By Abby Zieverink

Awareness and Prevention

Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month highlights preventative measures

Jan 5, 2022 | 1:13 PM

January is Fire Fighter Cancer Awareness Month.

With that, the County of Grande Prairie Professional Fire Fighters Association is working at reducing the risk of cancer through both awareness and prevention.

Association Chair Mike Shykora says from 2015-2020, 75 per cent of the firefighters added to the IAFF (International Association of Fire Fighters) Fallen Firefighter Memorial died of occupational cancer.

“It’s not like it’s one cancer, it’s tons of different types of cancer,” he stated.

“They have done studies that are showing firefighters have a nine per cent greater chance of being diagnosed with cancer and 14 per cent greater chance of dying from cancer versus the general population.”

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In Alberta, there are specific types of cancers that are recognized as presumptive cancers as firefighters, which Shykora mentions, took a lot of work for the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) to lobby and become recognized.

He says presumptive cancers that are recognized include leukemia, some brain cancers, bladder cancers, cervical cancer, lung cancers for non-smokers, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, kidney cancer, colorectal cancer, testicular cancer, esophageal cancers, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, prostate cancer, skin cancer, breast cancer, multiple myeloma.

“I think its important to note too is we’re not just talking about male firefighters, we’re talking about firefighters period; male firefighters, female firefighters and there are separate risks with both of them so its good to see that they’ve recognized cancers across male and female firefighters.”

The association is continually lobbying both federally and provincially to have more occupational cancers recognized.

Shykora tells EverythingGP much of the awareness for firefighter cancer prevention comes from internal work and tools, including decontamination kits to clean fire gear.

“(The decontamination kits) have gloves in them, have detergent for cleaning the gear on scene, scrub brushes and big heavy bags to bag our gear in. So keeping our gear clean and not getting in the truck with dirty gear is our single biggest thing that we can have and utilizing our PPE as we should be.”

Shykora says using PPE appropriately is one of the key elements for firefighters to stay healthy and prevent cancer on the job, however federal and provincial laws, along with internal procedures continually adapting and improving help to further protect against occupational cancers.

“A lot of the stuff is coming down to the laws to support us, our own internal laws policies to support us, and guys just doing a good job in participating in physical fitness activities and staying healthy overall.”