Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting members in UCTE have made some great strides toward better access to cancer prevention and treatment. Because of exposure to products of combustion and other hazards on the job, firefighters have a higher risk of cancer than the general population—9% higher risk of being diagnosed, and 14% higher risk of dying from cancer.
What is a Presumptive Cancer?
If a firefighter is diagnosed with a cancer that is on the presumptive cancers list (in their province), then it is deemed to be caused by their job. That means a lot when someone fighting cancer has to navigate the workers’ compensation system and access medical care.
But from province to province, this list varies. That needs work, and firefighters are advocating for more consistent and comprehensive coverage.
National Framework
In 2023 the federal government passed the National Framework on Cancers linked to Firefighting Act, and in 2024 they released the framework. Details are here, but in short it’s all in the aid of better access to diagnosis and treatment.
Memorial weekend
This weekend, September 11-13, is Canadian Fallen Firefighter’s Foundation memorial weekend. Spare a thought for the firefighters who risk their lives, and for those we’ve lost—whether it’s from something going terribly wrong on a call, or from the health effects of a long career.
