Agent Orange:Vietnam veterans urged to seek testing

Vietnam veterans urged to seek testing
By William Johnson • wjohnson@dailyworld.com • June 29, 2008


Link Savoie, a well-known local veteran's advocate, has recently been diagnosed with CLL, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, a cancer of the white blood cells.

While the diagnosis is scary, Savoie said he is fortunate for several reasons. The first is that CLL is a slow growing form of cancer. Many people with CLL lead normal and active lives for many years - in some cases for decades.

"My doctors tell me if I have to have one, this is the one to have," Savoie said.

But the most important reason is that, after years of court battles by veterans' groups, the disease is now listed as one of 11 that can be caused by exposure to Agent Orange, a herbicide widely used during the Vietnam War.

As a result, the Veteran's Administration offers compensation and disability payments to sufferers in addition to help with its treatment.
go here for more
http://www.dailyworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080629/NEWS01/806290303/1002