Agent Orange - Pancreatic Cancer Research Study

Our Stories

 

 

We have reached out to the Vietnam Veteran community for their stories of their battle with Pancreatic Cancer.  Some have survived, and some did not.  All these stories should be included in the research study to establish Agent Orange is a probable cause of Pancreatic Cancer.  I have received the following from 12 Vietnam Veterans.  If you wish to have your story included, then please submit it to the following.  Please reach out to others to have them included also.

 

I just wish we could do something to help them.

 

  Send us your story

 

Survivors
 

● Don Pugh - Woodside, California 

First Lieutenant, Corp of Engineers
Stationed in Long Binh from June 1969 to June 1970


Long Binh was a large supply depot with a long perimeter. The jungle grew rapidly around the base and provided good hiding for the bad guys. We were frequently spayed by Agent Orange and other chemicals that no one admitted were very unhealthy.


In 2000 I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer which was successfully treated at Stanford Medicine. At that time I became aware of the fact that Agent Orange is a probable cause of prostate cancer, and subsequently filed a claim with the VA. And I also learned that the VA stonewalled agreeing with this for 20 years before they finally admitted that Agent Orange was bad stuff and probably caused my Prostate Cancer and some 10 other diseases.
 

In 2020, I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was successfully treated by Dr. Poultsides at Stanford Medicine. I discovered that no one had done substantial research to convince the VA that pancreatic cancer could also be caused by Agent Orange. It is unfortunate that the burden of proof is on the soldiers and sailors that risked their lives for our country. So we need to do this ourselves. The goal of this study is to fund the research into this question.

 

● Ron Whitcanack
Captain - Medical Service Corps
Stationed in Da Nang from June 1970 to June 1971.

I was diagnosed with stomach cancer and pancreatic cancer in November of 2020 while living in Carmel.

Camp Baxter was the actual location which was an old Navy Hospital. My duties took many to many of the locations in 3 and 4 Corps (the upper 1/2 of South Vietnam).   No history of cancer in my Family yet I have had 5 primary Melanomas, numerous surgeries for the melanomas and one year on Interferon.

These (the melanomas) occurred from 1992 on--I still continue to see an oncologist for the melanomas and successfully persuaded the VA for a generous disability rating (I am considered 100% disabled by the VA but that includes some other items such as ischemic heart disease, bypass surgery etc..)

I was diagnosed with stomach cancer and pancreatic cancer in November of 2020 while living in Carmel. I had the stomach tumor removed in January of 2021 at Stanford. The Surgeon who removed the tumor was very surprised that the stomach tumor had no relation to the pancreatic cancer. Dr Poultsides performed whipple surgery in April of 2020 at Stanford. I was informed that 80% of the time, the Pancreatic cancer returns during the first two years post whipple. I just passed 2years and 2 months with a CT scan that was clean.  Presently I am having some medical services performed at the Martinez VA clinic but most of my medical work is done in the private sector in eluding my oncologist.

I will be 80 this coming January--I am married (for 55 years) with 2 great children, one who lives in Salt Lake and the other in Lafayette, Ca. We live 15 minutes from my daughter in a senior center (Viamonte) which is very new and a pleasant place to reside.

I will be checking with the Martinez VA on how to be included in the registry. I doubt if they know anything about it. I did put in a claim to the VA for the pancreatic cancer but it was denied. I wonder if there is any way to know how many claims for pancreatic cancer have been submitted to the VA? I'm sure they all have been denied.

Also, I recall burn pits in Da Nang--should that angle be pursued?
Yes, I would like to be part of the email list.
Do I contact Poultsides? It would seem difficult for him to complete his research without talking to vets with pancreatic cancer.
Any, forward, day by day,

 

● Larry Domrese
US Navy

 I was diagnosed at the end of November 2021. My tumor is inoperable. I started chemo, on an every three-week schedule, a few weeks later in December. My chemo is Folfirinox. For first twelve cycles I received three drugs, 5FU, Oxaliplatin and Irinotecan. After that I got 5FU and Irinotecan until my platelets started to drop. Now I get both drugs about every other cycle depending on my platelet count. I have tolerated the chemo pretty well. I feel off to some extent (kind of "icky") for five to seven days after infusion and then normal for about two weeks and then it is time to go around again. I am living my life and keeping active, taking trips, going to grandkids' activities and getting married in July of 2022. My exceptional sweet wife signed on for this journey knowing what was in store. I am blessed! My first wife died in 2020 after dealing with Alzheimer's for eight and a half years. My prostate cancer was treated in January 2020 with radical prostatectomy (cut that sucker out!) and my PSA has been undetectable since.

