Military Veterans

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 sponsor 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.

“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"

Check Out the Podcast, This Week at VA (#29), Which Features Army Veteran, Prostate Cancer Survivor, and Us TOO Support Group Leader, Bob Wright.

Prostate Cancer Facts

• Prostate cancer has no symptoms until the disease is advanced
• More than 200,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year
• More than 2 million men in the U.S. are living with a prostate cancer diagnosis
• That number is estimated to climb to 4 million by 2024 as the baby boomer generation ages
• Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men (following skin cancer)
• It’s the second most common cause of death from cancer in men (following lung cancer)
• Nearly 30,000 men die every year from prostate cancer

High-Risk Criteria

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

Testing for Prostate Cancer

• PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) blood test
• DRE (digital rectal exam)
• If prostate cancer is suspected, it is diagnosed with a biopsy

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.

Agent Orange

• What is Agent Orange?
• Ten Things Every Veteran Should know about Agent Orange
• Agent Orange – Vietnam War
• Korean Demilitarized Zone and Agent Orange Exposure
• Agent Orange and Cancer
• Compensation for Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange
• Educational Pamphlet: Veterans and Military Beneficiaries – Take Action to Learn More about Prostate Cancer

Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides during military service may be eligible for a variety of VA benefits, including an Agent Orange Registry health exam, health care, and disability compensation for diseases associated with exposure. Visit the U.S. 'Department of Veterans Affairs' Agent Orange website or call (800) 827-1000.

Prostate Cancer Overview

CLICK HERE to view video of the Us TOO Community Conversation on Prostate Cancer. The presentation addresses the importance of informed decision making for all prostate cancer survivors and caregivers specific to testing, active surveillance, treatment options for all phases of prostate cancer, and management of side effects. Video has been edited by topic for easy access. 

Support & Education

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.

Us TOO Military Prostate Cancer Support Group & Educational Forum

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

Milwaukee, WI
Us TOO VA Medical Center of Milwaukee
VA Med Center 7th Floor GU Clinic A753
Milwaukee, WI  53202

Third  Wednesday of the Month (Except January and February)
4:00 - 5:30pm
Contact: Norm Thoresen
Email: N.Thoresen@sbcglobal.net
Phone: (414) 384-2000 x42114

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.

Resources for Military Veterans

Service Organizations Assisting Military Veterans

Need Immediate Help? Veterans Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255, www.veteranscrisisline.net

Transportation

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. DAV Hospital Service Coordinator Directory.

For other transportation options visit www.disability.gov/can-get-help-finding-ride.

Information on Support Dogs

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/

End of Life Benefits

CLICK HERE for additional financial resources for cancer patients.

CLICK HERE for additional prostate cancer resources.