Vietnam Vets And Bile Duct Cancer

Some veterans who served in vietnam thailand laos and cambodia have developed bile duct cancer.

Vietnam vets and bile duct cancer.

The department of veterans affairs this spring commissioned a small pilot study to look into the link between liver flukes ingested through raw or undercooked fish and a rare bile duct cancer. This type of cancer is rare in the united states but much more common in southeast asia. However currently va is not aware of any studies that show that bile duct cancer occurs more often in u s. Bile duct cancer is a cancer of the biliary duct system which includes the gallbladder bile ducts and certain cells inside the liver.

While most military personnel in southeast asia including vietnam ate canned meals or other meals provided by the military some veterans may have eaten raw or undercooked. Liver flukes parasites that infect a human when raw or undercooked fish is eaten are being investigated as the cause of a rare bile duct cancer among veterans who served in the vietnam war. Veterans may have developed this cancer from exposure to liver flukes from eating raw or under cooked fish during their service. Vietnam war veterans than in other groups of people.

Veterans who ate raw or undercooked freshwater fish during their service in southeast asia such as vietnam war veterans might have been infected. While it is rare bile duct cancer becomes more common as people grow older.