Is agent orange and the dioxin from AO (TCDD) a potential cause of my MPD,essential Thombocytosis.

I am a 64 year old Viet-Nam veteran and was stationed in Danang for 1 year(1970/1971).I was exposed to agent orange during that time(as ALL who set foot on Viet-Nam ground were ,during ANY dates AND for ANY length of time ,during the use of this toxic chemical..1962 thru 1971.....or so it is "presumed" by the VA) I was diagnosed with ET in 2007 and was told that it is a rare condition(Approx. 1 or 2 out of 150,00 people get it) where the blood platelet level increases abnormally due to malfunctioning bone marrow,and could potentially lead to complicating clotting issues,like stroke/paralysis/or even death,if not caught in time.THERE IS NO CURE FOR THIS! I believe that AO has some responsibility for this condition,as I have read about many other Viet Vets getting it also.I was told it is incurable,BUT manageable(?)I filed 2 different claims for disability compensation with the VA,and both were denied!I was told I needed "Valid clinical rationale" to support my claim.I couldn't find a job of any kind,in part due to this pre-existing condition.I have done much research and I think I see a link with the two(AO and ET) but cannot get a medical statement of any kind due to the "unknown factor".The Drs. I connected with were ignorant of the characteristics of TCDD and how it affected bone marrow,if in fact it did.Are there any Viet-Nam vets reading this,with ET?, and if so,can you provide some information that could help us all?By the way...TCDD is the acronym of the toxic dioxin derived from AO.It(AO) was manufactured by DOW Chemical and Monsanto during the war years...................Help,please!

I am currently under a hematologist/oncologist's care ,have to get a blood draw to monitor the platelet count monthly, and am taking 1 500mg tab of hydroxyurea daily to try to keep the platelets at a safe level.When I was diagnosed with it,my count was almost 1,000,000 and is now down to about 480,000 and "holding".Normal is supposed to be around 150,000 to 450,000..........Or so I was told......Hoping to hear from someone soon.Thanks!

Google the following to get "enlightened": Essential Thrombocytosis(also called Thrombocythemia)............Agent Orange and its dioxin TCDD (Shortened from a rather long chemical name)...........The other MPDs that are linked to each other from a common jak2 gene mutation discovered in 2005,and anything else you may find.There are also many medical sites to scope out.Very interesting reading and I'm convinced that AO did more damage than the VA is willing to admit or take responsabilty for!.........Peace

[Hidden]

I believe if anything the link would be to the Benzene within AO, or that is what I have read. I am trying to claim against my employers and also for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit in the UK linked to my employment at the Fire Service College burning diesel/oil without PPE. Unfortunately both are stating that they cannot prove the link to ET as anyone can get it although as you state it is rare. Both have also stated that if the ET mutates into Acute Myeloid Leukaemia or Myelofibrosis then I have a claim as the link is proven, unfortunately the link may be the same with yourself. However by simply googling Benzene and ET there are a lot of lawyers in the US who state they have a proven link so you may want to look at that, the link is not common law and therefore is not usable in the UK

[malachy]

Hi I was diagnosed with ET last year and am jak 2 positive. I am 46 and worked in a PVC coating and rubber company for nearly 3 years. Although this was 20 years ago It makes me wonder ? The best of luck to both of you. Diana x

[Lab-Rat]

I am an analytical chemist and work with DDT, solvents, endocrine disrupting chemicals, PAHs, environmental pollutants, etc as part of my job. I was recently diagnosed with ET JAK2+ and am on HU 500mg/day. Platelets were 1.4 million, now 900 000. The haemotologist asked about my occupation, when I told him I am a chemist, he answered 'there is the cause of your ET'. I too am convinced there is a link between chemical exposure and ET/gene mutation. I live in South Africa so on top of occupational exposure there is also every day chemical pollution exposure through air and water pollution.

I am so glad to have found this site. The info here has been so helpful. My ET symptoms are leg and spine pain, dizziness, silent migraines, fatigue, brain fog, bruising, weight loss. Since being on HU I now also have sweating, restlessness, anxiety, insomnia, urinary tract burning sensation, brain fog+fatigue seem worse.

All I now know about ET I had to research myself. The doctors did not tell me that it was a MPN. I was just told 'you have ET'. Thank goodness for the internet and this site.