The United States Department of Veterans Affairs says that Agent Orange is a combination of herbicides used during the Vietnam War. The United States military sprayed these chemicals over trees so that the leaves would fall. This would allow better visualization for any attackers. Unfortunately, this exposed many Vietnam veterans to Agent Orange. This subsequently lead to Agent Orange-related diseases.
Porphyria Cutanea Tarda
The Merck Manual says that porphyria cutanea tarda is an inherited condition in which the skin begins to blister in response to sun exposure. These blisters can typically occur on the arms, face and back of the hands. Sometimes, hair growth may increase on the face. In some cases, this disease may lead to liver damage. Signs of liver damage include yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), clay-colored stool and stomach pain.
Porphyria cutanea tarda occurs as a result of decreased activity of the enzyme uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase. This results in an accumulation of substances called porphyrins in the liver, which can then enter the blood and affect the skin.
Removing blood in a procedure called phlebotomy is the standard procedure for treating porphyria cutanea tarda. Also, taking low doses of the medications chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine can also be used to manage this condition.
Rhabdomyosarcoma
Agent Orange exposure can also lead to rhabdomyosarcoma. MedlinePlus says that rhabdomyosarcoma is a potentially fatal tumor found in the soft tissues. Typically this tumor is found in the neck, head, legs, arms or urogenital tract and is usually found in children.
Rhabdomyosarcoma symptoms depend on the tumor location. MedlinePlus says that tumors in the nose or throat can lead to trouble swallowing, nasal congestion and bleeding. Sometimes a limp can occur if the tumor is in the muscle. Other symptoms include bowel obstruction and urinary obstruction.
Rhabdomyosarcoma treatment involves radiation and chemotherapy treatments such as topotecan, vincristine or melphalan. Sometimes surgery can be used to remove the tumor.
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Agent Orange can also predispose an individual to chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). This is a type of blood cancer associated with such symptoms as night sweats, weight loss, fatigue, frequent infections, fever and large but painless lymph nodes, says the Mayo Clinic. Certain risk factors for CLL include being over the age of 50, being male and being white. Other risk factors for CLL include having a family history of blood or bone marrow cancers and being exposed to insecticides.
Treatment can involve chemotherapy to destroy cancer cells and taking target drug therapy to specifically destroy the cancer. Sometimes a bone marrow transplant may be necessary to replace all the cancer cells.
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