I have searched extensively for information about pancreatic cancer and Agent Orange, and found, just as you did, that there is very little information about Agent Orange and pancreatic cancer. That is how I came across the study at Stanford that you inspired and am well aware of the website. Thank you for that. I also learned that pancreatic cancer is presumed for post 9/11 veterans exposed to burn pits, and that dioxin (which is a component of AO) is produced from the burn pits. So, WTF! My hope was that one of the doctors working on the study would be able to write a Nexus letter for me. As I thought about it more after sending the message I realized that might be problematic for them in that making a claim that pancreatic cancer is at least as likely as not caused by AO would show a bias and/or conflict of interest and undermine the validity of the study. At least due to the lack of studies and information the VA can't show any validly supported statement that AO does not cause pancreatic cancer, even though in my claim denial they say that medical and scientific evidence does not support a conclusion that pancreatic cancer can result from AO exposure. I think I have built a good case supporting my appeal but have had no luck yet in finding someone able and willing to write a Nexus letter for me. I still have one request that is being considered.

Have you seen the study conducted by Admiral E. R. Zumwalt that was commissioned by the then Secretary of the Veteran's Administration in 1989 on the Association of Adverse Health Effects and Exposure to Agent Orange? Here is the link; Zumwalt-Study.pdf (vva20.org). I also found an article saying that the VA seldom accepts this report as evidence supporting a claim for service connection as a result of AO exposure. Still, I am going to use it in my claim appeal. I have a number of other sources of information that I think are helpful, including some VA case citations where a denial of benefits for pancreatic cancer from AO were overturned or remanded, however the VA does not grant precedence from these decisions for other cases.  (NOTE:  We will be posting these documents on the website as they are received)

● LTC Guy Copeland by his daughter Michelle Hale (Deceased - Aug 28, 2023)
Signal Corps Officer and Army Aviator
US Army Jan 1966 - Jan 1988


My Father flew Chinooks in Vietnam. He was exposed to a significant amount of AO. He has stage 4 pancreatic adenocarcinoma (had a total whipple/pancreatectomy in 2019 at Johns Hopkins). It has since appeared around his colon and he is receiving chemotherapy. In addition, he has MGUS and ischemic heart disease. We would like to know more about this study, and he would like to participate by providing his history and medical info if possible. I have copied him and my Mother on this email as well.

 

● Serviceman. Allery by his daughter Dawn Allery

 

Hello I'm writing in regards to my Father who was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer!! I'm hoping you can point me in the right direction!! My Dad is a Vietnam Veteran!! Please get back to me as soon as possible 

Dawn Allery

 

  ● Larry Holman - Philadelphia, PA

I wanted to let you know that I recently underwent a Whipple surgical procedure for ampullary cancer by Dr. Sanjay Reddy at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, PA.  The cancer was found to have invaded the head of my pancreas, which was removed as part of the procedure.  I am anticipating future chemotherapy to prevent the cancer from returning.

I served in Vietnam with NMCB FIVE and Seabee Team 0511, in Quang Nam (DaNang), Hau Nghia (Bao Trai),  Tay Ninh (Go Dau Ha) Provinces, in 1966-1968.

Please let me know if you need any further information from me.  My contact information is below.

Very respectfully,

Larry Holman, MS, MBA

LCDR MSC USN Retired

 

 ● Jim J.

I recently underwent surgery for pancreatic disease at UCLA Med.

Half of my pancreas and all of my spleen was removed. A few years ago I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and that was removed. I am getting VA disability for loss of my prostate due to exposure to Agent Orange, and am wondering if there is any connection between Agent Orange and pancreatic disease?  My pancreatic cysts had an 80% of becoming cancer had I not had surgery, and I had several bouts of pancreatitis in the years prior to surgery.

Is there evidence to support a connection to Agent Orange?

Thank you for your prompt response.

