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MGUS with Polycythemia Vera (PV)

Blood Cancers & Disorders | Last Active: May 6, 2023 | Replies (38)
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@vnvet

Thanks for your reply Lori. I was diagnosed with PV initially by my primary care physician at the VA a little over a year ago. I have been in treatment with a civilian oncologist, initially requiring phlebotomy and drug (hydroxyurea) but after 4 months, just the drug. I've been stable with lab numbers since then. I'm a combat veteran of Vietnam with a lot of exposure to "agent orange" and am curious about the relationship of PV and other suspicious medical conditions that have shown up since my return (skin and lung) that have not yet been recognized by the VA in it's list of "accepted" links to the defoliants that were used.

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Replies to "Thanks for your reply Lori. I was diagnosed with PV initially by my primary care physician..."
Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | Jan 11, 2023

Hi@vnvet, First let me thank you for your service to our country. I lost my brother to his exposure of Agent Organge 4 years after he was doused with it in a training exercise at Ft Lewis, Washington. He was so ill immediately afterwards that he couldn’t stay in active service but was at least honorably discharged. He developed Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and passed away when he was 27 years old. That was in 1969…what a waste. And the army accepted no responsibility. At least now there is some acknowledgment of the human toll this chemical takes on the people who were exposed. I’m sorry you were one of them.

You’re not alone in this as there are some previous discussions where veterans and members have shared experiences with Agent Orange. Here are some of the links below and a link from the American Cancer Society. Some don’t apply to you directly but you’ll be able to join in conversations with other vets.

American Cancer Society has this:
ttps://www.cancer.org/healthy/cancer-causes/chemicals/agent-orange-and-cancer.html

Agent Orange and Neurological Disorders:
— https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/agent-orange-and-neurological-disorders/

Agent Orange/Dioxin related illnesses:
— https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/agent-orangedioxin-related-illnesses/

Also, here are a couple of links that you may find helpful:
What you need to know about agent orange:
— http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/17744/10-things-every-veteran-know-agent-orange/

How to go about getting help/compensation:
— http://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/claims-postservice-agent_orange.asp

I’m happy to hear the Hydroxyurea is working for you. How often do you need repeat blood work?

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