Squamous cell cancer & agent orange

ljnlu said:

Sarcoma vs carcinoma
Hi Debbie,
Have you had any luck obtaining Agent Orange benefits for your husband? Hope he is doing well.
My husband was in Vietnam 68-69. In 2006 He was diagnoised with salivary gland cancer; carcinoma to perinodal soft tissue. He applied for benefits and was denied. He appealed the decision and passed away two week later. I am gearing up to continue with the appeal process and feel as you do regarding soft cell tissue sarcoma. Please provide any information that may be helpful.
God Bless you both,
Lu

adenocarcinoma
Hi - my name is Peggy. My husband was also in Vietnam during 68-89 and also diagnosed with salivary gland cancer. My husband was in DaNang, Quang Tri and Khe Sanh. When did your husband develop his cancer? Was he in any of the same areas? I am sorry for your loss. My husband is going to try to appeal the decision now and is looking for evidence to present before appeal time runs out. Thank you for any help you can give us.

nstob said:

another Marine with squamous cell carcinoma
I, like almost everyone else here, started searching the net for info on the linkage of AO with oral carcinoma. My father is a marine, Vietnam vet and has been fighting mouth sores ever since his return from Vietnam (~'69). The cells in his mouth (cheeks & tongue) have finally gone from being open, painful sores to squamous cell carcinoma and verucous carcinoma. He has been seen by a doc at Ohio State U. hospital that had only seen this in his career a couple of times - all in men that were in Vietnam. We have just returned from the MD Anderson cancer hosp. in Houston for a second opinion on the course of action he should take. He is looking at an extensive surgery, with reconstruction of the tongue, the pulling of every tooth in his head so that he can have radiation to his mouth, and a 6-9 month recovery period.
He has already been given the run around in Columbus by the VA and has since asked me if I can find any info and help with trying again.
To be honest, I could care less what the VA thinks or does. My father has health insurance and I am sure that is the best route for him to go. If I have anything to say about it, he will stay with his team at OSU or go with the fantastic docs. in Houston at MD Anderson.
What I would like to see happen is a study compiling info from the many Marine, Vietnam vets with sqamous cell carcinoma. There has got to be at least one grad student somewhere looking for a research project. I plan on talking to my father's doc. later this month and asking if he knows of any grad students that could be interested in this issue or at least willing to put a study together.
If others could do the same (try to find someone to do a study), and that study be published in a big name journal - the VA may have to recognize squamous cell not only for those that really need the compensation but for all those marines that served proudly and now fight cancer due to AO.

Would you believe this???
I can relate to you as I live in ohio as well. We just got back from seeing the Specialist at the Arthur James Cancer Treatment Center at Ohio State, which we were told was the best in the state. That doctor found out more in 30 seconds about my fathers issues than the darn VA has in the past 18 months. My father has been going to the VA for 18 months about the lumps in his neck and lymph nodes. The VA doc there has been stating in his medical record that its just a cough, or the flu. I am sorry but if your darn lymph nodes swell up for 6 months and other lumps start to form in the neck, its a little bigger problem that just the flu or having a cold. One VA doctor even had the audacity to write in my fathers medical record," Patient is a nice fellow, but he is a little over anxious,!" OVER ANXIOUS? REALLY? Why HELL YES HE IS! HE IS CONCERNED THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG AND THERE IS! Thanks to the VA it has been growing and spreading for the past 18 months! I wouldnt take a sick dog to the VA. They really do not care about the vets.
SO now my father has Squamous Cell carcinoma of the lymph nodes, and tongue, stage 4, and goes in for surgery on May 5th with radiation to follow 4 to 6 week afterwards.

Thanks VA!!! you really know what your doing......

Sir,
First and foremost, WELCOME HOME!!!! Thank you for your service. Right now I am a Pit-Bull on a misson for you all. My husband (we were married 1/29/2010), and I had the honor to marry my best friend. On July 15, 2010, he found out he had a cancerous tumor in his left jaw, which turned out to be malignant Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Right off the bat, everyone said because he "chewed", that was the "contributor", not necessarily AO. A claim for him was filed though as he is an AO registered Viet-Nam Vet.
He had to have his entire left lower jaw from just below the ear to center front removed and re-constructed.
I'd love to know how they'd have reacted if he'd never had chewed, since he'd never smoked. Where would they have put the cause since. I would love to know how many of the guys here who have this horrible horrible monster did and didn't chew.
I don't know how to get a list of you all who have filed claims to begin a research profile, but I think we should work together to do a profile. I am not only fighting for my husband, please understand that....I am fighting for all of you. We were at supper in Billings, MT the other evening, and an active duty Soldier after I'd gone to his table and thanked him and his wife for their service, came over and when he found out my hubby was a Viet-Nam Vet, thanked him for his service, and the fact it was what you all endured when you came home that has made all the welcome homes for all the soldiers since your era soooooo much more pleasant and painless to them and their families.
Our fights for your dignities at funerals is still on going, but we are die hards and won't give up, and trust me, I'm not giving up on this AO Fight either.
Please feel free to e-mail me at jacqlyn46@aol.com
My regards to you and yours.
Jacki

MarineE5 said:

Ralph, I am also a Vietnam Vet and have base of tongue cancer. I was operated on in Oct. 04. The VA denied my claim also, but I am fighting it. Keep at it and I have only recently heard of the case you speak of.