 

 ● David Turner

retired 1sgt 24 years

I recently underwent surgery for pancreatic disease at UCLA Med.

My VA claims have been turned down. They want me to find a doctor to say Agent orange cause the tumor. That is a joke, no doctor will never say that. Good luck with your search.

 

 

                       In Memory                    

 

● Ernesto Aguila by his daughter Ixchal Aguilar

 

Hello, my father served in Vietnam and contracted pancreatic cancer in 2020 as well. He made it less than a year. Just letting you know to add another to the list if it helps your cause. Ernesto Aguilar was his name

 

● Ernesto Aguila by his wife Verna Aguilar

 

My husband, Ernesto Aguilar, died in 2020 from pancreatic cancer. Diagnosed on February 17th and died April 1st. It was too late for any kind of treatment by the time we found out.

He was a Vietnam Veteran with PTSD. His PTSD was finally recognized in 2010 and he was considered 100% disabled.

If his story will help your research, please let me know.


● Steven Ruberg by his wife Kathy Ruberg


Vietnam 1968 to 1969


My husband died in 2005 from pancreatic cancer. He filed a claim with the VA before his death. The denial came after his death. He was in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969 in the Army in the thickest part of Agent Orange area. He also suffered from a skin condition due to Agent Orange. I was wondering if he is on your list for your research. His name is Steven Ruberg, BD: 09/19/1948. Thank you.
Kathy Ruberg
 

● Serviceman Mountain by his wife Ann Mountain

I found your contact information while doing research in the connection between pancreatic cancer and Agent Orange. My husband served in Vietnam. Among a myriad of health issues throughout his live he succumbed to Pancreatic Cancer in 2015. After reading that the VA now considers Agent Orange a presumptive cause of pancreatic cancer, I applied for Agent Orange survivors benefits. The VA is requesting that I send them proof that Agent Orange causes this cancer. Is there any literature that you know of regarding this?
Thank you.
Ann Mountain
 

 ● Serviceman Caughlin by his wife Sharon

Aug 16, 2023 - I stumbled upon your study today while researching any updated information about the link between pancreatic cancer and agent orange exposure. I do this periodically because my husband was diagnosed and left this earth due to this deadly cancer after serving as a SeeBee in the Vietnam War. Please let me know if you need information on my late husband to add to your study.

Thank you and God Bless.--

Sharon C

 

 ● Milton L. Shiver  by his wife Patti Shiver

 

I am a widow of a Vietnam Veteran who died of pancreatic cancer.  We had filed for a disability claim with the Veterans Administration prior to his death.  Unfortunately, he passed away before the claim could proceed.  Because we had made the initial claim prior to his death, I am continuing the claim process for my husband, Milton L. Shiver, since he is no longer able to do it himself.

 

Can you please send me a copy of the research study on agent orange and pancreatic cancer?  The only thing I am able to access is the first page.  Unfortunately, due to the demands of the VA for his doctor, his oncologist is no longer interested in assisting me with this claim so I am on my own.  

 

Any help you can give me would be very much appreciated. 

 

Is it too late to include my deceased husband in the Agent Orange Pancreatic Cancer study? I am in the process of supplying information to the Veterans Administration concerning his disability claim for pancreatic cancer. Unfortunately, he passed away before the claim could proceed very far. He did not receive any medical treatments from the VA. All of his doctors were in private practice. He was a patient at Emory Winship Cancer Institute, Johns Creek, in Atlanta, Georgia. In actuality, he refused to go to the doctors at the VA.

I would be more than happy to supply you with any information. I wish I had found this before now but I have been consumed with procuring, copying his medical records. Unfortunately after providing what he feels was enough information and the VA requesting more, his oncologist has decided not to help me any further.

Thank you, Patti Shiver

 

 ● Ret LTC Guy Copeland  By his daughter  Michelle Hale

Sept 13, 2023 I wanted to let you (and those doing the study) know that Ret LTC Guy Copeland passed away on August 28, 2023 from pancreatic adenocarcinoma. He felt very strongly that his exposure to AO in Vietnam caused his cancer. Here are some key points he shared with me while he was able:

Please continue to keep me in the loop with the study progress. I was able to start a claim prior to his death. I believe it has been transferred to my Mother now. 

 

Michelle Hale

 

 


 

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