Cancer has emerged as one of the top threats to the health of fire service members in recent years.
Perhaps more frighteningly, cancer can develop many years after we leave the fire service. Current estimates suggest that cancer accounts for a significant percentage of all firefighter-related deaths, surpassing heart disease and hypertension.
In 2023, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) listed 72% of line-of-duty deaths as cancer related. In response to this growing threat, the IAFF has prioritized reducing exposure to cancer-causing agents. This included pushing for legislation to eliminate PFAS from personal protective equipment (PPE) and advocating for laws and policies that recognize cancer diagnoses as directly related to our occupation.
While there is no foolproof way to eliminating our cancer risks because of factors out of our control, we can certainly take steps to minimize those risks, reduce our exposure to carcinogens, and decrease our likelihood of developing cancer.
