and a half before I had gotten sick.

Then It dawned on me that all of this has to be stemming from the Agent Orange Exposure that has plagued my poor father his whole life after the military and now its takeing my life. After reciveing Intense Chemotherapy and Radiation everyday I was lucky to make it out alive. Before my Sickness I was attending Penn State University at the local Shenango Campus in Sharon and I had needed a history class for that semester so I took Vietnam 101. I got involved with the course so I could learn and understand my father and the vietnamese People. I learned about Agent Orange and how it was used by the military to kill vegetation so the Viet Kong had no jungle to hide in or eat from. I seen video of how american soldiers doused eached other with it and sprayed each other. It was as if nobody knew it was like the most potent weed killer ever invented and it would harm you. I seen videos of the vegetaion before and after agent orange spraying..

I believe in my heart that Agent Orange is the answer to my question of why me and how did I get this at such a early age. The oncologist also said to me that Nasopharyngeal Cancer isnt common in young guys.. more of older men in that vietnam age bracket.. 55-68 years old..

My other idea of why is that I lived in front of a steel mill that had pvc chemicals leaked into the local river in the 80's.

Even though I am a cancer survivor my life is very hard to deal with. It seems that everday things are getting worse then the last. I try to get my spirit back that I had when I first started the fight for my life back..

The radiation and chemo affects are to much for me to deal with.. Loss of memory, feeling at the tip of my fingers, Teeth are literally rotting out of mouth as we speak because I have no saliva glands that work. My mucus gland in my throat make a waxy substance now instead of mucus and it slowely makes its way to my gag reflex every couple of days causeing me to make snorting sounds in attempts to hocker it up. If that dont work then I puke and Puke and puke.. once it falls on that gag reflex im screwed. **** part is im 28 years old and I havent made it to a check up for the cancer in two years. I have no F*@#ing Insurance (God BLess America) and I cant even pull the damn welfare card because my dad is compensated by the VA and im on his bank accounts in case he dies so he says... My credit is ruined from when I was sick I had to live off of credit cards and do all of my driveing and appts alone 74 miles away in pittsburgh! Ps thanks Cancer Society for the $200 dollars per fiscal year.. that was about a joke. I would be dead right now if I didnt have great insurance right when I got sick. I was finishing my last semester to recieve my degree at psu and just got hired by Mid wetern intermediate Unit Four (Non Profit Government Agency that Caters to School Districts Supposedly). I just got hired in and had a bout 2 sick days when I got the shock of my life! My dad was laying on his death bed still in ICU.. ok,, Im starting to tell ramble and tell portions of my terrible life stories.. sorry people!



Back to the point!

So what im trying to say to the Poster is I would Love to assist you and any other Nasopharyngeal Cancer Patients or Survivors that think they got **** by AGent Orange! You can call me or email me or message me on here! Shawn.starkey@gmail.com 724 931 1353. My father is in hopes to cure cancers and help with any research or anything.. Thanks


-Shawn Starkey

Vietman Vet Family Members

Hello Shawn...my name is Lanu Woods and I am a Casualty & Mortuary Affairs Specialist assisting deceased Army retired family members with their benefits.  I try to assist them with VA benefits when they do not get help from their VA Rep.  I am doing some research but I think I came across where VA is granting compensation to family members of vietman vets as well.  Let me research again and I will get back with you.  I'm trying to help one of my widowers to appeal her case.  Her husband passed away from head & neck cancer, etc., and VA disapproved her case.  I'm so sorry to hear about your situation.  All I do is pray a lot for my widow/widowers and family members and do my best to help them in any way I can.  Take care and I will get back with you.  Lanu

 

  

Qmcret1982

Nasopharnyx cancer

I have been fighting cancer for about 1.5 years now. It all started when I woke up one morning blind in my right eye. When I went to see. The ent dr he said I had cancer in my right sinus I then underwent chemo and radiation treatrement and it killed the cancer for now. The problem is that I lost the ability to swallow. I had to have a feeding tube put in and after all the work it looks like This will be the way it is for the rest of my life. I feel that agent orange caused the cancer however the va does not agree. I just found this site and am interested in your comments. A little background I did 20 years in the Navy and retired as a QMC. I did 5 tours in Vietnam one year on swift boats  l want the VA to own up to this cancer.