I'm sick with despair and rage..what next!

Poststructural Pub
1

Just got the news several weeks ago that I and my mates were sprayed with Agent Orange and that 170 have died of cancer so far, then this s*it hits the news last night.

I almost threw up when the below item came on the news! Was up till four am this morning, my head turning and my stomach rolling. Watched as my sergeant spoke of the five different cancers he had in his system now.

From CBC News;


NB.CBC.CA News - Full Story :

Chemical used on base deadlier than Agent Orange
Last Updated: Jun 13 2005 12:30 PM ADT
FREDERICTON - Documents obtained by CBC News show that a chemical defoliant more powerful than Agent Orange was sprayed at CFB Gagetown during the 1960s.

A 1968 U.S. army report lists several chemicals tested on the base in 1966, including a spray known as Agent Purple, which is related to Agent Orange, but more powerful.

A leukemia specialist at the Ottawa General Hospital said one published report in the journal Nature estimated that Agent Purple had three times more cancer-causing material than Agent Orange.

“Purple is even more laced with dioxin,” said Dr. Richard van der Jagt. “Dioxin is something we know to be cancer-causing. These are very toxic agents to human health, something to be very concerned about in public health.”


Spraying Agent Orange in Vietnam

Earl Graves, who served in the Black Watch Regiment in the 1960s, said he didn’t know they were spraying Agent Orange or Agent Purple at CFB Gagetown.

The retired sergeant says the soldiers were simply told to cover their heads when the spray planes flew by.

“There were out in the exercise area and the planes flew over spraying, and they were told just to put ponchos over their head, that it wouldn’t hurt them,” Graves said.

The defence department says it’s still researching what chemicals were used on the base.

It says Agent Orange was only sprayed in remote areas, in a collaborative effort with the Americans.

In the 1960s, American forces were looking for the best chemical means to defoliate vast tracts of jungle in Vietnam, in order to deprive their enemy of cover.

At the same time, Canada’s military was looking for a relatively easy way to kill small trees and brush in the artillery training areas of CFB Gagetown.

Soldiers who feel their health was damaged as a result of their exposure to the chemicals are seeking compensation from Ottawa.


I just feel sick, does every little ailment mean something bigger is happening or is going to happen!

MarkB

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Jeeze, MarkB. Dunno what else to say.

3

Geez, Mark,

That is awful! I don’t really know what to say…

Mark

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I would feel the same way, Mark. Scared and overwhelmingly angry. And paranoid. I hope you’ll keep us up to date. Maybe there’s a silver lining out there, although this is one hell of a dark cloud. I’m sorry this happened to you.

Take care,

Cara

5

That really sucks!

When supposedly “civilized” countries treat their own citizens as nothing more than lab rats, how can we hope that so-called “third world” countries will do any better? :cry:

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MarkB, I’m sorry you are having to deal with this. I would be flipping out to say the least.

I wonder if you could find a really good doctor who could work with you on both physical concerns and anxiety about them. Some doctors are not very good at treating worry about illness, others consider treating worry about illness just as important. Then you could get a very thorough in the hospital check up, so you know right at the moment you are okay. And then when you are feeling anxious just go see this doctor, even if it is something little, because he will understand that you have a good reason to be feeling anxious. Maybe he could set up a program of regular checks for you so you could let go of feeling worried all the time because you know you are being screened for things on a regular basis.

I know this advice sounds lame. I just hate to think of you always wondering if you have cancer and feeling sick and not sleeping.

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Mark:

I’m sorry to hear your news. I don’t know if you’re looking for info. but here are several links -

This EPA link has mostly science info. The Dioxin Reassessment is probably the most comprehensive review of any toxic chemical ever. There is widespread agreement in the scientific commuity that it accurately describes the best dioxin science. There is no agreement about what to do about it.

http://cfpub2.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=87843

This FDA link has some plain English FAQs on Dioxin

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/dioxinqa.html

Here’s a link to the next International Dixoin Symposium in Toronto in August

http://www.dioxin2005.org/advisory/default.asp

The bottom line of all this is that dioxin is very toxic but does not present acute risk. The US general population has a high body burden of dioxin almost entirely from exposure to animal fats in the commercial food supply.

The sites above are very comprehensive but they are “official.” If you are uncomfortable with that, you should also seek out the views of non-governmental organizations. Be careful. There’s lots of mis-information out there.

My own view is that while your exposure is troubling, you need to keep it in perspective. We all have a 1 in 4 lifetime risk of cancer. Put another way, 25% of us will have some sort of cancer at some point in our lives. I’ve had one of the treatable forms of skin cancer and now monitor for it. I still go to the beach and don’t always use sunscreen. If I live into my 70s, I will almost certainly get prostate cancer. But I still play the whistle most every day and life is still fun most of the time.

Good Luck

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Depleted Uranium is the Iraq War’s Agent Orange. The price US soldiers pay to do the corporate government’s biddings is too high. The price people living in the countries where it takes place is unfathomable. The entire scenario is a major human tragedy.

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I second that - but probably NOT the local VA Hospital!

