Vietnam Navy Veteran Credits Wilmington VA Medical Center With Life-Saving Cancer Discovery

Rambo was quickly admitted for evaluation and observation. A CT scan performed by the Wilmington VA team promptly pinpointed the source of his bleeding—ruptured polyps in his colon—but also revealed, by chance, a tumor in his bladder.

GI specialist Dr. Bernard Hammowitz at Wilmington VA conducted a colonoscopy, safely removing the bleeding polyps. Due to the amount of blood he had lost, the procedure was postponed briefly. Rick was relieved that a transfusion was not necessary and impressed that his scan results were communicated so quickly—less than an hour after the imaging was done.

Further evaluation by Wilmington VA’s Urology surgeon Dr. Mohamed Ismail determined the bladder tumor was malignant. Surgery was scheduled for the following Tuesday. During the procedure, the tumor was removed along with a bladder scraping. At his October 10 follow-up, Rick learned the cancer was classified as stage zero, high risk, and thankfully contained to the bladder. A second procedure several weeks later found no remaining cancer.

Rick soon began a regimen of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) immunotherapy at the Wilmington VA, consisting of six weekly treatments to stimulate his immune system against any remaining cancer cells. He experienced no side effects and considered himself very fortunate that the cancer was detected early before it could spread. Notably, his bladder cancer was linked to his toxic exposure of Agent Orange from his military service through filing a compensation claim through his regional Veterans Benefits Administration office.

Rambo found the Wilmington VA more convenient for his procedures and praised their care as superior. He highlighted the attentive, compassionate approach of the Wilmington VA staff on unit 4E.

Reflecting on his experience, Rambo said, “The quick action and thorough care I received at the Wilmington VA absolutely saved my life. The staff treated me like family, and I’ll always be grateful for their dedication and professionalism.”

Rick’s connection with VA health care started in 2022, when he secured hearing aids fully covered by his VA benefits, saving him substantial costs. He believes that the emergency visit that uncovered his cancer not only spared him more serious complications but may have saved his life.

Wilmington VA Medical Center Director Thandiwe Nelson-Brooks stated, "We are dedicated to providing the safe, effective, compassionate care for all our veterans. Stories like Rick’s are a testament to our staff’s commitment to delivering the highest quality care to those who have served our country.”

For Rick, the experience reflects the exceptional, coordinated care and vigilance exhibited by Wilmington VA staff—a critical safeguard for veterans, especially those who may face heightened health risks due to service-related exposures. Visit va.gov to learn more about VA services or call to enroll in VA health care.