Newsletter 2/2017
 

                                       Email:  pmildren@bigpond.net.au                                                                                                                                                                                                

                                        12th June  2017                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

NEWSLETTER NO 2.2017

Hi to all.

  

I regret to report that there two of our members passed away since the last Newsletter.


Peter Denko RIP


Peter had suffered a long illness and his funeral was conducted on the 12th May.  



Ken Cullen RIP    


I do not have the details of his death or next of kin so could someone who has these details please pass them on please.


Health Update


As most of you possible know I have recently had some severe medical problems.

On the 20th February I attended day surgery for an annual cystoscopy,(bladder check)  Having had these annually for several years I was not concerned in the least and was looking forward to my usual round of golf the next day.  Much to my dismay I was admitted for the night and the next morning the Specialist informed me that I had cancer of the prostate and the bladder and both would have to come out as soon as possible.  He scheduled the surgery for Saturday 18th March.   The op took over 8 hours and he had to remove the right kidney as well.


My fate was in the balance for a couple of weeks however due to the magnificent treatment I received from a team of Intensive Care Doctors and staff plus Pat and my family I gradually rallied.   I now have a stoma for my urine.  I believe that I lost in excess to 12 kilograms and I certainly do not recommend this form of weight loss.


Due to the enormous amount of support I have received over this period of time I decided that I owed each and every one of you my sincere thanks for all of the support I received via Facebook and email.   Whilst I have never been a big fan of Facebook I do acknowledge that it does have a massive following and on this occasion I will be attempting to have this letter placed on it.


Chemical Update.


I have had a lot of time to consider where we stand with our contamination issues and had decided to go back to the start for this summary however there has been a significant development recently.   There is planning in progress for Ted and I to attend a meeting with the CAF Air Marshal Leo Davies, GPCAPT Karen Ashworth from the RAAF and Dr Ian Gardner and Ms Edel Kairouz from DVA.  The proposed date for this has been set for next month however it is still to be confirmed.

This is an enormous opportunity for us to put forward all of our concerns in reference to the chemical studies undertaken so far and also the concerns we have for the blood testing for  PFOS & PFOA.   I have a list of concerns that we will be putting forward.  I believe that this has dragged on for far too long. I will be sending out details of the results of this meeting after the meeting.


SOP’s


I can pass on some information from two SOP’s (Statement of Principal) required in making a claim) which may be of benefit.


Bladder Cancer, SOP No 97.


This lists as a cause for this condition a chemicals which was found at the Point Cook fire ground. This is:


2-natphylamine.  Cancers caused by this usually take between 15 and 40 years to develop.


Diabetes Mellitus. SOP No 90.


This lists the following chemical which were found at the Point Cook fire ground.


2,4,6- trichlorophenol

2,3,4,6-trichloeophenol

2,4-dichoro-1 –benzene, (two forms)


I believe there should not be any claims for these two conditions being refused.  I am in the process of submitting claims for both these conditions at the moment.


CONCLUSION.


I have two final appeals to make.

  1. 1.Please have regular medical checks carried out.  I have had all of the blood tests and tests for cancers for many years and there is no doubt that this saved my life.  All of my problems occurred very quickly within the last year.  I firmly believe that the chemicals we were involved with,and my recent cancers played a large part in manifesting these conditions as some of them can lay dormant for over 40 years.

  2. 2.If you have a medical problem please find a reliable Advocate and submit a claim to DVA.     It is known that there are many members who have problems who for one reason or another believe that they are not entitled to make a claim.  It is up to DVA to make the decision on if a condition is a claim or not.  It is NOT a decision which can be made by an Advocate.


All the best.


Pat