Risk of Cancer for Heroes- FireFighters

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Apr 24, 2019

Risk of Cancer for Heroes - Fire Fighters

Study Finds High Risk of Cancer for a group of Heroes - Firefighters

In 2010, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) began a multi-year study involving more than 30,000 firefighters from major U.S. cities to determine a possible link between fire fighting and cancer. NIOSH, the National Cancer Institute, and the University of California published their collaborative findings:

Fire fighters had a greater number of cancer diagnoses and cancer-related deaths. These were mostly digestive, oral, respiratory, and urinary cancers. There were about twice as many fire fighters with malignant mesothelioma, a rare type of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, most likely due to exposure during firefighting.

There were more cases of certain cancer types of cancer amongst firefighters below the age of 65, which included bladder and prostate cancer. The chance of lung cancer diagnosis or death increased with the amount of time spent at fires. The chance of leukemia death increased with the number of fire runs.

What This Means

If you are a firefighter and have been diagnosed with cancer, you potentially have rights under Georgia’s workers’ compensation laws. Seek legal advice.

If you are a fire fighter and you are healthy right now this study does not mean you will get cancer. This study provides evidence that fire fighters are at an increase risk for certain types of cancer as a result of occupational exposure. Thus, the fire service should increase efforts to educate members about safe work practices. This includes proper training, proper use of protective clothing, and proper use approved respiratory protection during all phases of firefighting.

If you are an active or retired fire fighter and are worried about your health, share this information with your doctor. It is important that your doctor is kept aware of possible job-related health concerns.

Cancer Screening and Prevention

Lung cancer:
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/lung
Oral cancer:
http://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/oral_cancer
Colorectal (colon) cancer:
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal
Malignant mesothelioma:
http://ephtracking.cdc.gov/showCancerMesotheliomaEnv.action

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BRUCE EDWARDS graduated in the Ivy League from the University of Pennsylvania and from law school at the University of Georgia. Mr. Edwards is Vice President of the Georgia Trial Lawyers’ Association and an Executive Committee Member of the Workers’ Compensation Claimants’ Lawyers Association. For 12 years, he was a member of the Governor’s Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council. He continues to frequently speak at attorney seminars, teaching other attorneys how to properly handle workers’ compensation and personal injury cases.

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