Veterans who have been exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides in the Vietnam or Korean wars are at a greater risk for the possibility of developing prostate cancer, and they are more likely to have an aggressive form of the disease.
Content on this web page is offered as a resource to veterans. In addition to helpful links on prostate cancer testing, treatment, and management of side effects, resources include information on support groups, financial assistance, insurance information, and other services. If you have a helpful resource that should be listed here, please contact veterans@ustoo.org.
Us TOO is a nonprofit organization that provides educational resources and support services to the prostate cancer community at no charge. We acknowledge and thank the following corporate sponsors for their support, which helped to make the delivery of this content possible. Please click on the logos to learn more about their therapy or product for treating prostate cancer.
Veterans, If you have been exposed to Agent Orange, herbicides, or other chemicals in the line of duty, please read this brochure for important information about being at higher risk for prostate cancer.
“As Vietnam Veterans who served ‘in country’ in Vietnam, we were all exposed to the toxic herbicide Agent Orange. Many of us who came home may have developed a very aggressive form of prostate cancer which is now determined by the Veterans Administration to be ‘service connected’ for disability compensation. We are more likely to have a higher incidence of this disease as well as a more aggressive form of it. This puts each of us in categories of greater risk and warrants that we are diligent in making sure that we are diagnosed early, evaluated competently, and cared for appropriately, whether it be in the VA or private sector. Know that Us TOO understands your challenges as veterans and stands by to help you and your families ...veteran to veteran … SURVIVORS!”
Bob Wright, Us TOO Support Group Leader
Battalion Surgeon`s Assistant
First Lieutenant Medical Service Corps
1/502nd Infantry Battalion
101st Airborne Division Vietnam 1969-1970
Awarded Combat Medical Badge, Bronze Star , Vietnam Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal
Read Bob's Prostate Cancer Tips & Advice to Help our “Band of Brothers"
AGE: 97% are men age 50+ and 60% are men 65+
RACE: African American men have the highest incidence of prostate cancer; they are 60% more likely to develop the disease and more than twice as likely to die from it compared to Caucasian men
GENETICS: Men with a family history of prostate cancer are at higher risk for developing prostate cancer
CHEMICAL EXPOSURE: Vietnam & Korean War veterans exposed to Agent Orange (or men exposed to excessive chemicals) are at a higher risk for developing prostate cancer
Find more information about testing to detect prostate cancer.
Once diagnosed, there is no single “best” treatment for prostate cancer.
Recognize that every prostate cancer treatment has side effects.
Find information on advanced prostate cancer.
There’s not a well-worn path from a prostate cancer diagnosis to any "best" treatment. Before making any treatment decisions at any stage of managing the disease, it is very important to invest the time and energy to become fully informed about all appropriate treatment options and the potential management of related side effects. Prostate cancer survivors who attend meetings—sometimes along with spouses/partners—find invaluable information and perspective from their peers who quite often have "been there - done that" relative to their experience managing the various aspects of prostate cancer. The interactive format of a support group meeting is an educational forum that facilitates conversations to exchange information among group members assembled with the common goal of empowering each other with the knowledge that comes from experience.
San Antonio (Fort Sam Houston), TX
Brooke Army Medical Center
3551 Roger Brooke Dr.
Pediatric Conference Room # TN 122
1st Floor Pediatric Hall
Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234
First Tuesday of the Month
1730 - 1830 (5:30 - 6:30pm)
Contact: Janet Schadee, RN MHA – Urology Oncology Clinic Nurse
Email: janet.s.schadee.civ@mail.mil
Phone: (210) 916-1640
Bethesda, MD
Us TOO Chapter Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
River Conference Room, 3rd Floor Building 19 (America Building)
8901 Wisconsin Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20889
Quarterly Meetings and Monthly Meetings (Call for Details)
Contact : James Thompson
Email : cw5t0406@gmail.com
Phone: (715) 760-2702
Buffalo, NY
Us TOO Buffalo Metro Chapter
VA Med Center - 3rd Floor Room 301
3495 Bailey Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14215
First Tuesday of the Month
7:00 - 9:00pm
Contact : Bill Krellner
Email : racer3232@verizon.net
Phone : (716) 836-4761
Us TOO has more than 250 prostate cancer support groups & educational forums in the U.S. and abroad. CLICK HERE to find a location near you. If you can’t find a group near you, or if you are unable to attend, you can join a call-in group at www.ancan.org/support-calls.
Click here to join the online discussion group for military veterans on Inspire.
