Prostate cancer plus

[L R Gilton]

Due to ignorance, laziness and fear I have failed to explore all the comments of others. Today I was diagnosed with Prostate cancer, I remember a few years ago there was a thread that was very informative on this subject but I did not read cause it would never happen to me. I have also read several threads about disability but it would never happen to me. So..here I am 68 years old with all kinds of stuff happening to me. I am not one to be a burden to the VA, I considered it a privilige to serve my country for 22 years. I just want to know what the process is for disability. I don't want my wife to have to fight this battle. Three tours in RVN HMM-163, HMM-361, Hmm-263 and Hmm-161. Any advice is appreciated. L R GILTON

[yankeepapa9]

LR, the first thing you need to do is contact your Veteran's Service Officer, either from your VFW, American Legion, or better yet if you have a VA Hospital there should be a Service Officer there. Make sure to have copies of your DD-214 with you. My claims were turned down until I got on the Texas Tech University website and printed off some of the after action reports. They prove that you were there and what kind of missions you flew. Charlie Baker

[Larry South]

HMH-463's web site has a very good journal submitted by Mr. John Van Nortwick I think under the Reflections, article area. I read it a couple of years ago and I think it may be a good read for you to. Good luck!

[delRosario]

After I was diagnosed with prostate cancer 3 years ago I sought help from the VFW. The service rep that advocated for me did practically everything for me as far as filling out the mountains of forms, submitting them, and following up. All I did was bring in my DD214 and the medical diagnosis and sign the forms. In about six months I received my first check and the back pay retroactive to the time I filed. I could not have had a better service rep to help me.

Your benefits start from the time the VA receives your claim so it would be advantageous to file immediately.

You should be classified as service-connected 100% disabled. Aside from the compensation, you will also be entitled to other benefits that you should ask your service rep about.

Now, about what to do about your prostate. This is strictly a personal thing. You and your wife need to talk it over and figure out what you want done. Many doctors want to just cut it out.

The first 2 doctors wanted to cut it out immediately and told me that after the prostate gets cut out that I would lose my libido and all ability to have sex without the aid of a prosthesis. I did not like that option so I searched for and found the very best doctor to do brachytherapy (radioactive seeds), along with chemotherapy and periodic hormone injections. It worked for me and my wife is happy.

Don't limit yourself to just using the VA hospital service but check out options offered by doctors outside of the VA system.

If you would like to contact me to find out more of how I did it send me an email at marinehelicopters@lycos.com and subject it "prostate cancer".

Good luck, and semper fi,

del Rosario
HMM-365
Vietnam 1964-65

[widow1]

book, Prescription for Nutritional Healing by Balch.

This is not intended as medical advice, but those using some of these protocols for treatment had astonishing results.

Just in case the VA fails to assist you in a timely way.

Also, check out articles on saw palmetto.

[Michael R. Layman]

I urge anyone with prostrate problems to check out:

www.protons.com and www.protonbob.com

Mike

[dirtbikemike]

i had prostate surgery in march 06. the VA awarded me 100% from when i filed in january 06. after a year or so i had to go back for a C&P exam and they gave me 60%. i already had 20% for a back injury, so i filed for IU and was awarded that within 4 months. now i am 70% with IU, P&T and that pays at the 100% rate, plus all the other bennies. i was 59 when i had my surgery and i didn't want that crap in my body anywhere. having to use sex aids is the least of my worries. use the DAV at Ft. Roots in North Little Rock they are excellent.

Semper Fi,
Mike Lambert
Cpl USMC
Vietnam 69-70
H&MS-11, H&MS-12, H&MS-16

[L R Gilton]

Thanks Mike! It is really strange that I received my "Award" letter today, only 10 days short of one year since I filed. I did get 100% but I do have to go be evaluated at a later date and will most likely be lowered cause my PSA is now .2 vs 11.1 prior to treatment. The VA deposited an obsene amount of $$ in my banking account today. Meet me in Arkadelphia and I will buy dinner! S/F LRG

[jaxter]

Almost 50% men develop prostate problem in their later life (Age 50+). If not treated, it turns cancerous. Its cause is not very well known. According to some research it is caused due to lack of sexual activity.

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Life alert

[John Ace Hunt]

Jaxter, it has been reported that even with prostrate cancer if you eat lots of fish, or take the Lovasa, which is an omega-3 prescription fish oil, you won't die by the prostrate cancer as it stops it from mastasing, or spreading through the bodiy. I do take 4 capsules a day of the lovaza. Semper Fi, and READY-APP.

