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PARASITE
WARNING
I am writing to inform all
Vietnam veterans about a potential health risk that they may have been exposed
to while serving in Vietnam: the little-known
danger from parasites.
My husband, who was otherwise healthy, passed away on January 20, 2006, from
cholangiocarcinoma,
cancer of the bile duct of the liver. It is very rare in the United States, but
it is very prevalent in Vietnam and surrounding countries.
There are two (2) known causes of this type of
cancer: from contracting hepatitis C and from
ingesting a parasite from the
water supply in Vietnam. My husband did not have hepatitis C; therefore, it was
determined that his cancer derived from a parasite.
I have received official notification from the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) that his death was service related, which is not
something the VA determines without an overwhelming amount of evidence.
This cancer does not manifest itself until later in life, when you are between
60 and 70 years old. Once the symptoms occur, which usually include jaundice,
it is very difficult to treat or beat. My husband was 58 years old when he
passed away. If he had been informed that there was a possibility that he could
have ingested a parasite while serving in Vietnam, he would have taken
precautions to have his bile ducts examined, possibly extending his life. The
parasite is long gone, but it left
behind damaged cells, which developed into
cancerous tumors in the bile ducts.
If you spent time in Southeast Asia and are having gastrointestinal issues for
no apparent reason, please have your physician check for damage within the bile
ducts. It may save your life.
Mrs. Edward S. (Pete) Harrison
Horseheads, New York
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