CLL and the nuclear Navy?

donald54 said:

Late effect radiation due to serving on a nuclear submarine
I served 10 years on a nuclear powered submarine in the weapons department dealing with nuclear weapons. I have a case with the va with very little help from the va doctors, they become brain dead when you talk about radiation. Presently I am looking for a private doctor that knows about late effect radiation exposure pherifical neuropathy. If any one know about a doctor or wants to talk about how to deal with the va email me at donald.54@live.com.

I served on an SSN in the mid 70's. Weapons department. I was diagnosed with B Cell CLL this past November.

I'm interested in seeing if that had anything to do with my Leukemia.

ED597 said:

I served on an SSN in the mid

I served on an SSN in the mid 70's. Weapons department. I was diagnosed with B Cell CLL this past November.

I'm interested in seeing if that had anything to do with my Leukemia.

Served in the late 60's for over three years, was diagnosed 14 years ago, also kidney cancer and a brain tumor.

In the late 70's and early 80's I surved on a Boomer, I got out in '83 then in June 2009 I went through surgery and treatment for brain cancer(primarey brain tumor thankfully it has been stable so far) now in 2015 I have aa leasion on my kidney suspected carcenoma. I know of one other ex-Bubblehead has died of primary brain tumor, I just wonder how meny more are out there, I am not mad but I think we have earned the rite to know what they know.

donald54 said:

Late effect radiation due to serving on a nuclear submarine
I served 10 years on a nuclear powered submarine in the weapons department dealing with nuclear weapons. I have a case with the va with very little help from the va doctors, they become brain dead when you talk about radiation. Presently I am looking for a private doctor that knows about late effect radiation exposure pherifical neuropathy. If any one know about a doctor or wants to talk about how to deal with the va email me at donald.54@live.com.

MY HUSBAND SERVED ON A NUCLEAR SUBMARINE AND HE TOO WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CLL

Joe_fh said:

Funny this subject comes

Funny this subject comes up.

I served on a boomer in the 70s and was diagnosed with ccRcc 3 years ago. I have two other friends whom I served with - different boats - that were also diagnosed with Kidney cancer. I once asked the VA oncologist about this he dismissed it as unfortunate coincidence.

It would be interesting to compile a list of all submariners that were stricken and compare that ratio to the ratio of the general publc.

My husband served on a nuclear submarine for over three years, he was diagnosed with Kidney Cancer in 2010 before that was CLL

My husband was diagnosed with CLL in 1999 he had served on a nuclear submarine in the 60s, since then he developed kidney cancer, a brain meningioma, and a few more cancers. Has A claim with VA but they keep turning him down

ED597 said:

I served on an SSN in the mid

I served on an SSN in the mid 70's. Weapons department. I was diagnosed with B Cell CLL this past November.

I'm interested in seeing if that had anything to do with my Leukemia.

My husband also served on a submarine and was diagnosed with CLL

ssnwidow said:

My husband was SSN

My husband was an instructor at the D1G for 2.5 years and was on a nuclear submarine after that.  It was an older skate class submarine, Sargo.  He attributed his brain tumor to a one time large dose (exceeded 3rem in 10 minutes) while doing a purification change out.  I have a claim in the VA, as did he, but he died before it was determined.  He had a brain tumor in his spine, cervical.  They said it was extremely rare, and it left him paralyzed for the last year of his life.  Prior to the paralyzation, he was in excrutiating pain for 3 years.  When we finally figured out it was more than likely from all his radiation exposure, all we got were blank looks.  He told me before we got married that he "will never live to be an old man, between the radiation and the asbestos, I will die of cancer".  He died a year ago at the age of 62.  He was vibrant and healthy, never sick.  He served in the Navy from 1971-1977.  I wish someone would look into Navy Submarine veterans and all classes of cancer.  

I know how you feel, my husband was a machinist on a sub for over three years From 1966 to 1969.   He put in a claim about 5 or 6  years ago after he  was digagnosed with CLL in 1999 and Kidney cancer in 2010.  they turned him down shen he put in for lung cancer but still waiting on CLL and kidney cancer.  His cancer spread to the bone and brain and in the end his spine.  He fought for over seventeen years with CLL and five with all the other cancers he was diagosnosed with   Every doctor said one was not caused by another until the lung cancer went to bone and the brain.  Claim is still waiting for review but he also didnt live.  

ssnwidow said:

My husband was SSN

My husband was an instructor at the D1G for 2.5 years and was on a nuclear submarine after that.  It was an older skate class submarine, Sargo.  He attributed his brain tumor to a one time large dose (exceeded 3rem in 10 minutes) while doing a purification change out.  I have a claim in the VA, as did he, but he died before it was determined.  He had a brain tumor in his spine, cervical.  They said it was extremely rare, and it left him paralyzed for the last year of his life.  Prior to the paralyzation, he was in excrutiating pain for 3 years.  When we finally figured out it was more than likely from all his radiation exposure, all we got were blank looks.  He told me before we got married that he "will never live to be an old man, between the radiation and the asbestos, I will die of cancer".  He died a year ago at the age of 62.  He was vibrant and healthy, never sick.  He served in the Navy from 1971-1977.  I wish someone would look into Navy Submarine veterans and all classes of cancer.  

I am so very sorry to hear of your loss.  You mentioned your husband received a large dose of radiation while doing a purification changeout.  I believe you are referring to the Barium Hydroxide resin changeout performed at D1G circa 1974.  If so, I was the ELT who provided radiological coverage during the resin changeout.  I too have suffered from cancer.  melanoma, basal cell, and prostate.  

Here is what I wrote in my Notice Of Disagreement about that particular event when the VA denied my radiation claim:

Radiation modeling is being used by the VA to unfairly and unjustly deny veteran radiation exposure disability claims. Models used to calculate a probability of cancer inducement on the general population are not usable to calculate individual cancer probabilities for a radiation exposed individual. Models have no information for individual health or DNA information, and therefore cannot predict individual genetic response to radiation exposure. Models have no information on where, when, or how the individual was exposed. Models have no information on exposure rate, location, or distance from a radiation source. For example, I once provided radiological coverage during a resin change-out operation. When the resin was being discharged, I experienced a “foldover” on my monitoring instrument (an AN-PDR 45, which measured radiation levels from 0 to 500 Roentgens per hour). A “foldover” event occurs when radiation levels are so intense, the radiation being emitted causes the quenching gas inside the radiation detector to go into complete saturation so as to go to full scale, and then fold over to zero. No model can account for incidents such as that. Neither can a model accurately simulate radiation exposure geometry, such as straddling radiation emitting sources, like piping or deal with transitioning (moving) radiation sources.

I hope to hear back from you.  I just found this forum.  If you don't mind, what was your husband's name?  I'm sure he and I knew each other since I was a D1G instructor from February 1972 until September 1974.  Again, I am sorry for your loss and fully understand the problems with the VA and radiation claims.  I am in the process of submitting my appeal to the Board of Veterans appeals.  I believe the "model" used by the VA to determine probable cause is fatally flawed and does not give veterans any benefit of the doubt.  It's a great model for denying claims and saving the government a lot of money, but most radiation exposed veterans are getting the shaft.