Warning

http://www.vva. org/veteran/ 0807/letters. html

PARASITE WARNING
I am writing to inform all Vietnam veterans about a potential health risk that they may have been exposed to while serving in Vietnam: the little-known danger from parasites.

My husband, who was otherwise healthy, passed away on January 20, 2006, from cholangiocarcinoma, cancer of the bile duct of the liver. It is very rare in the United States, but very prevalent in Vietnam and surrounding countries. There are two known causes of this type of cancer: from contracting hepatitis C and from ingesting a parasite from the water supply in Vietnam. My husband did not have hepatitis C; therefore, it was determined that his cancer derived from a parasite. I have received official notification from the VA that his death was service related, which is not something the VA determines without an overwhelming amount of evidence.

This cancer does not manifest itself until later in life, when you are between 60 and 70 years old. Once the symptoms occur, which usually include jaundice, it is very difficult to treat or beat. My husband was 58 years old when he passed away. If he had been informed that there was a possibility that he could have ingested a parasite while serving in Vietnam, he would have taken precautions to have his bile ducts examined, possibly extending his life. The parasite is long gone, but it left behind damaged cells, which developed into cancerous tumors in the bile ducts.

If you spent time in Southeast Asia and are having gastrointestinal issues for no apparent reason, please have your physician check for damage within the bile ducts. It may save your life.

Mrs. Edward S. (Pete) Harrison
Horseheads, New York

********** MORE INFO ON Cholangiocarcinoma at

http://www.emedicin e.com/med/ topic343. htm Partial Reprint below

The high prevalence of cholangiocarcinoma among people of Asian decent is attributable to endemic chronic parasitic infestation.

History: Symptoms may include jaundice, clay-colored stools, bilirubinuria (dark urine), pruritus, weight loss, and abdominal pain.

Causes: The etiology of most bile duct cancers remains undetermined. Currently, gallstones are not believed to increase the risk of CCC. Chronic viral hepatitis and cirrhosis also do not appear to be risk factors.

Infections
In Southeast Asia, chronic infections with liver flukes, Clonorchis sinensis, and Opisthorchis viverrini have been causally related to CCC.
Other parasites, including Ascaris lumbricoides, have been implicated in the pathogenesis.

Inflammatory bowel disease

A strong relationship exists between CCC and PSC. CCC generally develops in patients with long-standing ulcerative colitis and PSC.

The lifetime risk of developing this cancer in the setting of PSC is 10-20%. At increased risk are patients with ulcerative colitis without symptomatic PSC and a small subset of patients with Crohn disease.

Chemical exposures

Certain chemical exposures have been implicated in the development of bile duct cancers, primarily among workers in the aircraft, rubber, and wood finishing industries.

CCC occasionally has developed years after administration of the radiopaque medium thorium dioxide (ie, thorotrast).

Congenital diseases of the biliary tree, including choledochal cysts and Caroli disease, have been associated with CCC.

Other conditions rarely associated with CCC include bile duct adenomas, biliary papillomatosis, and alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency.

Col. Dan