Forums
Re: Gulf War veterans with multiple myeloma
For any of you veterans who were exposed to smoke from the oil wells Saddam's crew lit on fire, some food for thought: here in Ontario, under our worker's comp laws, any firefighter who is diagnosed with multiple myeloma is deemed to have contracted myeloma on the job.
-
Little Monkey - Name: Little Monkey
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Father-stage 1 multiple myeloma
- When were you/they diagnosed?: March/April of 2015
Re: Gulf War veterans with multiple myeloma
I was not deployed in the Gulf War, but I did receive the anthrax series shots and had to take the PB tablets. I was in Saudi Arabia for two deployments and then was deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom.
I retired from the Air Force in December 2010 after serving 21 years. I was diagnosed with MGUS in May 2015. I also have peripheral neuropathy in my hands, arms, feet and lower legs and fibromyalgia. I have some serious pain issues that knock me out.
My ratio numbers were high from my last blood work so I'm hoping my hematologist can explain that to me at my next visit. I am being seen regularly at Penn Medicine.
I retired from the Air Force in December 2010 after serving 21 years. I was diagnosed with MGUS in May 2015. I also have peripheral neuropathy in my hands, arms, feet and lower legs and fibromyalgia. I have some serious pain issues that knock me out.
My ratio numbers were high from my last blood work so I'm hoping my hematologist can explain that to me at my next visit. I am being seen regularly at Penn Medicine.
-
Kim R - Name: Kim R
- Who do you know with myeloma?: I have MGUS
- When were you/they diagnosed?: April 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 44
Re: Gulf War veterans with multiple myeloma
Hi,
I served in the gulf war 1, 1990-1991. I was a staff sergeant in the British army starting in Bahrain, later moving into Saudi about December just before the war started. My role was to deploy large plant equipment to break through the sand bunds covering the oil trench then heading for Kuwait. I had been given the tablets prior to departing from the UK. I left the forces after 23 years service and have now been diagnosed with myeloma aged 62.
Considering only 4,800 each year are diagnosed with myeloma in the UK, a lot seem to be ex military. Makes you wonder is there a link?
I served in the gulf war 1, 1990-1991. I was a staff sergeant in the British army starting in Bahrain, later moving into Saudi about December just before the war started. My role was to deploy large plant equipment to break through the sand bunds covering the oil trench then heading for Kuwait. I had been given the tablets prior to departing from the UK. I left the forces after 23 years service and have now been diagnosed with myeloma aged 62.
Considering only 4,800 each year are diagnosed with myeloma in the UK, a lot seem to be ex military. Makes you wonder is there a link?
-
Terry21
Re: Gulf War veterans with multiple myeloma
I am a Gulf War vet and was diagnosed in 2006 at the age of 36. I was told then the myeloma most likely developed as a result of the vaccines received during that time. More specifically the anthrax vaccine. The U.S. stopped the use of squalene in the vaccine as it could be linked to causing multiple myeloma. However, due to the number of this vaccine needed, it didn't all come from the U.S., and some may have squalene as a part of the vaccine. Unfortunately, the government will not recognize multiple myeloma as a presumptive illness.
-
Kevin S
Re: Gulf War veterans with multiple myeloma
Hello,
I a a Persian Gulf vet with multiple myeloma. I was diagnosed in 2009. I served as a tank mechanic in the Marine Corps. I was given all the immunizations and have gotten nothing but flack from the VA. I'm supposed to prove somehow that these environmental and chemical / vaccinations had something to do with my cancer. I'm not a doctor and the facts are few and far between.
Hope this helps someone.
I a a Persian Gulf vet with multiple myeloma. I was diagnosed in 2009. I served as a tank mechanic in the Marine Corps. I was given all the immunizations and have gotten nothing but flack from the VA. I'm supposed to prove somehow that these environmental and chemical / vaccinations had something to do with my cancer. I'm not a doctor and the facts are few and far between.
Hope this helps someone.
-
Bruce
Re: Gulf War veterans with multiple myeloma
My husband was in during the Gulf War, however was in California testing out a new aircraft for the Army. He was on his way there and the war ended prior. He is a retired W4. Diagnosed stage 3 February 2016.
We too have had problems with the VA and multiple myeloma. His hematology oncologist is a myeloma specialist and wrote a letter saying she thought the cause was the benzene exposure with the fuel. He flew Hueys, OV1Ds, etc.. His flight suits reeked of it. The VA did not even address the letter in their denial, even though there is there own cases where they did do service connection decades later. They were oblivious to the fact multiple myeloma can be smoldering for decades. We are in the process of an appeal right now. I have been a nurse for 32 years and that C&P exam was a joke. I will not let this lie.
That is our story for now. He is a trooper!
We too have had problems with the VA and multiple myeloma. His hematology oncologist is a myeloma specialist and wrote a letter saying she thought the cause was the benzene exposure with the fuel. He flew Hueys, OV1Ds, etc.. His flight suits reeked of it. The VA did not even address the letter in their denial, even though there is there own cases where they did do service connection decades later. They were oblivious to the fact multiple myeloma can be smoldering for decades. We are in the process of an appeal right now. I have been a nurse for 32 years and that C&P exam was a joke. I will not let this lie.
