Agent Orange - Tonsil Cancer - Vietnam Veterans

Jim B said:

Head and Neck, Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cancer
I have recently, January 2012, been diagnosed with SCC on the back of my tongue and in the lymph nodes of my neck. One month ago I had a cancerous growth, also SCC surgically removed from the inside bowl of my right ear. I start Chemo and Radiation Therapy at the Portland VA Medical Center in Oregon. The Chemo will be at the VA hospital and Radiation treatments will be done at the Oregon Health and Sciences University (OHSU)

My barracks backed to the jungle, so helicopters equipped with the Agent Orange, routinely sprayed a 5 mile perimeter around our barracks to keep the foliage down and help eliminate attacks and hiding places for the VC.

I read your article about the study that has been done for the Agent Orange effects on Veterans during the Vietnam war. I served in Vietnam for 13 months in 1966-67.
You suggested e-mailing Mary Burr Paxton who is the Director of the Agent Orange Study that was mentioned in your article. I hope that she can help us Veterans and their families that have been stricken with this cancer to get it included as a presumptive disease associated with Agent Orange so we can rightfully claim benefits. It seems odd to me that diabetes can be on the presumptive list but not Head and Neck cancer which can directly be related to toxins. I have never smoked or chew tobacco, so my cancer cannot be related to abuse on my part.

Thank you first for being the primary caregiver to your husband. I know first hand that this is a very difficult job and I so much appreciate the time, effort and grief this cancer has caused to Veterans and their families.

Also thank you for giving us the information to contact Mary Burr Paxton. I e-mailed her yesterday. Did Mary give you any further information that might help you with your husband's claim for benefits?

Please let me know how your husband is progressing and know he will be included in our prayers.

God Bless!
Jim

My hubby and SCC & Agent Orange & Chew
Hi.
My name is Jacki..and my hubby's name is Les. In July of 2010, he was diagnosed with a tumor in his jaw that the dentist thought was just an abcess at first.
It was found to be SCC. All the VA doctors agree verbally that it could be both A.O. and Copenhangen related to the cause as contributing factors, but none of them will put it on paper.
The soft tissue involvement does not match up with any of the numbers on their list of soft tissue cancers for SCC or other cancers I guess.
To me, I feel that if they approve Prostate Cancer for Agent Orange, and other types of cancers, then it should be cancer across the board, and here in Montana I am fighting to get someones attention to get something done.
My hugs and prayers go out to you and yours.
Jacki
P.S. Latter part of last year my hubby had to have a second surgery to rough up his bone graft on his jaw because it wasn't mending to the mandibal and now he's swelling up all over again, and they have to figure out why, and what they're going to do. They say it could be cancer related, but haven't found it yet.

Starpower48 said:

Husbands Tonsil cancer
Mary. I too had cancer of the left tonsil and had a complete neck resection done with radiation in 1999. I have an aggregate of 27 months in vietnam. My first application to the VA was denied because I did not contract the cancer within 10 years of leaving Vietnam, but then they changed the qualifying time period to 30 years, so I reapplied. This time it was not the "right" kind of cancer. I just qualified last year for 60% disability due to ischemic heart disease. At that time they re opened my cancer claim and it was again denied, saying that studies have shown that not a "significant number of returning Vietnam veterans have shown a tendency to develop cancers of the tonsil". I have hired the legal firm of Woods and Woods out of Evansville, Indiana to file an appeal for me. They are veteran specialists and work totally on contingency. I'd be happy to supply you with their contact information if you are interested. The basis for my appeal, which I am currently researching myself, is that studies conducted were not adjusted to consider the number of returning veterans that did not have tonsils. In the 50's and 60's when most of us Vietnam era veterans were growing up, removal of tonsils in childhood was commonplace, and the pedriatic surgery of the day. Significantly reduced numbers of veterans who did not have tonsils MAY have skewed the results of such studies. Just thought you'd like to hear from one more. Good luck.

oral cancer
my husband served in vietnam all of 1969 he was diagnosed with oral cancer in 2003 had part of his tongue removed followed by radiation therapy. that has destroyed his salivary glands , so with no saliva his teeth are now decaying, he also had chemo therapy. the va does give him disability for diabetes but doesn't recognise the oral cancer as being caused by agent orange. it recognizes tonsil, throat but not mouth. I don't see why his is denied.

Thank you
Thank you for posting this information. I lost my father last week due to complications from surgery to remove a tonsil and lymph node. We were at a total loss for what may have caused the tonsil cancer and the doctors were puzzled as well since he didn't smoke or drink. My dad served in the army from 1960-1969 and served in Vietnam in combat for much of that time. It was only brought to my attention today the connection between agent orange and tonsil cancer. I plan to relate the details of my father's case in hopes that it will help adding it to the premtive list you mentioned. Regards

jerryao said:

agent orange
cancer in aug2008 had claim in with va after3rd appeal va addmits cancer caused by agent orange squamous cell car of the tongue had part of tongre removed /radation and chemo cancer back in 2010 on c1 bone in neck rad again contact me for any info i can pass on to you

cancer

read  below and send a letter to Mary Burr Paxton in                     INSTUTE OF MEDICINE    Keck 871 500 Fifth ST.NM     Washington DC 20001  fax 202 334 2939    Pass this along  they need to here from all exposed vets. or they won"t look into it!!!! 

Mouth cancer

I have notified Mary thank you for the information. AS for alcohol and smoking I would be willing to bet 70 percent of the claims being paid out are either X smokers smokers or alcohol users, concidering the government gave rations with tabacco products.I would be willing to bet alot of people started smoking and drinking in the service.I don't know how throat and lung cancer can be on the list and the others not when if it did not go through you mouth it could not get to your throat and lungs!                                                                       Good luck                                                                                                                                                                                                         God Bless and thank you!                                                                                                                                                                                   Jake  mazzantjake@yahoo.com                                                                                      Wake up VA!