U.S. Representative Richard Hanna and firefighters from across New York state called on Congress to approve a National Firefighter Cancer Registry. They made the announcement on June 17, 2016, during the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs (NYSAFC) 110th Annual Conference & FIRE 2016 Expo in Verona, NY.
Firefighters are exposed to a range of harmful toxins and research has indicated that there is a strong connection between firefighting and an increased risk for several major cancers such as testicular, stomach, multiple myeloma, and brain cancers. That’s why Hanna introduced H.R. 4625, the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act, which would establish a specialized national cancer registry to be managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The registry would improve collection capabilities and activities related to the nationwide monitoring of cancer incidence among all firefighters – career and volunteer.
"Our firefighters put their lives on the line every day to help our communities during times of emergency," Hanna said. "We need a broader understanding of the trends associated with why, how, and when our firefighters are contracting this life threatening disease. Establishing a national cancer registry is the first step to building a database where health experts can study the factors associated with cancer diagnoses in the firefighting community. It is my hope that through this registry we can develop more sophisticated protocols and safeguards to prevent our men and women firefighters from being diagnosed with cancer."
It Started in Barneveld
The idea for a cancer registry started in Oneida County at the Barneveld Fire Department. Rep. Hanna was speaking with Brian McQueen, board member of the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY), NYSAFC committee member, and past chief of the Whitesboro Volunteer Fire Department, when he said no such data exists. McQueen is also co-chairman of the National Volunteer Fire Council Cancer Task Force.
McQueen knew this because he is a cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in December 2013, on Christmas Eve. Since that difficult day, McQueen and his family have had to tackle the trials and tribulations that go along with this prognosis with hopes that one day he would be cancer free.
That’s why together with Barneveld Fire Chief Brian Palmer and Assistant Fire Chief Brian Healey, they founded Believe 271 – an organization that provides financial assistance to volunteer firefighters, EMTs, and members of ladies auxiliaries in Oneida and Herkimer counties who suffer from a life threatening illness, such as cancer.
"For decades studies have shown a link between firefighting and increased risk for several major cancers," McQueen said. "As we have learned more about this issue two things have become very clear. First, there are behaviors we need to change as firefighters to protect ourselves from the exposure to the 84,000 chemicals found in today’s fires. In addition to correcting these bad habits, we need to equip our fire houses with gear washers, dryers, ventilation systems, and personal protective gear to further protect them. Secondly, what we currently know about what causes firefighter cancer is just the ‘tip of the iceberg.’"
NYSAFC 2015-2016 President and Fire Chief Dan Schwertfeger of the Floyd Volunteer Fire Department is also a cancer survivor and board member of Believe 271.
"Research has shown that firefighters, both career and volunteer, are two times greater than the general public to be stricken with cancer," Schwertfeger said. "The need to address this important issue in the fire service is now. By enacting this Cancer Registry, we will be able to develop data that will address this epidemic in the fire service. I applaud Congressman Hanna for meeting this challenge and assisting the nation’s fire service."
Support from Fire Groups
Representatives from the following organizations, along with fire service leaders from across New York state, stood with Rep. Hanna to call on Congress to pass this bill:
- New York Association of Fire Chiefs (NYSAFC)
- Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY)
- Association of Fire Districts of the State of New York (AFDSNY)
- County Fire Coordinators’ Association of the State of New York
- National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC)
- Believe 271
- Firefighter Cancer Support Network
FASNY President Robert McConville said, "Today’s firefighters face conditions that are far more dangerous than those of just a few years ago. All firefighters, paid and volunteer, deserve the best protections and assistance available. Understanding the extent of cancer in the fire service is crucial to addressing this growing problem, and this is why the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act is so important. On behalf of the 105,000 volunteer firefighters in New York state, FASNY thanks Rep. Hanna for his leadership on this issue, and we urge Congress to pass this bill without delay."
About the Bill
The national Cancer Registry would:
- Store and consolidate epidemiological information submitted by healthcare professionals related to cancer incidence among firefighters.
- Make anonymous data available to public health researchers to provide them with robust and comprehensive datasets to expand groundbreaking research.
- Improve our understanding of cancer incidence as the registry grows, which could potentially lead to the development of advanced safety protocols and safeguards.
- Increase collaboration between the CDC and epidemiologists, public health experts, clinicians, and firefighters through regular and consistent consultations to improve the effectiveness and accuracy of the registry.
In addition to those listed above, the following groups support establishing a Firefighter Cancer Registry:
- International Association of Fire Chiefs
- International Association of Fire Fighters
- Congressional Fire Services Institute
- National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
- International Fire Service Training Association
The Following Members of Congress from the New York Delegation Support the Bill:
Rep. Chris Collins (NY-27), Rep. Joe Crowley (NY-14), Rep. Daniel Donovan (NY-11), Rep. Eliot L. Engel (NY-16), Rep. Christopher P. Gibson (NY-19), Rep. Brian Higgins (NY-26), Rep. Steve Israel (NY-3), Rep. John Katko (NY-24), Rep. Peter T. King (NY-2), Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18), Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12), Rep. Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), Rep. Charles B. Rangel (NY-13), Rep. Kathleen M. Rice (NY-4), Rep. Jose Serrano (NY-15), Rep. Louise Slaughter (NY-25), Rep. Elise M. Stefanik (NY-21), Rep. Paul Tonko (NY-20), Rep. Nydia Velazquez (NY-7), and Rep. Lee M. Zeldin (NY-1).