Firefighters and Lung Cancer | Are Our Heroes at a Greater Lung Cancer Risk?
They have one of the most difficult demanding jobs available. Firefighters risk their lives day in and day out to help others—and, according to some studies, the job isn’t the only thing posing a risk to these brave individuals. They may also be at an increased risk for lung cancer.
Special lung-cancer risk factors for firefighters include exposure to aerosolized chemicals, including:
- Benzene
- Asbestos
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
- Formaldehyde
- Diesel exhaust
Additionally, according to lungcancerfact.com, “Older homes often contain components made with asbestos, including insulation, floor tiles, ceiling tiles, roof shingles, flashing, siding, pipe cement, plasters, and joint compound. During a fire, asbestos particles from these materials can become airborne. If a firefighter is not wearing adequate respiratory equipment, he or she may inhale airborne asbestos.”
If you couple that with other lung cancer risk factors (current or former smoking habits, family history of lung cancer or other environmental factors), the lung cancer risk increases even more.
If you would like more information about the possible lung cancer risk for firefighters, there is a Firefighters Against Lung Cancer group working to educate people about the disease.
If you think you or a loved one may be at risk for lung cancer, be sure to visit our new page dedicated to the top lung cancer symptoms, and encourage you and your loved ones to look it over. Talk about the symptoms, calculate one another’s risk, and take action in discovering lung cancer when it’s in its earliest stages, and the survival rates are higher.
The more you know about the symptoms of lung cancer, the better prepared you and your loved ones will be.
To learn more about Oncimmune’s EarlyCDT-Lung, the blood test to aid in the early detection of lung cancer, please visit www.HelloHaveYouHeard.com.
If you are a lung cancer survivor or if you have a loved one who battled lung cancer, visit our
Lung Cancer Awareness Wall to memorialize and honor his or her personal fight against lung cancer.
