Fighting Cancer Through Firefighter Training Program

INDIANAPOLIS -- Firefighters from around the state are participating in cancer-prevention training this week in Indianapolis.  Cancer is the leading cause of death for firefighters, and the health training is a push to stem this threat.

Firefighters are regularly exposed to cancer-causing chemicals like benzine, formaldehyde and poly-aromatic hydrocarbons. Indianapolis Firefighter and cancer survivor Mike Estridge says the health threat was underestimated for years.  

"We knew that there was a problem, but we didn’t know how bad the problem was," Estridge says. 

The International Association of Fire Fighters started tracking cause of death and reports that 60 percent of firefighters die of cancer. And the number could even be higher, because the methods for tracking cause of death are incomplete. 

The Firefighter Cancer Support Network, FCSN, led the training in Indianapolis and gave  firefighters from around the state information about the impact of occupational cancer.  FCSN’s Keith Tyson says figherfighters can protect themselves from chemical exposure if they know to take immediate action.

"You go outside of the burning building you take a quick rinse of your gear," says Tyson. "You put the gear into a bag. You put it back on the truck. You go back to the station. You take a shower. You wash the gear."

Tyson says research shows firefighters are at a great risk of developing certain kinds of cancer.

"Things like prostate cancer, testicular cancer, multiple melanoma, non-hodgkins, certainly lung cancer is big issue," Tyson says.

The FCSN is also pushing for a national registry that would provide a more complete picture of the health threat.