That is our story for now. He is a trooper!
-
DaleJC28117 - Name: Dale
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 57
Re: Gulf War veterans with multiple myeloma
Interesting to find this. I was stationed at King Khalid International Airport for the first Gulf War and later Riyadh International Airport. A total of six months in the country. I too received Vaccine A and Vaccine B. I had been thinking the exposure to fuel and the smoke from the Kuwait fires may have been what predisposed me to the multiple myeloma that I was diagnosed with last September. I did apply for VA benefits, thinking that with no cancer in my family, the exposure I had in the Air Force likely was the predisposition to the disease. I also thought of the many prostate cancer patients I have worked with who are Vietnam vets with Agent Orange exposure and how for years they were denied benefits. My application was denied, with the reviewer noting there is no link to multiple myeloma. Yet others with multiple myeloma have received benefits.
-
ZoomiePete
Re: Gulf War veterans with multiple myeloma
I am a Gulf War Vet and spent 20 years on active duty. I flew helicopters in the Gulf and was exposed to the general smoke / dust environments during many of my missions. As well, I spent hundreds of hours on alert breathing the exhaust turning jet aircraft my career. I retired in 2002. In 2004, I was diagnosed with an aggressive prostate cancer and just this year was diagnosed with smoldering multiple myeloma. I provided multiple sources from medical research related to prostate cancer epidemiology when I applied for a disability for the prostate cancer and was approved for a service-connected disability. I have performed the research for multiple myeloma and I don't see the peer-reviewed evidence that would support my submitting a claim right now, but I think that research is underway. If anyone has information that might help improve my chances for a successful claim for multiple myeloma and military or aviation exposures, I would love to hear from you.
Re: Gulf War veterans with multiple myeloma
I'm an OIF vet who got multiple myeloma awarded off presumptive conditions. Served September 2006 - September 2011 and Iraq from 2009-2010. Was being exposed to chemicals / exhaust / etc on a semi-regular basis. Was in northern Iraq and worked around the Bayji oil refinery.
Came down hard with illness in spring 2012 when I got out and was diagnosed about 7 months after my discharge. I applied and without a fight they awarded me. I have no clue as to what would have made my claim different to have been given the award so easily.
Came down hard with illness in spring 2012 when I got out and was diagnosed about 7 months after my discharge. I applied and without a fight they awarded me. I have no clue as to what would have made my claim different to have been given the award so easily.
-
Shwan - Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: April 30, 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 25
Re: Gulf War veterans with multiple myeloma
evanjones,
The abstract of this study mentions evidence of a link between multiple myeloma and engine exhaust:
Bezabeh, S, et al, "Does benzene cause multiple myeloma? An analysis of the published case-control literature," Environmental Health Perspectives, Dec 1996 (full text of article at PubMed Central)
Abstract:
"Two case series and two epidemiological studies in the 1970s and 1980s suggested that benzene exposure might be a risk factor for multiple myeloma. An analysis has now been conducted of the published population-based and hospital-based case-control studies published through mid-1995 that permit examination of the relationship between multiple myeloma and benzene exposure or surrogates for benzene exposure. No increased association was found between multiple myeloma and benzene exposure or exposure to chemical groups that included benzene. The odds ratios from these analyses approximated 1.0. Exposures to petroleum products and employment in petroleum-related occupations did not appear to be risk factors for multiple myeloma. Cigarette smoking, as a surrogate of benzene exposure, was not found to be associated with myeloma, while some studies of products of combustion described as "engine exhaust" did show a significant association with multiple myeloma. In toto, the population-based and hospital-based case-control literature indicated that benzene exposure was not a likely causal factor for multiple myeloma."
The abstract of this study mentions evidence of a link between multiple myeloma and engine exhaust:
Bezabeh, S, et al, "Does benzene cause multiple myeloma? An analysis of the published case-control literature," Environmental Health Perspectives, Dec 1996 (full text of article at PubMed Central)
Abstract:
"Two case series and two epidemiological studies in the 1970s and 1980s suggested that benzene exposure might be a risk factor for multiple myeloma. An analysis has now been conducted of the published population-based and hospital-based case-control studies published through mid-1995 that permit examination of the relationship between multiple myeloma and benzene exposure or surrogates for benzene exposure. No increased association was found between multiple myeloma and benzene exposure or exposure to chemical groups that included benzene. The odds ratios from these analyses approximated 1.0. Exposures to petroleum products and employment in petroleum-related occupations did not appear to be risk factors for multiple myeloma. Cigarette smoking, as a surrogate of benzene exposure, was not found to be associated with myeloma, while some studies of products of combustion described as "engine exhaust" did show a significant association with multiple myeloma. In toto, the population-based and hospital-based case-control literature indicated that benzene exposure was not a likely causal factor for multiple myeloma."
-
Little Monkey - Name: Little Monkey
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Father-stage 1 multiple myeloma
- When were you/they diagnosed?: March/April of 2015
30 posts
• Page 2 of 3 • 1, 2, 3