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Homes that have been foreclosed on through the VA home loan program are available at a discounted purchase price to qualified homeless veterans |
http://www.benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/homeloans/homelessshelterprogram.pdf | |
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Advocacy Connector |
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Agent Orange information (VA benefits/compensation) |
www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/benefits/index.asp |
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs |
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National Council for Aging Care's guide on military veteran benefit options |
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Information on Disability Benefits for Veterans |
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VA program provides healthcare services for homeless veterans |
http://www.va.gov/homeless/hchv.asp | |
| Homeless Accommodation Directory | Use this directory to locate safe accommodation options nearby if you are in need of a place to sleep. | https://www.homelessaccommodation.com/ |
| Homeless Shelters and Housing Options | Find out about available local housing options. | https://www.thehomelessassistant.com/ |
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A resource guide for veterans |
https://www.myprostatecancerroadmap.com/ | |
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Service-connected disability compensation for exposure to Agent Orange |
https://vva.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/AgentOrangeGuide.pdf (800) 882-1316. |
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Support dogs provide a great service in helping with the physical and emotional needs of veterans |
www.k9sforwarriors.org |
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VA offers eligible veterans a free Agent Orange registry health exam for possible long-term health problems related to exposure |
http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/index.asp (800) 827-1000 | |
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Environmental Health Registry Evaluation for Veterans |
http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/benefits/registry-evaluation.asp | |
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Financial assistance to honorably discharged veterans who have an extreme hardship and proof of that hardship (this assistance is in the form of a grant) |
http://militarybratsinc.org/veteran-relief-fund/ | |
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In addition to benefits available to all U.S. military veterans, two VA programs provide certain eligible elderly veterans with additional monetary benefits |
http://www.benefits.va.gov/persona/veteran-elderly.asp | |
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Provides veterans the option to receive non-VA health care from approved providers in their community |
http://www.va.gov/opa/choiceact/ 866-606-8198 |
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Veterans and their survivors may be eligible for benefits for these diseases |
http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/conditions/index.asp |
Need Immediate Help? Veterans Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255, www.veteranscrisisline.net
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Emergency assistance and education help for Air Force service members and their families |
http://www.afas.org/ |
(703) 972-2650 |
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Benefits, career, education, health, and finance |
(800) 433-3318 |
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Emergency travel, burying a loved one, food and shelter in an emergency and other similar expenses |
http://www.redcross.org/get-help/military-families/financial-assistance |
(877) 272-7337 |
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Benefits, career and support |
(877) 726-8387 |
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Interest-free loans, grants and scholarships to qualified Army members and their families, including veterans |
https://www.aerhq.org/ |
(866) 878-6378 |
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Support and resources |
(703) 549-3622 |
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Center for Minority Veterans U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs |
Information and resources |
(800) 827-1000 |
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Center for Prostate Disease Research
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Research and education |
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Financial aid to needy members of the Coast Guard family |
http://www.cgmahq.org/ |
(800) 881-2462 |
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Services, transportation, outreach and support |
(877) 426-2838 |
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Education, resources, and support |
(202) 265-6280 |
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Education, resources, and support |
(863) 859-1384 |
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Events and community |
(800) 625-1775 |
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Support |
(412) 531-1970 |
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Education, careers, health and finance |
(800) 234-6622 |
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Services for the combat wounded |
(703) 354-2140 |
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Education and support |
(877) 622-8387 |
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Grant programs available to assist homeless veterans in finding and affording a safe home |
http://nchv.org/index.php/service/service/grants/ | ||
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Financial assistance, educational help, budgeting and financial counseling, emergency travel funds and disaster relief for qualified individuals who are serving or have served in the Navy or Marines |
http://www.nmcrs.org/ |
(703) 696-4904 |
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Support, health, legal, and resources |
www.pva.org/site/c.ajIRK9NJLcJ2E/b.6305401/k.27D1/Paralyzed_Veterans_of_America.htm |
(800) 795-4327 |
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Individual and group counseling |
(800) 827-1000 |
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Veterans and their families and friends in crisis connect with qualified responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text |
(800) 273-8255 |
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Benefits, services, and financial support |
(816) 756-3390 |
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(301) 319-2900 |
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Services, outreach, and advocacy for Vietnam vets |
(301) 585-4000 |
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Rehabilitation, counseling, services, employment and advocacy |
(877) 832-6997 |
If you need help with transportation, Disabled American Veterans transports Veterans with disabilities to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities for doctors’ appointments, medical tests and treatment.
Support dogs provide a great service in helping with the physical and emotional needs of veterans. Following are some resources on support dogs:
www.k9sforwarriors.org
vetsadoptpets.org/vetservicedogs.html
www.patriotpaws.org/
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Service-related deaths are eligible for up to $2,000 in burial expenses, while non-service-related deaths are eligible for up to $749 in burial and funeral expenses |
http://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/claims-special-burial.asp | |
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Qualified veterans, as well as their spouses and dependents, can be buried at no cost to the family in VA national cemeteries located across the country |
http://www.cem.va.gov/ |
CLICK HERE for additional financial resources for cancer patients.
CLICK HERE for additional prostate cancer resources.