Trying to find some cause, some type of common ground between all of us with GCT's!!

[Christina Alamirie]

I know it is unknown as to what causes giant cell tumors, and it seems no one has any answers. Some people think it's hormonal and others think it may be exposure from something harmful. I don't know what to think but I tend to wonder about exposure to harmful elements. (Could be both in my case.) My father was exposed to Agent Orange while he served as a veteran in Vietnam. A brochure on this topic was mailed to him awhile back and it discusses health effects of herbicides used in the Vietnam War.
The following is a list of birth defects in children of Vietnam Veterans who were exposed to herbicides, Agent Orange, or dioxin include, but not limited to:
1. achondroplasia
2. cleft lip and cleft palate
3. congenital heart disease
4. congenital talipes equinovarus (clubfoot)
5. esophageal and intestinal atresia
6. Hallerman-Streiff syndrome
7. hip dysplasia
8. Hirschprung's disease (congenital megacolon)
9. hydrocepalus due to aqueductal stenosis
10. hypospadias
11. imperforate anus
12. neural tube defects
13. Poland syndrome
14. pyloric stenosis
15. sundactyly (fused digits)
16. tracheoesophageal fistula
17. undescended testicle
18. Williams syndrome
19. Spina Bifida
If any of you have parents that served in Vietnam or any other military services, it would surely be interesting to hear what your health problems include as well as your parents. The brochure also lists conditions recognized in the exposed veterans themselves. It includes Chloracne, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Soft tissue sacoma (other than osteosarcome, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, or mesothelioma), Hodgkin's disease, Porphyria cutanea tarda, multiple myeloma, respiratory cancers (lungs, larynx, trachea, bronchus), Prostate cancer, Acute and subacute transient peripheral neuropathy, Type 2 Diabetes, Heart Disease, Hypertension, Non-malignant lung disseases, and Chronic lymphocytic leukemia. I know both lists are long but that's what's so scary. I think this list may be missing some other problems, problems like all of ours!
To view this full publication on Agent Orange and other herbicides in the military go to www.VA.gov/AgentOrange. I am so curious if there may be some connection to all of this!!

[Dolina]

Hi Christina,

It is funny that you had mentioned this my father also served in the veitnam war but i am unsure if he had any exposure to anything harmful.. He passed away in 2005 and i didnt know much about his health but i know that he had prostate cancer during his life..

I hope my contribution has helped..

Dolina

[Christina Alamirie]

That's unbelievable, he probably was exposed to something harmful in Vietnam. If I were you, I would do some digging and ask your mom (if possible) or try contacting the government regarding his service in the military. Your father's discharge papers will explain where he was and what he did in Vietnam. Did you noticed that Prostate Cancer was one of the recognized conditions caused by harmful exposure. I sure hope your dad was compensated for this. I've been helping my dad make his claims with the Veterans Administration and so far he has been approved for a few things that they consider a direct result from his exposure to Agent Orange. I feel that a lot of people (offspring) from these veterans face more problems than anyone realizes. The list of problems in veterans offspring is already so extensive, I can only imagine other defects and problems that are undiscovered and are connected to this. I am so eager to see how many more of us exist out there and that no one has put two and two together yet! Maybe this is our purpose and reason!!
I know it must be hard talking about your father and I want to tell you how sorry I am for your loss. Continue to be strong. I know I will because I now have all of you to talk to.
Christina

[Dolina]

Its okay christina :-) I have tried to do some digging my mom didnt know much about his war life because they were only married for a short period of time..
I had only found out last year that i had a few half brothers and sisters but i am sure they dont have GCT i remember my half sister mentioning someone in the family having some sort of cancer but i dont speak or have met any of my half siblings i really only speak to one..

I will have have a look on the internet etc or my cousin might know something will have to ask, Will get back to you on this one once i find out some more information..

I hope you are doing well..