Boblow305 asked if you can be exposed to Agent Orange without knowing it, the answer is yes. If you were in Vietnam, you were exposed, period. You can be exposed to the chemicals just from drinking the water. To much detail to go into on this post, but you can find info on the internet.

Cancer and Agent Orange.
My husband was also a marine in vietnam and died from Cancer on the base of his tongue. The VA also denied the claim. I need info on what I can do, like which king of lawyer to cantact, ect.

Jason1111 said:

Would you believe this???
I can relate to you as I live in ohio as well. We just got back from seeing the Specialist at the Arthur James Cancer Treatment Center at Ohio State, which we were told was the best in the state. That doctor found out more in 30 seconds about my fathers issues than the darn VA has in the past 18 months. My father has been going to the VA for 18 months about the lumps in his neck and lymph nodes. The VA doc there has been stating in his medical record that its just a cough, or the flu. I am sorry but if your darn lymph nodes swell up for 6 months and other lumps start to form in the neck, its a little bigger problem that just the flu or having a cold. One VA doctor even had the audacity to write in my fathers medical record," Patient is a nice fellow, but he is a little over anxious,!" OVER ANXIOUS? REALLY? Why HELL YES HE IS! HE IS CONCERNED THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG AND THERE IS! Thanks to the VA it has been growing and spreading for the past 18 months! I wouldnt take a sick dog to the VA. They really do not care about the vets.
SO now my father has Squamous Cell carcinoma of the lymph nodes, and tongue, stage 4, and goes in for surgery on May 5th with radiation to follow 4 to 6 week afterwards.

Thanks VA!!! you really know what your doing......

Jason how has your father been doing?
I just found this site. I have also just found I have Squamous cell first in My Lymph node right side of neck Then through having my right Tonsil and a biopsy of various areas when removing the tonsil they located Squamous cell in the base of my tongue. Just had seven teeth removed to prepare for radiation and Chemo. Fortunately I have great health insurance and some of the best doctors in the field. Love to here from you.

MarineE5 said:

cancer and agent orange
Tes,

I sent you a private e-mail

Husband diagnosed with base of tongue cancer and other ailments
Dear Marine
I am seeking info. on how I can obtain further support to advance my husband's case with the VA. It's been 17 mos and no replies to his claim...it's always "pending." The cancer spawned a terrible autoimmune disease that we continue to fight in addition to his progressive hearing loss initiated from artillery exposure. He was right in the midst of the agent orange spraying when in Viet Nam. Any info. to assist me would be greatly appreciated!

poolside said:

Squamous cell carcinoma cases
I did a search on the internet for agent orange and squamous cell carcinoma and came across 2-3 different cases that people won through the VA which connected Agent Orange and Squamous cell carcinoma. I only did about a 10 minute search, but am planning on spending more time to see if I can locate any more information on it.
If I find anything, I will be more than happy to share it wih you and please do the same for me as it looks as if we are in this war together.

Squamous cell/agent orange

I have been battling squamous cell skin cancer of the face for over 20 years.  I was in the Navy but my ship was never "officially" listed on the blue water navy ships for the years I was in Nam.  Can you share with me any info you have seemed to find on the subject?  Thank you for your time and help.

TIM M said:

How are things going for your husband?
ON May 8, 2012 I discovered a lump in the right lymphnode in my neck. Since then I have had biopsies my right tonsil removed and teeth pulled to begin Radiation and Chemo. I was a Marine in Vietnam 1967-1968 I was also a smoker. My email address is tpmmarine@verizon.net I have gathered much information and have just begun. I am a retired Criminal Investigator/ State police. My nick name was Pittbull. 30 years never lost a case.

Squamous Cell Lung Cancer and Agent Orange

Hello Tim,

I hope you have had success with your treatments and with your claim.  Unfortunately I have lost my husband of 39 years to lung cancer just this past December. He was just diagnosed early August. Large lung tumor and no time left.  He was stationed in Udorn Thailand with USAF as a pneudraulics repairman, 1969-1970.  Worked on the flightline.  Have put in to VA for death pension compensation but I'm concerned VA may not consider claim since he was a smoker and his cancer was Squamous Cell and Adenosquamous Carcinoma. Plan to continue with claim anyway as there was no one in his family who had lung cancer. Feel sure that exsposure to Agent Orange or what ever herbisides they used there contributed to his getting lung cancer.  

poolside said:

