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Thursday, March 28, 19:16:24Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 123[4]5678910 ]


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Date Posted: Thu, Jan 05 2017, 21:11:19 PST
Author: Steve Gattis
Author Host/IP: h254.36.20.98.dynamic.ip.windstream.net / 98.20.36.254
Subject: AGENT ORANGE RELATED PROSTATE CANCER

As life would sometimes dictate, we make decisions that can affect us years later. When I was at Kunsan Air Base, Korea in 1967, Paul Shave and I volunteered to go to Vietnam, something we did not have to do, but wanted to do. While others were leaving for bases in Europe, my decision was founded on the loss of friends from home who had been killed in action, and a sense of duty that drove me to follow in the footsteps of my father to serve my country during war.

The year in Vietnam was tough, but ended without being wounded or seriously injured…or, so we thought. Some injuries cannot be seen, and some do not become evident for many many years. I was diagnosed with Agent Orange related prostate cancer last October, a week after our reunion in Florida. Thankfully, I had followed studies on Agent Orange and led discussions at VSPA reunions for several years. My PSA and biopsy-based Gleason scores were very low because I had pushed to have annual PSA tests and anticipated that I might have a problem since Vietnam Veterans have a 2 ½ times greater probability of contracting aggressive prostate cancer. The very early diagnosis made surgery unnecessary. Radiation treatments will begin January 9, five days a week for eight weeks. With highly skilled oncologists, I should be cancer-free in March, with long-term survival and a permanent cure that will be monitored by frequent PSA tests.

As I write about having Agent Orange prostate cancer, something I knew could happen, I also think about what it was like to be a cop in Los Angeles County, knowing that being injured or killed in the line of duty was a possibility, something I regularly talked to my deputies about in terms of training, officer survival and estate planning for their survivors if something bad happened. Sadly, I lost over 30 friends in 32+ years, men and women who died or were killed in the line of duty. It happened, although my friends and partners never thought that their name would be on the peace officers memorial, just like our brothers in Vietnam and Thailand did not think that their names would be on a memorial like The Wall in Washington.

Prostate cancer is real. It will kill you. All of us have lost VSPA buddies due to Agent Orange related cancers. When I talk about it at reunions, and ask if there are members who have had a PSA test or a digital rectal exam, there are always some VSPA members who have not been tested. Thankfully, that number gets smaller every year, and there are several members present who have been tested, diagnosed, treated and have survived! They are very willing to share information and they always encourage members to get tested because Agent Orange related prostate cancer will kill you. Even now that I have had a biopsy and have a positive diagnosis of prostate cancer, and absolutely knew it was a high probability because of exposure to Agent Orange, I still find it hard to believe that it happened to me, and I got tested every year.

I want to thank Jack Smith and Don Graham for their willingness to talk about something that is consistently perceived as deeply personal. They take care of their own by talking about their treatment and survival. Although I have conducted a lot of personal research and have seen several doctors who provided excellent information, Jack and Don provided perspective that led to good decision making for me, for Lise, and for my children and 11 grandchildren. Get tested. Catch it early. Give yourself some options rather than letting Agent Orange take you to the grave. Get tested. Do it as an act of love for your families.

I send my best to all of you. I’ll keep you posted on the radiation treatments. Here’s to a great New Year.

Steve Gattis

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