SARASOTA, Fla. (May 23, 2023) – Cancer is among the leading causes of death among firefighters, and research suggests they are at higher risk because of chemical hazards and carcinogens they face on the job.
By reducing firefighters’ exposure risks, encouraging regular cancer screenings and providing education, navigation and support, the Firefighters Cancer Collaborative aims to change that and save more lives.
“When firefighters joined the fire department, we knew it was a dangerous job. What we didn’t know was that over a period of years – the cumulative effect – what it would cause on our bodies, and we are just learning that now,” Longboat Key Fire Chief Paul Dezzi said during a news conference announcing the community initiative during National EMS Week.
A partnership between Sarasota Memorial’s Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute and local fire departments in Sarasota and Manatee counties, the Firefighters Cancer Collaborative is focused on raising awareness about the cancer-causing hazards inherent in the job and important safeguards and steps firefighters can take to reduce their exposure to cancer-causing agents. Supported in part by a grant from the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation, the Jellison Cancer Institute program also provides free navigation and support services to local firefighters affected by a cancer diagnosis.
The initiative has been in the works for about a year, since Chief Dezzi approached Sarasota Memorial to discuss the rising number of cancer diagnoses reported among fire-rescue workers here and around the world. Over the last year, fire chiefs from Sarasota and Manatee counties joined Dezzi and the Cancer Institute to form the Firefighters Cancer Collaborative.
"Firefighters, by virtue of what they do, are at higher risk. There are a multitude of agents they are exposed to on a daily basis that are carcinogenic," said Richard Brown, MD, chief program medical director of the Jellison Cancer Institute. "We know there is a greater risk of developing or dying of cancer if you are a firefighter.”
Cancer is the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths among firefighters, according to the International Association of Fire Fighters. Research by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health revealed firefighters have a 9% higher risk of developing cancer and a 14% greater risk of dying from cancer compared to the rest of the U.S. population.
The cancers mostly responsible for this higher rate were respiratory (lung, mesothelioma), gastrointestinal (buccal, pharynx, esophageal, large intestine), and kidney, but Florida specifically has identified 23 different forms of cancer linked to the profession.
While carcinogens like asbestos and other inhalants are a factor, another risk comes from the absorption of chemicals into firefighter's skin. Firefighters are urged to remove their hoods and gear as soon as safely possibly and fire departments are updating and prioritizing safety procedures and decontamination areas to make washing chemicals off firefighters and their protective gear faster, easier and safer.
"With all of the personal protective equipment we wear - the oxygen tanks, the hoods and heavy bunker gear, there’s still a chance for dangerous chemicals to be absorbed in our system," said Chief Dezzi.
In addition to education, outreach and prevention, the initiative emphasizes the importance of early and routine screenings, and provides free navigation and support to help them through diagnosis and treatment. The Cancer Institute’s navigation team is made up of experienced, certified oncology nurses, each specialized in and dedicated to specific types of cancer.
“Any cancer if you catch it earlier is better than if you let it go,” said Dr. Brown. “Firefighters tend to be younger and more fit and they tend not to think anything is going to happen to them. Unfortunately, that is not correct.”
About the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is a regional medical center offering Southwest Florida’s greatest breadth and depth of care, with more than 1.3 million patient visits per year across 2 hospital campuses and regional network of urgent care and outpatient centers. The Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute is a center of excellence that provides advanced cancer care across the entire continuum— from prevention, screening and diagnosis to leading edge treatment, clinical trials and survivorship support. The Cancer Institute's world-class facilities include an 8-story oncology inpatient and surgical tower that opened on the Sarasota hospital campus in 2021, a Radiation Oncology Center that opened on the University Parkway outpatient campus in 2020, and a new Cancer Pavilion with a full slate of outpatient services slated to open in late 2025. Learn more at smh.com.