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Widow Warns Vientam Vets

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Berta

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This is via Colonel Dan- this widow lives in a village not far from me here in NY-I wonder if the VA could recognize these symptoms of this rare and deadly parasite infection-

http://www.vva.org/veteran/0807/letters.html

PARASITE WARNING

I am writing to inform all Vietnam veterans about a potential health risk that they may have been exposed to while serving in Vietnam: the little-known danger from parasites.

My husband, who was otherwise healthy, passed away on January 20, 2006, from cholangiocarcinoma, cancer of the bile duct of the liver. It is very rare in the United States, but very prevalent in Vietnam and surrounding countries. There are two known causes of this type of cancer: from contracting hepatitis C and from ingesting a parasite from the water supply in Vietnam. My husband did not have hepatitis C; therefore, it was determined that his cancer derived from a parasite. I have received official notification from the VA that his death was service related, which is not something the VA determines without an overwhelming amount of evidence.

This cancer does not manifest itself until later in life, when you are between 60 and 70 years old. Once the symptoms occur, which usually include jaundice, it is very difficult to treat or beat. My husband was 58 years old when he passed away. If he had been informed that there was a possibility that he could have ingested a parasite while serving in Vietnam, he would have taken precautions to have his bile ducts examined, possibly extending his life. The parasite is long gone, but it left behind damaged cells, which developed into cancerous tumors in the bile ducts.

If you spent time in Southeast Asia and are having gastrointestinal issues for no apparent reason, please have your physician check for damage within the bile ducts. It may save your life.

Mrs. Edward S. (Pete) Harrison

Horseheads, New York

********** MORE INFO ON Cholangiocarcinoma at

http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic343.htm Partial Reprint below

The high prevalence of cholangiocarcinoma among people of Asian decent is attributable to endemic chronic parasitic infestation.

History: Symptoms may include jaundiceclay-colored stools, bilirubinuria (dark urine), pruritus, weight loss, and abdominal pain.

Causes: The etiology of most bile duct cancers remains undetermined. Currently, gallstones are not believed to increase the risk of CCC. Chronic viral hepatitis and cirrhosis also do not appear to be risk factors.

Infections

In Southeast Asia, chronic infections with liver flukes, Clonorchis sinensis, and Opisthorchis viverrini have been causally related to CCC.

Other parasites, including Ascaris lumbricoides, have been implicated in the pathogenesis.

Inflammatory bowel disease

A strong relationship exists between CCC and PSC. CCC generally develops in patients with long-standing ulcerative colitis and PSC.

The lifetime risk of developing this cancer in the setting of PSC is 10-20%. At increased risk are patients with ulcerative colitis without symptomatic PSC and a small subset of patients with Crohn disease.

Chemical exposures

Certain chemical exposures have been implicated in the development of bile duct cancers, primarily among workers in the aircraft, rubber, and wood finishing industries.

CCC occasionally has developed years after administration of the radiopaque medium thorium dioxide (ie, thorotrast).

Congenital diseases of the biliary tree, including choledochal cysts and Caroli disease, have been associated with CCC.

Other conditions rarely associated with CCC include bile duct adenomas, biliary papillomatosis, and alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency."

GRADUATE ! Nov 2nd 2007 American Military University !

When thousands of Americans faced annihilation in the 1800s Chief

Osceola's response to his people, the Seminoles, was

simply "They(the US Army)have guns, but so do we."

Sameo to us -They (VA) have 38 CFR ,38 USC, and M21-1- but so do we.

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  • HadIt.com Elder

Berta,

Between 1971-1974 I was in hospital 4 times. The PARASITE exposure came up several times. They would ask if I had been out of country (Vietnam). Had I ever been treated for PARASITES? Then the subject went away & I got 10% for IB. I always wondered about this & even some of the medications I took some 30 years ago. This was hot topic in late 70's early 80's and one vet sent out tons of info about PARASITE EXPOSURE.

Don

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Don-it is alarming to me-

just like the leishmaniasis case-I know the lawyer who is handling that case for the veteran-

He got this disease from sand fly bites-in southwest Asia-(I think)

I interviewed this attorney for SVR radio (Bob Walsh) the 1/16/08 broadcast soon to be posted in archives at the Stardust site-

we discussed this case for almost an hour the night before but never really got to it on the air and will in the future-

The disease had laid dormant for years but then his wife and children became somehow infected with it-

The Military is a dangerous place regardless of MOS or where and when-

at SVR there are many vets as listeners with exposure issues that VA wont SC.

I consider inservice Exposures to chems and AO JP 4-5 etc etc just like exposure to parasites.I dont think the VA really is medically up to date on some of these conditions at all.

At least the leeches didnt carry anything- did they?

GRADUATE ! Nov 2nd 2007 American Military University !

When thousands of Americans faced annihilation in the 1800s Chief

Osceola's response to his people, the Seminoles, was

simply "They(the US Army)have guns, but so do we."

Sameo to us -They (VA) have 38 CFR ,38 USC, and M21-1- but so do we.

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PS needed to add- the leishmaniasis case is an FTCA tort -Brown V Veterans Administration-

I think he was bitten in Afganistan.

Funny I found an old hadit post of mine using a Desert storm vet as example who had gotten residual disability from a sand flea bite-

and then I found some cases that were actually like the fictitious case I made up-

One never knows what incident or event- even seeming minor at the time- in service- can eventually cause dehabilitating illnesses.

GRADUATE ! Nov 2nd 2007 American Military University !

When thousands of Americans faced annihilation in the 1800s Chief

Osceola's response to his people, the Seminoles, was

simply "They(the US Army)have guns, but so do we."

Sameo to us -They (VA) have 38 CFR ,38 USC, and M21-1- but so do we.

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