My father was in the Air Force during WWII and Korea, and he was always sick. Wonder what he was exposed to? I’ll never know since his records were part of the bunch that were supposedly destroyed in a fire at the AF records office in the late 60s or early 70s.

Good luck.

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I agree, Charlene.

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Mark, apart from the obvious good advice you are getting I don’t know what to say except that I’m very sorry this has happened to you. The lack of awareness and lack of precautions taken back in those days is still staggering all these years on. I was exposed to DDT for routine weed spraying as part of my school training in farming techniques years after it had been proved dangerous. But the fact that lots of us probably have less serious stories to tell like yours hardly makes things any better for you. Lame though it sounds, all I can say is good luck. I could say a lot more about the people who exposed you to this but I hardly need to.

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I said a prayer for you, Mark. hugs

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Mark, as well as contacting the VA, you may want to see your current practitioner for a full work up in light of this information. You may also want to contact a psychiatrist to start dealing with the emotional upheaval. Please be proactive on your physical and mental health. Both are important.

My thoughts go with you.

sincerely,
Tyg

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In Times such as this,Lame words are often all we have.

Hang in there Bro.

Slan,
D.

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:frowning:

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Mark - will continue to pray and think good thoughts…

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Like some of the others, I’m at a loss for words, Mark. I will keep you and yours in my prayers and I will be hoping the best for you.

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I wish I could say I am suprised at this happening, but I can’t. I will say prayers for you. The stress of this news must be overwhelming.

You’ve gotten some great advice here. I can’t add a thing, except remember that there are exceptions to every rule . For example: a vet I worked for use to play in DDT as a kid. His Dad used it as an insectiside and he litterally played in barrells of the stuff. He’s almost 60 now and has always been healthy.

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:confused: Charlene? :confused:


Mark, it is scary and I’m saddened that you find yourself in this position. I would feel betrayed and vulnerable, and as though I had lost control of my life. I will keep you and your friends in my thoughts and prayers.

There are a number of conditions which have been associated with exposure to dioxin-containing compounds, as well as some which have not. As someone already pointed out, we all get conditions as we age. It’s sometimes difficult to tell what we might have just gotten anyway. Not that it makes it any less painful for you now.

Exposure to dioxin-containing compounds does not mean that you will get a disease, but only that your chance of getting the disease may be a little higher. As Cynth pointed out, it’s important for your own peace of mind to get into a regular program of care so that you don’t have to worry that you already have a condition and so that you can get early treatment if you do have one.

This is particularly important for adult-onset diabetes and prostate cancer, both of which have been associated with Agent Orange. The prostate cancer appears earlier than it would normally, even in men in their early 50s (several of my coworkers have it :sniffle: ).

The US Department of Veterans Affairs provides exams and treatment for those exposed to Agent Orange (Vietnam era vets, including some stationed in Korea). As Vietnam-era veterans are ageing, this is becoming a major outreach program within the VA. It is to a veteran’s advantage to seek care for this from the VA because the conditions may be compensable, but more importantly because VA doctors know what to look for and anticipate that you may have one of these conditions. Non-VA physicians do not know what conditions are associated or what screening you need.

I’m not sure if you served in the US military or not–looks like you may be in Canada–but here are some webpages with information that you may find useful.

General information:

VA.gov | Veterans Affairs (note link at bottom for veterans who are not living in the US)

http://www1.va.gov/agentorange/

Link to a brochure:

http://www1.va.gov/agentorange/docs/AOIB10-49JUL03.pdf

Link to the VA regulation dealing with Agent Orange procedures. Reading this will help you understand what your risks may be and what the VA will do for you. If you are Canadian or have to be examined by a non-VA physician, you should take this with you.

Note that this mentions screening for hepatitis C, which is extremely common in Vietnam-era veterans. Note also that it says you do not need to be enrolled in the VA medical care system to receive a screening exam and that the exam should be provided to you within 30 days of your request.

http://www1.va.gov/agentorange/docs/Agent_Orange_Reg_Handbook1302.1_10-05-04.pdf

Link to a webpage which will locate a VA facility near you:
http://www1.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp?isFlash=1

If you are an honorably discharged US veteran of any era, you should enroll for medical care at the VA, even if you think you won’t want to use it. The eligibilities change constantly, so you may or may not be eligible now, but it might open up for you later. If you are already enrolled, keep it current. As you age, just the prescription drug benefits are worth it.

If you know a World War II veteran, make sure they’re enrolled soon. A lot of them do not know they are eligible for care.

If you know anyone returning from the middle eastern conflict, encourage them to check out VA care as soon as they return. There is a special program available for them. Getting that care will help document any conditions they may have acquired or will acquire later because of service in the middle east.

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Just a personal thing - my father never had the best of care at the VA hospital. It was slightly better than the base hospital but not much. Also, I was thinking since the VA hospital is run by the government, if there’s anything to cover up they would cover it up, whereas a regular civilian hospital wouldn’t be controlled as much by the feds.

Big Brother will probably accuse me of thoughtcrime now and come and get me and take me to room 101.