Programs

Cancer Prevention

When firefighters embark on their careers, they are aware of many risks associated with the job, but the significant cancer risk often becomes apparent only after they’ve begun their duties. The Firefighter Cancer Support Network highlights that firefighters face much higher risks of specific cancers compared to the general population, including a doubled risk of mesothelioma and testicular cancer. Furthermore, firefighters are also at increased risk for nine other types of cancer.

• Early detection is crucial, as evidenced by a study from the New England Journal of Medicine, which shows that the survival rate for lung cancer exceeds 90% if found in stage 1. Unfortunately, stage 1 cancers typically show no symptoms, making early detection challenging.
• In contrast, stage IV lung cancer, characterized by multiple tumors and severe symptoms, has a survival rate of less than 1%.
• To combat this, the GTFF implements a cancer prevention strategy by funding blood tests for protein biomarkers. These tests, conducted during annual firefighter physicals, serve as one of the most effective early indicators of cancer, potentially before it can be detected through traditional imaging.
• This proactive approach not only aims to combat cancer early but also helps firefighters recover swiftly and return to their life-saving duties, with GTFF allocating over $100,000 annually towards these advanced cancer screenings.