Squamous Cell Carcinoma & Agent Orange
My husband was just recently diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma. He did two tours in Vietnam where Agent Orange was used quite liberally. I have been doing some research on this cancer and have come up with alot of questions.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma can be caused by carcinogens which can be found in cigarettes. However, Agent Orange had a dioxin in it which was known to be a human carcinogen.
The VA recognizes a cancer called soft tissue sarcoma which is also linked to dioxin exposure and according to what I have read, Squamous cell carcinoma and Soft tissue sarcoma tend to mimic each other and are both hard to diagnose. The suggestion they gave was to have a biopsy sample checked by a pathologist who has extensive experience in diagnosing soft tissue sarcoma.
I am getting ready to fight for my husband on these issues, but it doesn't make any sense to me that both can be caused by carcinogens and Agent Orange had carcinogens in it, yet the VA will only recognize soft tissue sarcoma as an Agent Orange related Cancer when Squamous cell carcinoma is also caused by carcinogens.
I don't know if any of this can be of any help to any of you, but thought I would add the information I have come up with so far. I am not done digging and if I come up with something else, I will share it with you as I would hope you would share it with me also, since we are all in this fight together.
God Bless,
Debbie
(Wife of a Marine)

Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Agent Orange

My husband was also a Vietnam Vet - his last tour of duty in Vietnam ended in 1969. In June 2001 he was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Lung Cancer. The doctors at the VA in Tampa Florida made the diagnosis. They asked him if he was a Vietnam Vet and he said yes he was and that he did 2 tours of duty in Vietnam. They told us that there was a good chance being Squamous Cell that it was directly related to Agent Orange even though they knew my husband had a 45 year history of smoking cigarettes. They sent us to the DAV office right there at the James A Haley VA Hospital. The DAV helped us file all the necessary paperwork for Service Connected Disability and also Social Security Disability. In September 2001, my husband received his Service Connected 100% Disability without any further hassles. Unfortunately my husband died the following June. I now receive the Widows Compensation for the Service Connected Disability.  So don't give up - as I said my husband had a 45 year history of smoking.

 

God Bless you,

Linda

xidcrikit said:

AO, Cancer & the VA
Where do I start! In Feb. 2008 my husband was diagnosed with oral cancer in his neck & jaw. He went thru chemo & radiation. The 1st cancer drugs were not beneficial so the Dr. changed the course and used different drugs. They also found lung ca. He died in July 2008. I have applied to the VA and was at 1st given benefits and then denied them. I appealed and finally had a hearing in Nov. 2009. I researched extensively and came to this site before the appeal hearing. I'm also a nurse and obtained his medical records and went thru them extensively prior to the hearing. I researched the lawsuit that is mentioned here and called the attorney's that filed the lawsuit. They have given themselves an "atta boy" on their web site but the office personnel were not interested in helping and the office manager never called me back. The receptionist said that I needed to know the lawyer that filed the suit. I explained that it didn't tell on their web site and she said she couldn't help me. But I referenced that lawsuit during my appeals hearing. The doctor that reviewed his case said that the lung cancer was a metastases from his oral cancer. So therefore did not come under the VA guidelines for granting benefits since oral cancer is not one of the ones that they say comes from AO. Which everyone knows how utterly ridiculous that is, if you concede that it can cause lung cancer then obviously since it has to go thru your mouth as an airborne substance then it can affect your oral cavity and neck also. The Dr's that reviewed his case did not realize that they didn't find lung cancer on xray but only after they did an MRI of his neck and lungs. So he could have had lung cancer 1st. I pointed this out to the board. After the hearing the board chairman told me it would be 30 to 45 days and it has now been 5 months. I have called the 800 # several times and they said was still being evaluated. Finally last week I found out that the regional office had not sent the transcript and that's what they were waiting on. I called the regional office and the secretary said that they had alot of cases and it took them awhile and I said "5 months". She was shocked and said she would have it expedited right away. My advice is to have a friend who is a medical person go thru your records before you go to appeal and point out different things that may be important. The regional appeal will not need a lawyer( which will save you some money) but if you have to appeal it to Washington then you will need a lawyer.
I think it's important for all the military and military related people to stick together and continue to push AO related medical problems and bring it before the public and the military. As I've read about AO I find my husband had several medical problems that were odd for someone of his age. Heart problems since his 40's, diabetes and other medical problems that can be attributed to AO. Thanks for listening and feel free to e-mail me with comments or questions.
By the way my husband was a helicopter pilot in the Army and flew extensively in the areas exposed.

update

After 5 years I'm still fighting the VA. After the hearing in November 2009 and calling them repeatedly I contacted a lawyer who does VA lawsuits. He wasn't very helpful but did get all my husbands military records together for me. He has since withdrawn from the case. Now the Veteran Affairs people won't talk with me at all. But since they weren't any help in the begining it really is no big deal.  Finally in late 2012 they said they had responded to the 2009 case and denied my claim and I hadn't appealed it. I told them that I had recieved nothing from them for 3 years. So they re-opened the file and I appealed the finding and am going tomorrow before the board. I have found other cases where they have awarded compensation and plan to present those finds, plus put forth the information about my husbands ischemic heart disease and diabetes which are under their presumptive diseases for AO. As soon as I can I will post back here and tell everyone what happened in the hearing. By the way last year the VA sent my husband a letter telling him that he qualified for VA health care benefits, of course he had already been dead 4 years. When I called to tell them they said they hadn't been notified by the other part of the VA. Guess they don't communicate.

 

I will keep everyone updated. Linda