Hello | Agent Orange and Prostate Cancer | Forum

Looks like I am first.

I flew helicopters in Vietnam and followed up with time in the SC National Guard for a total of 22 years.  Loss of high freq hearing due to 4,500 hours with turbine engines.  Apparently brought back AO with me.  I had a flight physical ever year in the Army.  One year was a flight check where basically all you had to do was stand up.  The next year was a full flight physical including the old finger wave.  Some years later my family doctor suggested I do the prostate check every year since I had a family history.  My Father was diagnosed in his mid 80's.  I was 53 (1999) when I was diagnosed with PC.  I did a radical prostatectomy in Jan, 2000.  Gleason of 7 with tumor "to the margin".  PSA was zero for 18 months and then rose so we followed up with radiation.  PSA was at zero at end of radiation but rose immediately so I started Lupron.  In 2006 PSA went from 1.1 to 92 in 4 months (off Lupron) and I noticed a lump on my neck which was PC in lymph nodes.  Stayed on Lupron full time since and PSA went down to around 2 and then began to rise. Chemo started in 3/2010.

Someone gave me a patch saying I was a Life Member of the Agent Orange Health Club.

I live in Jacksonville, Florida and just turned 64.

Glad to have you onboard.  I got my initial payment from the VA for the surgery in 2000.  When it came back, I have been 100% since I did radiation in 2003.  The Lupron treatment is considerde chemo so that is 100% also.  After a while, I put in for Permanent and Total.  the State of Florida has guys at the local VA Clinic that help with the paperwork.  The DAV service agents also have a good reputation in this area.

Make sure you check if your state has benefits.  Since i am P&T, I get a free vehicle plate and I am exempt from homestead taxes.