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14
stories on
3 pages
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Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma - CAF misdiagnosis
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“This Panel denies the claim submitted by the Veteran for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma as Depleted Uranium has not been approved by the Canadian Government as a cause. However, this Panel finds the Veteran’s Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma could have been caused by exposure to to significant amounts of Benzene during the course of his Military career, therefor, we have revised the claim for NHL from DU to Benzene and are pleased to inform the Veteran that said claim has been approved”.
Len joined the military in the 70’s and served in the Reserves and Regular force for 40 years. He then continued to serve in the same position he held in the military but as a civilian with public service, he eventually served our country for over 45 years. He was posted all over the world and did many, many tours overseas in peace keeping and war torn countries. He was assigned with NATO in Sarajevo in the 90’s. They were flown in by the US directly at the airport. As they were landing the pilot came on speaker and announced the airport was under attack. “Get out and find a safe place, we will find you”. Len and another soldier found refuge in sea containers at the side of the runway. They were there for at least 3 days…found later by the US forces and were told their “safe place” was a DU dump! They were checked over, cleared and went back to work…no follow up on by medical professionals because of said exposure…ever!
Beginning in 1999, Len started multiple visits to the MIR for stomach issues. Constant pain, constant reflux, nausea continued for the rest of his life. They finally did a barium swallow in the 2000’s where they found nothing, but diagnosed him with GERD. The pain, while decreased on PPI’s, never stopped. The CAF doctors not once did an abdominal X-ray. If they had they would’ve found NHL, folicular types, as all NHL start as folicular. He retired in 2016, was diagnosed at the height of Covid with NHL stage 4 Large B Cell NHL. Was given a 50/50 chance of survival. Made it through all his chemotherapy with flying colours ( they called him the poster boy at the cancer hospital in Vancouver). He rang the bell on the 9th of Aug, and was re-admitted to Penticton hospital on 27th. Kelowna oncologist refused a second PET scan cause he’d had one less than 30 days prior. His pain was indescribable! They even thought he had contracted Guillain-Barré syndrome and was given plasmapheresis trying to save him.
It didn’t work. On Monday the 14th of September 2020 while his doctor was in attendance, the nurse came in to give Len his morphine shot. He said he didn’t need it cause all the pain was gone (morphine was the ONLY drug that worked for his excruciating pain). With this weird look on his face, the doc said he’d be right back. He came back 2 hours later and informed Len he was terminal. That all the nerves in his body were dying. He was dying. Len asked a few questions, basically wanting to know how he’d die and how long. The Doc stated as the nerves continue to die, that when the nerves near his diaphragm died, his CO2 levels would increase, he would tire, fall asleep (go into a coma) and slip away. He then told us he gave him till Friday at best. Len & I talked non stop for 24 hours while we awaited his daughter and his step children to arrive for AB. He was barely able to talk when they arrived and lost all ability to talk, move and swallow by Wednesday. That night, Len told me he was tired and wanted to nap. He gave me one last kiss and drifted off to sleep. He never woke again. Len died @05:15 on the 17th of September 2020.
DND screwed up and IMO, their failure to follow up on his exposure to DU and their failure to believe his stomach pain was something else but GERD, and their failure to x-ray his stomach way back, he lived with NHL for over 20 years! Even his award winning Vancouver based oncologist told us, if they’d only followed up, he would’ve been diagnosed sooner and very well could’ve survived. As folicular NHL can be lived with for over 30 years.
IMO, with their failure the military needs to do better, especially with those that served as long and as far wide as Len did. An MRI at retirement would’ve caught this disease, as his blood work NEVER showed any blood abnormalities until he was going through chemo.
Anyone suffering from any cancer that worked or was exposed to any kind of solvents and/or Benzene needs to apply on those reasons. I don’t have his VRAB decision number handy, but if needed by anyone, will dig it up.
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Jodi-Anne Anderson
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Agent Orange case
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“This Panel finds the Veteran has presented sufficient credible evidence that his claimed condition of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma was caused by exposure to Agent Orange.”
That statement, by the VRAB Reconsideration Panel, represents a sweet victory for my father. He had served as an artilleryman with the RCHA, spending most of his time at CFB Gagetown. He was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in 1993 and had a reoccurance in 2007. NHL is accepted as a disease caused by exposure to Agent Orange and he had experienced incidents of spraying while in the field. His initial application started in 2005 and ended with a negative decision on an Entitlement Appeal in 2010. He gave up then.
It has angered him in the ensuing years and it angered me. And was my motivation to advocate for him. The lawyers at BPA are challenging the scientific conclusions wrt Agent Orange and other chemicals and are winning cases for veterans. My father's case is Decision Number 100005221603 in the Canll VRAB database.
