Diseases Considered to Have Been Caused by Agent Orange Exposure

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Copied from VFW Magazine, November 2007, Page 15

• <LI class=MsoNormal>Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. It is characterized by the body not producing enough insulin. As a result, cells may be starved for energy, or high blood glucose levels may damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves or heart. <LI class=MsoNormal>Chloracne is acne-like eruption of blackheads, cysts and pustules. The lesions are most frequently found on the cheeks, behind the ears, in the armpits and in the groin region. <LI class=MsoNormal>Hodgkin’s disease is characterized by swollen but painless lymph nodes often occurring in the neck, but also in the chest. <LI class=MsoNormal>Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer of plasma cells, which are immune system cells in bone marrow that produce antibodies. Symptoms vary greatly. <LI class=MsoNormal>Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a group of cancers arising from lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. It may develop in any organ associated with the lymphatic system (e.g. spleen, lymph nodes or tonsils). <LI class=MsoNormal>Acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy are nerve disorders. Common symptoms include numbness, a tingling or prickly feeling, pain, a burning sensation, inability to feel intense heat or cold, cramps, extreme sensitivity to touch, loss of coordination, weakness and loss of reflexes. <LI class=MsoNormal>Porphyria cutanea tarda results from low levels of the enzyme responsible for production of hemoglobin, the molecule that carries oxygen in the blood. Symptoms include skin sensitivity to sunlight, blistering, scarring, changes in pigmentation and increased hair growth. <LI class=MsoNormal>Prostate cancer develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. It can cause pain, difficulty urinating, erectile dysfunction and other symptoms. <LI class=MsoNormal>Respiratory cancers occur in the lung, bronchus, larynx or trachea. Symptoms may be very subtle or not occur and include pain, a scratch sensation, alteration of tolerance for hot or cold foods, a tendency to aspirate liquids, airway alteration or slight change in the voice over several weeks. <LI class=MsoNormal>Soft-tissue sarcoma is a malignant (cancerous) tumor that develops in mesenchymal tissue, which encompasses all the muscles, connective tissues and bones of the body. The first noticeable symptom is usually a painless lump or swelling. As the tumor grows, it may cause other symptoms, such as pain or soreness, as it presses against nearby nerves and muscles.
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a type of leukemia, or cancer of the white blood cells. CLL results in swollen lymph nodes, spleen and liver, and eventually anemia and infections.

Hal Cleveland, U.S. Navy, (Ret.)

"Caring for veterans must be viewed as a continuing cost of war."