U.S. Agent Orange Study Finds Raised Cancer Risks
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Jan 22, 2004

[Please visit the original website to view the whole article. - Mod.]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Air Force veterans exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War have a higher-than-average risk of prostate and skin cancer, military researchers reported on Thursday.

The ongoing study of 2,000 Vietnam veterans shows for the first time an elevated risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Previous studies have found increased risks of prostate cancer, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and also diabetes.

"A new analysis of cancer incidence among Air Force veterans of the Vietnam War found increased risks of prostate cancer and melanoma in those who sprayed Agent Orange and other herbicides," the Air Force Surgeon General's office said in a statement.

It does not find the veterans are any more likely to die of these cancers than the general population.

"It's just because we have new numbers, new exams," a spokesman said. "The guys are getting older, so we are seeing higher incidences."

The latest study, to be published next month in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine,

[Mod: No update in JOEM abstracts since 5/03 at: http://www.acoem.org/journal/abstract.asp]

... is not the last word on cancer and Agent Orange, the Surgeon General's office warned. It has many weaknesses and must be studied along with other research.

For this particular study veterans called the Ranch Hand group are being examined regularly. Operation Ranch Hand was the unit responsible for the aerial spraying of herbicides and medical experts say they got the highest exposure to Agent Orange, which contains dioxins and other toxic chemicals.