Cancer Prevention

Cancer is the most dangerous threat to firefighter health and safety today.

Despite the risk firefighters take in their jobs each day to save people and buildings from fire, cancer is the number one threat to their health. That’s why prevention is so important. At Health Fit Clinic, we’ll work with you on a personalized basis to come at cancer prevention from every angle, ensuring you do all you can to stay healthy and well. Our care includes cancer screening, as well as a custom plan and continuous monitoring as early detection is key. Dr. McCarthy will be your partner is preventing cancer and staying in optimum health.
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Cancer caused 66 percent of the career firefighter line-of-duty deaths from 2002 to 2019, according to data from the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). Heart disease caused 18 percent of career LODDs for the same period.
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Cancer caused 70 percent of the line-of-duty deaths for career firefighters in 2016.
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Firefighters have a 9 percent higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14 percent higher risk of dying from cancer than the general U.S. population, according to research by the CDC/National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH).
The cancers mostly responsible for this higher risk were respiratory (lung, mesothelioma), GI (oral cavity, esophageal, large intestine), and kidney.

Are firefighters’ risks for certain types of cancer significantly higher?

Firefighters’ risks are significantly higher for some specific types of cancer than the general population.

In 2013, NIOSH researchers reported a two-fold excess of malignant mesothelioma, a very rare cancer. Put another way, firefighters have a 100 percent increased risk (100 percent = double = 2 times) of getting mesothelioma. Firefighters have a 129 percent increased risk of dying from mesothelioma. A 2006 meta-analysis by Grace LeMasters of 32 firefighter cancer studies noted a two-fold excess for testicular cancer. Firefighters have a 62 percent higher risk of getting esophageal cancer, and they have a 39 percent increased risk of dying from esophageal cancer, according to the NIOSH research.

Here’s an overview with some specific additional risks for firefighters noted:

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Testicular Cancer

2.02 times the risk (Thats more than double!)
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Mesothelioma

2.0 times greater risk
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Multiple Myeloma

1.53 times greater risk
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Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

1.51 times greater risk
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Skin Cancer

1.39 times greater risk
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Malignant Melanoma

1.31 times greater risk
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Brain Cancer

1.31 times greater risk
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Prostate Cancer

1.28 times greater risk
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Colon Cancer

1.21 times greater risk
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Leukemia

1.14 times greater risk
From Firefigher Cancer Support Network

TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN YOUR WELLNESS JOURNEY

An introductory meeting with Dr. McCarthy will allow us to get to know your comprehensive physical and mental health goals prior to setting up a personalized nutrition and fitness plan just for you. We'll explore all preventative health and lifestyle options before discussing possible medication needs.

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