Guest guest Posted February 5, 2008 Report Share Posted February 5, 2008 > > I have filed for disability. However it was after I had my prostate > removed. I was in country on the rivers in 71 and meet all the > requirements. I filed several months ago. Has anyone here been awarded > disability if the prostate was removed prior to filing? > If so what percent? I definitely have one major side effect. At least > it hasn't started working yet. 7 months post-op > Ken, I can't answer your question with 100% certainty, but I believe that you are entitled to 20% disability, maybe more for life. I have an online acquaintance who advocates for vets with the VA. He is a retired General who lives in Florida. He told me that the prostate cancer is worth 10% and loss of a reproductive organ is worth another 10%. I would be happy to put you in touch with him if you need some help. Has the VA acknowledged the reciept of your claim? My husband, Gregg was in the army in VietNam in '69. He served on the PBR boats. Is that what you did? Laurel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2008 Report Share Posted February 5, 2008 Has anyone been given the drug "Casodex" and is so how did it effect you? It is a Hormnal drug. Any response would be appreciated. Sheila -------------- Original message -------------- >> I have filed for disability. However it was after I had my prostate > removed. I was in country on the rivers in 71 and meet all the > requirements. I filed several months ago. Has anyone here been awarded > disability if the prostate was removed prior to filing?> If so what percent? I definitely have one major side effect. At least > it hasn't started working yet. 7 months post-op>Ken, I can't answer your question with 100% certainty, but I believe that you are entitled to 20% disability, maybe more for life. I have an online acquaintance who advocates for vets with the VA. He is a retired General who lives in Florida. He told me that the prostate cancer is worth 10% and loss of a reproductive organ is worth another 10%. I wo uld be happy to put you in touch with him if you need some help. Has the VA acknowledged the reciept of your claim? My husband, Gregg was in the army in VietNam in '69. He served on the PBR boats. Is that what you did? Laurel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2008 Report Share Posted February 5, 2008 > Has anyone been given the drug " Casodex " and is so how did it effect > you? It is a Hormnal drug. Casodex, generic name bicalutimide, is thoroughly explained at http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/bicalutamide.htm Just about any med one can think of is covered on that site. Note that it is " indicated " for use *with an LHRH agonist* for metastatic PCa. Approved dosage is 50 mg per day. Briefly, what it does is block T (testosterone) from feeding PCa cells. Other uses are " off label, " which is not unusual for many meds. The side effects listed refer only to its indicated use, with the LHRH agonist (eg Lupron, Zoladex, Trelstar). The word online that I have seen is that gynecomastia is one SE (side effect). However, I caution that SEs can be different for different patients. In other words, what helps A might harm B and vice versa. So anecdotes and war stories should not be considered to be totally reliable. Regards, Steve J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2008 Report Share Posted February 5, 2008 Sheila There was a hope that Casodex monotherapy would take the place of LHRH (Lupron, Zoladex, etc). The dose for that is 150 mg per day. There is more risk of gynecomastia at this dose. The hope was that men could keep their testosterone and enjoy a much greater quality of life. However, it did not deliver, after a time the cancer starts feeding on the drug and progresses again. , one of the list moderators, can tell you more – he was on it for quite a while I believe. From: ProstateCancerSupport [mailto:ProstateCancerSupport ] On Behalf Of Steve Jordan Sent: 05 February 2008 18:39 To: ProstateCancerSupport Subject: Re: Re: Vietnam Question > Has anyone been given the drug " Casodex " and is so how did it effect > you? It is a Hormnal drug. Casodex, generic name bicalutimide, is thoroughly explained at http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/bicalutamide.htm Just about any med one can think of is covered on that site. Note that it is " indicated " for use *with an LHRH agonist* for metastatic PCa. Approved dosage is 50 mg per day. Briefly, what it does is block T (testosterone) from feeding PCa cells. Other uses are " off label, " which is not unusual for many meds. The side effects listed refer only to its indicated use, with the LHRH agonist (eg Lupron, Zoladex, Trelstar). The word online that I have seen is that gynecomastia is one SE (side effect). However, I caution that SEs can be different for different patients. In other words, what helps A might harm B and vice versa. So anecdotes and war stories should not be considered to be totally reliable. Regards, Steve J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2008 Report Share Posted February 5, 2008 Hi Laurel, I fixed the boats. We did our best to keep them running and floating. The VA did acknowledged my claim a couple months ago. I was told it would take a while. I was just curious because everything I read talks about while you are undergoing treatment. I hope to not have to undergo any more treatment. 2 PSAs since surgery and it is at 0. > > > > I have filed for disability. However it was after I had my prostate > > removed. I was in country on the rivers in 71 and meet all the > > requirements. I filed several months ago. Has anyone here been > awarded > > disability if the prostate was removed prior to filing? > > If so what percent? I definitely have one major side effect. At least > > it hasn't started working yet. 7 months post-op > > > Ken, I can't answer your question with 100% certainty, but I believe > that you are entitled to 20% disability, maybe more for life. I have an > online acquaintance who advocates for vets with the VA. He is a retired > General who lives in Florida. He told me that the prostate cancer is > worth 10% and loss of a reproductive organ is worth another 10%. > > I would be happy to put you in touch with him if you need some help. > Has the VA acknowledged the reciept of your claim? > > My husband, Gregg was in the army in VietNam in '69. He served on the > PBR boats. Is that what you did? > > Laurel > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2008 Report Share Posted February 5, 2008 Anyone who served on SE Asia soil, rivers or worked on equipment that came from there will have a very high probably of getting certified for disability. Your local county VA service rep should be helpful in filing forms. The guy at the registration desk of the actual VA clinic