I absolutely wholeheartedly believe that both my cancers were a direct result of exposure during my duties as a Security Specialist at F. E. Warren AFB. During my time at serving at this base, I have personally been on countless Minuteman III missile sites providing security for Maintenance Teams, and have camped on site for days when the site security system was down. Having a breast cancer diagnosis at age 40 is scary. Having an additional diagnosis of Hurtle Cell Carcinoma of the Thyroid after having had a Thyroidectomy is devastating..
Both of my cancers were diagnosed within a 9 year span. My thyroid cancer was discovered accidentally when I had a visit with an ENT for an unrelated problem. It was at this visit that the doctor felt a nodule on my thyroid. Had I not gone to this appointment for an unrelated issue there is no telling if this would have been caught.
Hurthle Cell Carcinoma Background: Representing less than 5% of all thyroid malignancies, Hürthle cell tumors were historically classified as a variant of follicular thyroid cancer. The World Health Organization (WHO) now classifies it as its own distinct pathological entity. Hurthle Cell Carcinoma itself is a rare cancer and if not caught early has a tendency to be more aggressive.
I believe the Air Force is aware of this and is continually denying any exposure to ionizing radiation that we have had while directly working on these sites day in and day out for hours if not days at a time. I myself would be interested to know what number of Missileers have had this particular cancer.
It is my hope that this be brought to light and that it becomes recognized under the PACT act or under (TERA) Toxic Exposure Risk Activity so that veterans will stop being denied VA Disability Claims including myself.
I absolutely wholeheartedly believe that both my cancers were a direct result of exposure during my duties as a Security Specialist at F. E. Warren AFB. During my time at serving at this base, I have personally been on countless Minuteman III missile sites providing security for Maintenance Teams, and have camped on site for days when the site security system was down. Having a breast cancer diagnosis at age 40 is scary. Having an additional diagnosis of Hurtle Cell Carcinoma of the Thyroid after having had a Thyroidectomy is devastating..
Both of my cancers were diagnosed within a 9 year span. My thyroid cancer was discovered accidentally when I had a visit with an ENT for an unrelated problem. It was at this visit that the doctor felt a nodule on my thyroid. Had I not gone to this appointment for an unrelated issue there is no telling if this would have been caught.
Hurthle Cell Carcinoma Background: Representing less than 5% of all thyroid malignancies, Hürthle cell tumors were historically classified as a variant of follicular thyroid cancer. The World Health Organization (WHO) now classifies it as its own distinct pathological entity. Hurthle Cell Carcinoma itself is a rare cancer and if not caught early has a tendency to be more aggressive.
I believe the Air Force is aware of this and is continually denying any exposure to ionizing radiation that we have had while directly working on these sites day in and day out for hours if not days at a time. I myself would be interested to know what number of Missileers have had this particular cancer.
It is my hope that this be brought to light and that it becomes recognized under the PACT act or under (TERA) Toxic Exposure Risk Activity so that veterans will stop being denied VA Disability Claims including myself.