Firefighter Cancer Initiative

Background:

• Two in every three male firefighters will contract cancer
• One in every three female firefighters will contract cancer
• One in every seventy in S. Arizona will contract melanoma skin cancer

 

Most common cancers and causes



Common Cancers

Cause(s)

Test(s)

Prevention

Initiative

Bladder

- Exposure to combustion products

- Tobacco

- Bladderchek (urine)

- Cystoscopy

- SCBA/PPE

- Avoid tobacco

- Hydrate

Bladderchek bladder cancer screen (urine test)

Colon

- Animal fat in diet

- Low fiber diet

- Family history

- Colonoscopy

- Hemoccult

- DNA Stool Test

Firehouse Chef Program

- Colonoscopy Everyone age 50+; younger if family history

- Firehouse chef program

Prostate

- Animal fat in diet

- Increases with age

- Family history

- PSA blood test

- Rectal exam

- Prostate Biopsy

- Diet (tomato products, selenium – brazil nuts highest)

- Sex (Australian study)

- PSA annually

- Firehouse Chef program

Skin

- Sunlight

- Fair skin, though occurs in all races

- Observation

- Biopsy

Physical barrier

Sunscreens

- Boonie hats and other physical barriers

- Apply sun screen daily and reapply

Breast

- Animal fat in diet (controversial)

- Family history

- Breast exam

- Mammography

- Diet

- Monthly breast exam

-Instructions on breast self exam

- Firehouse chef program

Testicle

More common in males age 40 and younger

- Testicle exam

- Ultrasound

Monthly testicle self exam

Self exam instruction

Ovarian

Genetics , history of breast cancer

- Ca-125 blood test

- Pelvic exams

Pelvic exam

Pelvic Exams (PCP)

Cervix

Multiple sex partners

Pelvic exams/ PAPs

-HPV vaccine

- Monogamy

HPV vaccine (3)

Liver

- Hepatitis

- Alcohol

- Toxins

Liver function blood test

- Hepatitis B vaccine

- Decrease alcohol use

- PPE

- Liver function tests annually

- Hepatitis C vaccine when available

Throat/Lung

Tobacco kills 1200 in US each day

Exam

Biopsy

Quit tobacco use

Chantix and other methods. Stop pushing tobacco onto boots/recruits

 

 [  more  ]  

A new study presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA) suggests that firefighters may be at an increased risk of developing transitional cell carcinoma (TCC, or bladder cancer) and should be considered for routine
annual screening. Currently, no guidelines exist for regular TCC screening.

It is well known that prolonged exposure to certain environmental pollutants and chemicals puts humans at a major risk for developing bladder cancer. As the body absorbs carcinogenic chemicals, such as cigarette smoke, the chemicals are transferred to the blood, filtered out by the kidneys and expelled from the body through the urine. Greater concentrations of chemicals in the urine can damage the endothelial lining of the bladder and increase a patient's odds of developing transitional cell carcinoma (TCC).
Firefighters, who are regularly exposed to smoke and chemical fumes, may be at a higher risk for developing the disease than other groups.

The age and sex-adjusted incidence for TCC in firefighters is 36 per 100,000. These findings represent a higher incidence, suggesting that firefighters may be a high-risk group.

There are currently tests that can be used during annual physicals for firefighters such as Matritech, Inc. (http://www.matritech.com/) that are cost effective and fast. This is an excellent topic for Labor and Management to work together on.

At the bottom of the page is a picture of the device. It is a qualitative test and the only one approved by the FDA for the point of care screening of "at risk" groups for bladder cancer. It is also CLIA waved. The adjacent picture is the kit needed for the 'send out" for the quantitative test.

For more information, below is the citation for the study:

Greene KL, Konety BR, Stoller ML: Results from the San Francisco Firefighters Bladder Cancer Screening Study. J Urol, suppl., 2008; 179: 323, abstract 937.

Contributors:

Norm Rooker – Chief, Ouray County EMS, CO
retired member SFFD

Robert Schlesinger, MD, FACS

West Sand Lake, FD, NY

Ed Nied

Deputy Chief

Tucson Fire Department

SHS Board of Directors

Mike Dubron

President, Firefighter Cancer Support Network