The lawyer at BPA was exceptional and we are grateful for her expertise which led to this positive decision for my father.
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Anonymous
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Carcinoid cancer
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Hi there,
my name is Petra and I lost my husband to cancer in 2009. The first time he was diagnosed was in 1998 with lung cancer ( never smoked). They took out the bottom lobe of his lung and concluded that they got it all.
In 2006 he went on His 2nd tour to Afghanistan. About 2 months in I was informed that he had fallen very ill and was sent to Kuwait to stabilize him enough to be sent to Germany for further evaluation. Anyway, turned out he had liver cancer then. He also never drank, except the usual drink at supper or at get together and the once every 2 years get drunk parties.
He joined in 1986 and died as a full serving member in 2009.
He was at first in the artillery 1RCHA in Germany. He was in the artillery until 1992 when he got his remaster to MP.
Now I our case the military took the blame for his cancer in 2006 and VAC contacted us because he was diagnosed on foreign soil. Apparently this is an automatic ‘oops we killed him’.
I don’t understand how 2 people with the same cancer can be treated differently because of the location the were diagnosed at.
I’m at the receiving end of this and often feel bad for other widows who don’t get the benefits I do because their husbands were at home.
Please feel free to reach out.
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Petra MacDonald
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An update on Cecil Draper’s story
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This an update to relate the outcome of the appeal. I am happy to report that on July 30, 2024 we won the appeal and Cecil will receive a 4/5ths entitlement for PSC related to his diagnosis of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. We are still waiting on the summary assessment. The VRAB decision # is 100005469075 on the CanLii.org website
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Marnie Draper
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There is a massive disconnect here
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I was an army medic for 23 years. I was a front line medic in Afghanistan
attached to the infantry. I was a mess when I got back and I didn't know what
was happening to me. Lots of symptoms which were downplayed by the military
medical system. The lack of understanding and recognition of symptoms for combat
trauma astounds me considering that is what I did over there. How is there such
a disconnect? Is it purposeful ignorance? A form of medical gaslighting!
I was medically released in 2015 and was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer
with no family history. This means that the cancer was growing while I was still
in uniform. My cancer was extensive, I had 9 tumors and it had spread to my
lymph nodes. I was an athlete and felt strong. Any symptoms I had I assumed were
related to working out or playing soccer, getting older. Definitely not cancer!
Looking back on it the signs were there. Problem is the medical system needs to
look at us as a whole. All the symptoms and to listen to the patients history.
Details always matter.
All my symptoms were downplayed. No transparency with regards to exposures.
The military goes on and on about soldiers being athletic and healthier than
the general population. Well that is not the case if our bodies are harbouring
and growing cancers we developed thanks to our service.
If I had found it sooner the level of treatment, suffering, effects on my
children and dealing with all the residual symptoms would be less! Fear of it
returning would be less!!
Knowledge is power… we NEED to know! We need to be able to advocate for
ourselves. What about all of the veterans without a family doctor? How many are
missed?
The US has far more money and has done the research!
The president signed off on the presumptive conditions.
Time for our government to follow suit! Anything less is pure negligence when
the information is available all over the internet.
I was told that the US has only agreed to these cancers to help their
veterans with healthcare! I’m absolutely shocked by this answer! I’ve been
through hell and this is blatant ignorance. I could give dozens of examples of
exposures.
There is a massive disconnect here.
I will also note that VAC ended my having a CM during my cancer treatment!
They have a ways to go when it comes to actions vs words.
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Alannah Gilmore
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A Story of Perseverance and Success - Keep Fighting until You Win
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I served from Jan 3, 1991-sept 4 1993. MOC 411 vehicle tech. Posted to 2SVC BN.
I was diagnosed with stage 4 terminal metastic prostate cancer in October 5, 2018. Was given 3-5 years to live originally. My cancer is hormone based. I did 21 days of radiation, along with chemical castration to kill my testerone to keep my cancer under control.
Was on chemo pills for 4 years till January 3, 2023 till found out it came back. I did regular chemo for 3 doses and killed it again.
However the drugs prior to chemo gave me a heart condition. Had heart rate of 195 and 201 with what they call an SVT.
I end of august in 2023 I found out I had a tumour of prostate cancer behind my right eye and was forcing my eye out of my head. I did 5 days of radiation again. Also started immuno theropy in September 2023.
By January 2024 only a wisper of cancer left. By end of June this year I completely beat cancer for the 5th time.
My family, friends, and oncologist all say I’m going to out live rocks. In never going to give up my fight with cancer. I’m retired and volenteer at our local stock car race track Edmonton Int'l Raceway which is keeping me going and alive.
Always keep up the fight. October 5 will be end of year 5 start of year 6
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Jason Olson
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