10/28/2025
šļø Did you know the orange you see everywhere in October isnāt just for Halloween? October is also observed as Agent Orange Awareness Month.
Proactive Primary Care Staff honored our veterans today wearing our Agent Orange shirts in honor of those affected by Agent Orange. Although our veterans are no longer on the front lines, many still suffer from medical conditions that are related to the use of Agent Orange. ļæ¼
šæ What it is:
Agent Orange was a powerful herbicide used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War (primarily 1962-1971) to strip vegetation and deny cover to enemy forces. The name comes from the orange stripe on the chemical drums.
Crucially, it contained a toxic by-product called TCDD (2,3,7,8ātetrachlorodibenzoāpādioxin) (a dioxin) ā a carcinogen that lingers in fat tissue and the environment for decades.
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When and why October?
Many states and veteransā organizations recognize October as Agent Orange Awareness Month. For example, a resolution in Pennsylvania designated October as such. Also, several local authorities have passed proclamations in October recognizing the month. Meanwhile the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) marks August 10 as āAgent Orange Awareness Dayā (the anniversary of first use) and holds events then.
š What you should know about dioxin & exposure:
Dioxin (TCDD) is known to be highly toxic and carcinogenic; it accumulates in body fat and remains for a long time.
For many Veterans who served in Vietnam (and in certain other locations/time periods), the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) presumes exposure to Agent Orange and recognizes certain diseases as āpresumptiveā ā meaning the Veteran doesnāt have to prove the exposure caused the disease, only that the disease is on the list and service conditions apply.
𩺠Cancers and illnesses linked to Agent Orange exposure (per VA):
*Here are examples of presumptive conditions:
Cancers:
Bladder cancer
Chronic B-cell leukemia
Hodgkinās disease
Non-Hodgkinās lymphoma
Multiple myeloma
Prostate cancer
Respiratory cancers (lung, larynx, trachea, bronchus)
Soft-tissue sarcomas (muscle, fat, blood and lymph vessels, connective tissue) ā excluding osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposiās sarcoma, or mesothelioma.
Other illnesses:
AL amyloidosis (abnormal protein buildup)
Chloracne (or similar acne-form disease) ā must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year of exposure.
Diabetes mellitus type 2
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Hypothyroidism
Ischemic heart disease
Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
Parkinsonās disease & Parkinsonism
Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) ā under rating regulations must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year of exposure.
š Important regulations & how diagnosis/benefits work:
The VA has a āpresumptiveā list for certain service-locations/time periods (e.g., Vietnam service between 1962-1975) where exposure to Agent Orange is presumed.
If youāve been diagnosed with one of the associated conditions, you may be eligible for VA health care and disability compensation.
There is no simple chemical test widely available to prove Agent Orange exposure. Instead, eligibility often hinges on service records + diagnosis + regulatory criteria.
Veterans and their families should explore the VAās resources: for example the VA page āAgent Orange Exposure and Disability Compensationā gives steps for filing claims.
Veterans Affairs
š Resources for families & veterans:
VAās main page for Agent Orange related conditions: [VA.gov ā Veteransā Diseases Associated with Agent Orange] (links above)
VAās health encyclopedia entry: āAgent Orange Exposure for Veteransā
If you served in the applicable periods/locations, contact a Veteran Service Officer (VSO) or the VA for help filing a claim.
Stay informed, attend awareness events (for example the VVMFās āBring Lightā ceremony on August 10) and share the story.
š§” Why orange? Because the color evokes the striped barrels of Agent Orange ā and acts as a visual reminder of this hidden legacy. When you see orange this October, pause and remember the many veterans and families still impacted.
š Call to action:
If you or a family member served in Vietnam (or in other qualifying locations) and have been diagnosed with one of these conditions ā donāt wait. Visit the VA website, talk to your VSO, and ask: Could this be related to Agent Orange exposure?
Share this post to spread awareness. Tag a veteran you know and let them know help is out there.