Cold War Veterans Blog

Veteran denied colonoscopy has cancer
VA Hospital rejected his request for procedure

* Mylous Hairston
* Posted by: Eli George

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - He proudly put his life on the line for his country.

But a local war veteran says his own VA hospital turned him away for a colonoscopy and now that rejection will cost him his life.

Just looking at him, you wouldn't know David Cohen is sick and going through a variety of treatments for colon cancer. However, the man who first joined the military back in 1987 is now involved in a different kind of battle on the homefront.

It's a weekly walk U.S. Navy veteran David Cohen would rather not make. Thursday afternoon and it's another visit to VA hospital in Buffalo.

"I was diagnosed with stage four collorectal cancer in August," explained Cohen.

Cohen was diagnosed in August, but this Navy veteran's story starts several years earlier. Because of his family history.

Cohen said, "My grandmother died of colon cancer in the seventies."

And because several other family members showed signs of colon cancer, Cohen asked the VA to conduct a colonoscopy. He says he had colon cancer symptoms.

"I didn't understand why I was not being approved, denied every single request," said Cohen.

Cohen has proof it didn't take long to to deny his requests.

David Cohen provided News 4 with paperwork from the VA showing his Decmember 2008 request for a colonoscopy. The request was received at 15:13 which is 3:13 in the afternoon and denied four minutes later.

Cohen explained, "The prognosis from what they say is 26 months. But I don't ever plan on living up to that."

Cohen plans to live much longer.

Now, despite his own personal struggles, this proud Navy seaman has a different mission and a simple message for non-veterans and veterans alike. He says when it comes to your health care, don't take no for an answer.

"If you feel something is wrong. If you know something. If you feel you're not getting the right answers. Don't take anyone's word for it until you get yourself checked out and know for yourself," said Cohen.

Cohen added, "I don't know about the country letting me down. I know the VA let me down."

As part of his campaign to educate the public, Cohen is filing a lawsuit against the VA hospital.

News 4 contacted the VA hospital. Health regulations and the lawsuit prevent comments on a specific patient, but a spokesperson says the VA has a comprehensive colon cancer screening program and follows the U.S. Preventive Health Task Force recommendations for screening.