Cancer Awareness

1
Cancer Awareness

• Near-Miss 24/7/365 Safety
• Calendar
• April 2009

2
April Module Cancer Awareness
3
Cancer Awareness

• Introduction
• In 2005 over 10.5 million Americans were living
  with a form of cancer. 1
• This year alone 1.2 million Americans may be
  diagnosed with a form of cancer. 2
• Chances are that cancer has touched your life,
  especially considering a firefighters work.

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Cancer Awareness

• Introduction continued
• Studies have shown that firefighters are more at
  risk for certain types of cancer.
• What is cancer?
• All cancer starts due to
• uncontrolled abnormal
• cell growth. Cells travel
• throughout the body
• through blood and lymph
• systems while dividing
• uncontrollably. There are
• more than 100 types of
• cancer, named for the area
• in the body where the
• cancer originates. 3

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Cancer Awareness

• The need for education and awareness
• For years firefighters have focused on the
  physical performance aspects of the job, ignoring
  the health issues related to firefighting.
• The firefighters environment became more complex
  due to expanded missions and response to hazards
  and terrorism,
• Firefighters and other first responders need to
  be educated to the dangers of cancer.
• By taking preventive measures, you could reduce
  your exposure to cancer causing agents, as well
  as your colleagues exposure.

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Cancer Awareness

• Study results
• A 2006 University of Cincinnati study, published
  in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental
  Medicine, of 110,000 firefighters worldwide
  revealed firefighters face up to twice the risk
  of dying from certain types of cancer than non
  firefighters.
• The 110,000 firefighters were chosen from around
  the world and were closely studied. The results
  compiled are startling.
• ? 20 kinds of cancer were analyzed, 10 of
  these cancers
• developed in firefighters more
  frequently than any other type of worker.
• ? Testicular cancer 102
  ? Brain cancer 32
• ? Multiple Myeloma 53
  ? Prostate cancer 28
• ? Non-Hodgkin lymphoma 51 ? Stomach
  cancer 22
• ? Skin cancer 39
  ? Colon cancer 21

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Cancer Awareness

• Exposed
• According to the finding from the University of
  Cincinnati study, firefighters are exposed to
  numerous cancer-causing substances throughout
  their careers.
• as you sweat on the job, the pores in your
  skin are open and are more likely to absorb
• chemical residue.

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Cancer Awareness

• Preventive measures
• Always wear proper PPE, including SCBA
• Clean gear frequently and completely
• Keep PPE at the station or stored in a gear bag
• Thoroughly clean yourself before leaving the fire
  station
• Remove diesel exhaust from the fire station
• Eliminate the use of tobacco products
• Have annual medical and physical evaluations
• Use appropriate fitness equipment and exercise
  programs
• Target your nutrition education to include cancer
  fighting foods
  (high in anti-oxidants)

9
Cancer Awareness

• Preventive measures continued
• Subscribing to the Wellness-Fitness Initiative is
  a good way to strengthen the health of
  firefighters through physical, mental and
  emotional tools. The following topics are
  highlighted in the Wellness-Fitness Initiative
  manual.
• ? Fitness evaluation
• ? Medical evaluation
• ? Rehabilitation
• ? Behavioral health
• ? Data collection
• For a free downloadable copy of the manual please
  visit http//www.iafc.org/displaycommon.cfm?an
• 1subarticlenbr388

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Cancer Awareness

• Cancer near miss report
• Case Study Report 06-255
• While participating in an annual physical exam,
  one firefighter tested positive for colon cancer.
  This test was confirmed by an outside source.
  This case is one of four or five that has
  surfaced in my department in the past 3 years.
  Extensive annual physical examinations for all
  fire/rescue personnel are a must. In fact, an
  intense Wellness-Fitness Program should be an
  integral part of every department. The annual
  physical exam is, in part, a discovery phase.
  Other components of the Wellness-Fitness Program
  may help reduce the chance of developing this
  disease or at the very least promote early
  detection.

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• Cancer near miss report continued
• A few important tips stand out from this report.
• This cancer was found during an annual exam.
• Early detection is key for protecting yourself.
• Multiple firefighters were recently diagnosed
  with cancer. It is possible multiple firefighters
  were exposed to the same cancer- causing agent.
  If you have reason to be concerned, visit your
  doctor for a physical exam.
• By sharing your experience through submitting a
  near-miss report, you are raising awareness of
  cases where cancer is affecting firefighters.

12
Cancer Awareness

• Cancer support
• If you have been diagnosed with cancer, you are
  not alone. Other firefighters are facing the
  same challenges you are facing.
• A firefighter support group has been formed to
  help firefighters, both active and retired, as
  well as their families who have been diagnosed
  with a form of cancer.
• ? Firefighter Cancer Support Network
  (FCSN) www.FirefighterCancerSupport.c
  om
• ? The website is a resource to receive
  assistance
• while dealing with cancer. Testimonials,
  memorials, and a member section of the
  website hold
• valuable resources.

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Cancer Awareness

• Cancer support continued
• Below you will find some additional cancer
  support pages.
• ? American Cancer Society Angel Flight
  www.angelflightsoars.org
• ? AmericaCancer.com
  http//americacancer.com
• ? CarePages.com
  
  www.carepages.com
• ? Caring4Cancer.com
  www.caring4cancer.com
• ? Kasdas Colon Cancer Foundation
  www.coloncancerfoundation.org
• ? Lance Armstrong Foundation
  www.livestrong.org
• ? Leukemia Lymphoma Society
  www.leukemia-lymphoma.org
• ? The Marrow Foundation
  www.marrow.org
  
• ? The Mayo Clinic
  
  www.mayoclinic.com
• ? Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation
  www.curemeso.org
• ? National Brain Tumor Foundation
  www.tbts.org
• ? National Organization for Rare Disorders,
  inc. www.rarediseases.org
• ? Skin Cancer Connection
  www.healthcentral.com/skin-cancer
• ? The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer
  www.komen.org

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Cancer Awareness

• References
• 1
• Cancer Prevalence How Many People Have
  Cancer?. 2008. American Cancer Society. 24 Mar.
  2009 I_2_6x_Cancer_Prevalence_How_Many_People_Have_Canc
  er.asp.
• 2
• 2009 Firefighter Cancer Support Network. 24 Mar.
  2009 http//www.fcsn.net/index.cfm?Section10Page
  Num78.
• 3
• Defining Cancer. National Cancer Institute U.S
  National Institutes of Health. 24 Mar. 2009
  http//74.125.47.132/search?qcachech8QL_BjDBcJw
  ww.cancer.gov/
• cancertopics/what-is-cancerwhatiscancercd4h
  lenctclnkglus.

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Cancer Awareness

• Discussion
• How many firefighters do you know (active or
  retired) that have contracted a form of cancer?
• Why do some firefighters go to great lengths to
  keep their gear clean and use SCBA while others
  are just the opposite.
• Based on your age, when did you have your last
  chest x-ray, colonoscopy, or other cancer screen?

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Cancer Awareness

• Conduct a survey your station, apparatus and work
  environment.
• What hazards exist that could contribute to
  contracting cancer?
• What can you do to minimize the hazards?
• What outside resources are needed to minimize the
  hazards?