ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Calvin Jordan’s household is crammed with family members who answered the nation’s name for army service.

Jordan himself served within the U.S. Army and fought in 1968 in the course of the peak of the Vietnam War.

“We dropped Agent Orange,” the 73-year-old recalled. The now-banned chemical was dropped in the course of the conflict, killing vegetation and crops, and has since been linked to cancers amongst American veterans.

This previous March, Jordan went to the emergency room on the Atlanta VA Medical Center to have a lump on his neck checked out. Jordan ultimately obtained a scan of his neck whereas on the hospital, however stated after his discharge, he by no means heard something again.

In July, Jordan scheduled one other appointment, however the VA physician stated the hospital didn’t have a replica of his unique scans. The photos had been later discovered, in response to Jordan, however new scans had been required.

In August, Jordan obtained a second scan and biopsy. In September – seven months after his unique go to to the VA – a physician identified him with most cancers.

Jordan stated he realized the VA is so backlogged the ability can’t do the surgical procedure or carry out the required radiation therapies. He will endure surgical procedure to take away the mass at Emory Hospital on Nov. 18 after which obtain additional radiation therapies by his VA protection.

Delays in analysis and even longer waits for therapies are examples of the dilemmas native veterans allege towards the Atlanta VA. They contemplate entry to healthcare in Atlanta as their best battle.

Atlanta News First Investigates discovered veterans may very well be ready practically half a 12 months for appointments. And when their lives rely upon early detection, some most cancers sufferers worry premature care may very well be life-threatening.

“You [treat] cancer when its young; you don’t let it spread,” Jordan stated. “This wasn’t even noticeable when I had my first CT scan. Now it’s like I’m growing a second head out the side of my neck.”

Scans of the veteran’s neck present the cancerous mass is now practically the scale of a fist. The newest photos had been taken in August, however in response to his March scans, he stated the mass “was no bigger than maybe a thumbnail.”

“This is the U.S., and veterans should be taken care of. I’m not doing this for me. I’m doing it for the young guys, the young girls that served. And they don’t deserve it. Atlanta VA just cannot handle the load,” he stated.

After Atlanta News First Investigates advised Atlanta VA officers about Jordan’s case, the hospital reached out to him.

When requested about backlogs and delays, a VA spokesperson stated the ability provides identical day walk-in look after psychological well being and first care remedy. “One of VA’s top priorities right now is recruiting, hiring, and retaining clinical staff,” the spokesperson stated.

As of Oct. 23, in response to knowledge obtained by Atlanta News First Investigates, the average wait time to see an Atlanta VA specialist was 60 days. The longest was 162 days.

The location additionally confronted a paperwork backlog final 12 months. The Office of the Inspector General confirmed in an April 27, 2022, report, greater than 17,000 mailed paperwork associated to veteran care and claims went unopened final 12 months.

Advocates say veterans deserve extra however they find yourself with the least entry to well timed healthcare.

“For them to come back and all they hear is, ‘thank you for your service,’ they don’t want to hear that from us,” stated Scott Johnson, CEO of The Warrior Alliance, a corporation serving to serve metro Atlanta’s practically 250,000 vets. With greater than triple that quantity throughout the state, Johnson stated, “collaboration is the only way.”

Johnson advocates extra private-public partnerships and funding will strengthen medical care choices. Groups like his are performing as veteran liaisons, navigating healthcare, housing, training, and authorized help post-service within the military.

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