here was very encouraging to me as well. As it turns out they are denying former Navy " nukes " (non in country) disabilty as the VA does not recognizing a link between radiation exposure and prostate cancer. They are however, currently acknowledging anyone who could have a possible connection to Agent Orange. Please file. You have it coming. Encouragingly, Mick -- Abilene, TX Thank you for your service to this country and Welcome Home! > > I have filed for disability. However it was after I had my prostate > removed. I was in country on the rivers in 71 and meet all the > requirements. I filed several months ago. Has anyone here been awarded > disability if the prostate was removed prior to filing? > If so what percent? I definitely have one major side effect. At least > it hasn't started working yet. 7 months post-op > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2008 Report Share Posted February 5, 2008 Mick, I am far from an expert in this area but I have friends who are. I asked tonight about your email. I got this response. Kathy, The way the law is written, " boots on the soil " , even if it was only for one day, is the basic requirement, both for Vietnam and for Korea. Working on equipment that came from Vietnam is no guarantee of a disability rating if prostate cancer is diagnosed. There were numerous people who worked loading Agent Orange (AO) into the planes which then sprayed the stuff in Vietnam. When the planes returned to their home bases, such as Okinawa, the spray equipment had to be cleaned and prepared for the next mission. There may be a few exceptions to the " boots on the soil " rule but I have not heard of any. The " Ranch Hands " group was organized to specialize in the handling and distribution of AO and other defoliants. The last study done on that group could not identify a connection between their handling of defoliants and being diagnosed with prostate cancer. Recently there was a write-up about the Vietnam-era AO activities at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The spraying of AO on Eglin exceeded the dosages used in Vietnam and the handling and storage of the defoliants have led to long term environmental issues. I don't think people exposed at Eglin who develop any of the twelve diseases presumed to be related to AO exposure will ever receive disability compensation. Tonight, I was approved as a member of the Yahoo ProstateCancerSupport group. I will watch for your postings and further AO messages. Regards, Ray I think Ray has joined the group now so he can take over answering any questions that you have about Viet Nam veteran’s benefits. Ray please update me and the group about the additional benefits that may be available to retirees. BTW Ray is a survivor and the facilitator of the US Too support group in Fairfax, VA. He can talk about things beyond just VA benefits. He is a great guy too. Kathy From: ProstateCancerSupport [mailto:ProstateCancerSupport ] On Behalf Of dolphin_79605 Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 11:09 PM To: ProstateCancerSupport Subject: Re: Vietnam Question Anyone who served on SE Asia soil, rivers or worked on equipment that came from there will have a very high probably of getting certified for disability. Your local county VA service rep should be helpful in filing forms. The guy at the registration desk of the actual VA clinic here was very encouraging to me as well. As it turns out they are denying former Navy " nukes " (non in country) disabilty as the VA does not recognizing a link between radiation exposure and prostate cancer. They are however, currently acknowledging anyone who could have a possible connection to Agent Orange. Please file. You have it coming. Encouragingly, Mick -- Abilene, TX Thank you for your service to this country and Welcome Home! > > I have filed for disability. However it was after I had my prostate > removed. I was in country on the rivers in 71 and meet all the > requirements. I filed several months ago. Has anyone here been awarded > disability if the prostate was removed prior to filing? > If so what percent? I definitely have one major side effect. At least > it hasn't started working yet. 7 months post-op > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 6, 2008 Report Share Posted February 6, 2008 http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/benefits/Herbicide/AOno3.htm " il faut d'abord durer " Hemingway Vietnam Question >I have filed for disability. However it was after I had my prostate > removed. I was in country on the rivers in 71 and meet all the > requirements. I filed several months ago. Has anyone here been awarded > disability if the prostate was removed prior to filing? > If so what percent? I definitely have one major side effect. At least > it hasn't started working yet. 7 months post-op > > > > > There are just two rules for this group > 1 No Spam > 2 Be kind to others > > Please recognise that Prostate Cancerhas different guises and needs > different levels of treatment and in some cases no treatment at all. Some > men even with all options offered chose radical options that you would not > choose. We only ask that people be informed before choice is made, we > cannot and should not tell other members what to do, other than look at > other options. > > Try to delete old material that is no longer applying when clicking reply > Try to change the title if the content requires it > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 6, 2008 Report Share Posted February 6, 2008 Thanks Kathy. I filed with them back in May of 2006. I posted either here or another group in Dec 2007 when I got my denial. I was sad, but thats ok. It was a bummer it took them so long to finalize my review. Someone should be talking to them about the lengths they take to respond. Blessings, Mick Abilene, TX In an attempt to follow the trainer's advice to run now with " quality and not quantity " , I decided to run fast miles Tuesday. I was to run 4 miles, so I ran (4) fast 1 mile sprints. Times were as follows. 8:09, 8:17, 7:56, 7:39. Total elapse time: 32:01. Pace: 8:00:25 I wonder if I can do that again. When I woke I was thinking a fine 36 min would be grand, then I got some cockamamie idea to do the sprints. He says run fast now and start the race slow or else we will burn out. Just shoot me now, ok? > > > > I have filed for disability. However it was after I had my > prostate > > removed. I was in country on the rivers in 71 and meet all the > > requirements. I filed several months ago. Has anyone here been > awarded > > disability if the prostate was removed prior to filing? > > If so what percent? I definitely have one major side effect. At > least > > it hasn't started working yet. 7 months post-op > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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