[pm3777]

How did you verify that it was cancer ?? The VA told me that my PSA went from 9 to 12 & the doc wanted to punch 12 BIO holes in the damn thing. I almost died before when years back they took 8 punches & I ended up with a serious infection resulting in 7 days in the hospital with strong anti Biotics in both arms. Than they told me the test was not showing cancer. Is there any other test that any of you know or have used ??? SF PM

[John Ace Hunt]

Paul, I hate the va is doing this to you, but they are doing it to everyone. They have me on a med called TERAZOSIN. I take 2-2 mg tabs every night at bed time, and the home remedy Saw Palmetto, a 450 mg tab, I take 2 of those twice a day, and the home remedy named Urinozinc PROSTRATE which I take one mornings, and at bedtime. I am also on the Prescription Med. named Lovaza which is the pure Omega-3 acid ethyl esters,(Fish Oil), which even when people have full blown prostrate cancer a Fish diet has shown it keeps it from spreading, that is a positive study just out. I may not eat much fish, but I do take a good bit of pure Fish oil which will keep it from going cancer, and spreading throughout the body. That is a NEW study as stated. I can empty the bladder now with no problems, and will stay on the Prescription Lovaza most likely the rest of my life. I don't believe I'd let the va do anything to me. Seems they just hire people off the street not knowing anything. Punching holes in the thing,(I believe thats what they are wanting to do), is not the thing to be done. I have a Pilot, a Great Marine Brother that had the va do the radiation, and all on him, and they burned him up. He is trying to deal with that as well as the prostrate cancer now. I have said earlier I've only been miss-diagnoised by them 4 times that almost cost me my life, and didn't find a bad Body infection this last Feb., and March. I have been on antibiotics since then. This is the only month I haven't had to take any. The 1st specialist put me on 5 months of an antibiotic, which didn't work, then went back to my Family Dr., and she put me on another month of a better antibiotic, which so far has done good. I would get on these meds I told you about. The Lovaza being pure fish oil will keep the prostrate cancer when it goes to cancer, from spreading, and we will die from something else than the prostrate cancer. I Pray it hasn't gone to a cancer yet. I do believe if you get on what I explained here you will do just fine.The va should put you on the Terosozin without any problem. You will have to get your private Dr., or if they will the va for the Lovaza, the Pure Fish oil. A piece of fish costs 2-3 dollars, and with insurance, and tri-care the Lovaza costs 22 dollars a month for me. It helps the Heart as well. I hope you will consider, and do this as soon as you can, If you can. It certainly helped me. We are loosing Brothers left and Right now, and we Just don't want to loose you too. Those fish oil studies just came out which is good. The Saw Palmetto has been around for a very long time. They say a lack of sexual activity is the cause of Prostrate problems, but I'm not going to act 18 years old again, not at this point in my life. My wife is living in Arkansas, and I'm here in Ok., and thats that. I'll finally try to get up there next spring. I do hope you can get the meds I have talked about. Just hope the va will leave you alone. Half are very incompentant to say the least. I have found out the very difficult way. I have spitted them every time so far. Please try those meds, and keep kicking those feet around, and spite them too. I do believe we all think the World of you Paul, just like everyone else here, and we have to keep going as long as we can. Please. Have good ones. Semper Fi, and READY-APP.

[Ray Norton]

...to go for urinary issues, including cancer of the prostate, is The Brady Institute at Johns Hopkins Hosptial in Baltimore, MD. (Souce U.S. News and World Report annual studies for the last twenty years published each July.)

Unfortunately, this is civilian pay and not covered by the VA.

If you find them on the web, you will find some very relevant information on how to treat urinary issues. As they are a research hospital, the recommendations change as they learn new information.

[John Ace Hunt]

Ray, it would be nice if we could all go there, but over half doesn't have Insurance, and only have the va. I have no faith in the va at all anymore. I will keep using the meds I mentioned to Paul, and go from there. Semper Fi, and READY-APP.

[rblombardo]

I would be interested in talking with anyone who has had a prostatectomy and then had the VA cut your disability rating and benefits. Please contact me at hcanyon@bmi.net or call 208-983-0021.

Roy Lombardo
VMO-3/HML-367

[Ray Norton]

I would be interested in talking with anyone who has had a prostatectomy and then had the VA cut your disability rating and benefits. Please contact me at hcanyon@bmi.net or call 208-983-0021.

Roy Lombardo
VMO-3/HML-367

I fall into that category. I will contact you via your posted e-mail.

[johnyr46]

I live here in Arkansas and have been through the system in NLR VA.

If I can be of any help email me at alajma@windstream.net.

John Allison
356 Nix Rd
Mount Vernon, AR 72111
501-412-7836

I've helped several people with their claims and would be happy to help any way I can

[Joe Reed]

Hey John! Hope you and yours are doing well1

[johnyr46]

Things not so good right now Joe. My 18 yr old granddaughter was shot and killed at a party 1 week ago today. It's been a rough week.

John

[Joe Reed]

Prayers headed your way, John. God bless you and the family during this time of grief.

[John Ace Hunt]

johnyr46, my Heart and Prayers go out to you and your Family at this time. We can never get over a loss as such, but we have to try to keep going on the best we can. I do believe that is what she would want. I Pray Jesus will give you and your Family the inner strength that is needed by all from now on. God Bless. S/F.