Fire fighters face a unique combination of occupational exposures and personal risk factors that increase their risk of cancer. Understanding which risks are unavoidable, which can be modified, and how they interact is the first step toward reducing cancer risk and making informed decisions about prevention. Explore the sections below to learn more about cancer in the fire service, non-modifiable risk factors, and modifiable risk factors.
01. A call to action
⇒ Cancer is a leading cause of line-of-duty deaths among fire fighters.
⇒ Physical Activity is a potent cancer-prevention strategy that is often under-utilized.
⇒ Outcomes beyond health: cost and operational benefits.
⇒ Institutional call to formalize, fund, and implement comprehensive cancer-prevention programs that prioritize physical activity.
⇒ Physical Activity is a potent cancer-prevention strategy that is often under-utilized.
⇒ Outcomes beyond health: cost and operational benefits.
⇒ Institutional call to formalize, fund, and implement comprehensive cancer-prevention programs that prioritize physical activity.
02. Why exercise is critical to the fight against cancer
⇒ Fire fighters experience higher cancer rates than the general population.
⇒ Physical activity reduces the risk of developing 13 cancers – several of which disproportionately affect fire fighters.
⇒ Exercise improves treatment outcomes and reduces the risk of developing new cancers and diseases among cancer survivors.
⇒ Exercise creates a cancer-suppressive internal environment, reducing opportunities for aggressive mutation.“If the effects of exercise could be encapsulated in a pill, it would be prescribed to every cancer patient and viewed as a major breakthrough.”
⇒ Physical activity reduces the risk of developing 13 cancers – several of which disproportionately affect fire fighters.
⇒ Exercise improves treatment outcomes and reduces the risk of developing new cancers and diseases among cancer survivors.
⇒ Exercise creates a cancer-suppressive internal environment, reducing opportunities for aggressive mutation.
“If the effects of exercise could be encapsulated in a pill, it would be prescribed to every cancer patient and viewed as a major breakthrough.”
– Dr. Pru Cormie
03. How to use this resource
⇒ The resource is for all fire fighters, whether you’re active-duty or retired, career or volunteer, or working in structural, wildland, industrial, military, or Indigenous settings.
⇒ It was designed as an educational resource to raise awareness of the critical role of physical activity and exercise in reducing cancer risk and in managing cancer.
⇒ The eBook is divided into three parts:
⇒ It was designed as an educational resource to raise awareness of the critical role of physical activity and exercise in reducing cancer risk and in managing cancer.
⇒ The eBook is divided into three parts:
_____1. Understanding the risk of cancer in the fire service
_____2. The role of physical activity and exercise in cancer prevention and management
_____3. Evidence, guidelines, and recommendations for specific cancer types
⇒ Ultimately, this resource is meant to be used however works best for you: read it cover to cover or jump to the sections most relevant to your interests and needs.
Being more active more often is one of the most powerful things anyone can do to manage cancer risk or navigate survivorship.
Before exploring the evidence, take a moment to understand why this resource was created and how to get the most from it. The sections below outline the need to prioritize exercise as a key cancer-prevention strategy in the fire service, explain why regular physical activity and exercise are powerful tools for reducing cancer risk and improving outcomes, and provide considerations for navigating the eBook based on your needs and interests.
1a. An Overview of Cancer in the Fire Service
⇒ Fire fighter LODD
⇒ Cancer incidence & mortality among fire fighters
⇒ Key research timeline
⇒ IARC (re)classification of firefighting
⇒ National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer
⇒ Collaborations & success stories
⇒ Cancer incidence & mortality among fire fighters
⇒ Key research timeline
⇒ IARC (re)classification of firefighting
⇒ National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer
⇒ Collaborations & success stories
1b. Non-Modifiable Risk Factors
⇒ Occupational exposure to carcinogens
⇒ Night shift work & sleep disturbances
⇒ Job-related stress & burnout
⇒ Sex, race, and genetics
⇒ Night shift work & sleep disturbances
⇒ Job-related stress & burnout
⇒ Sex, race, and genetics
1c. Modifiable Risk Factors
⇒ Improper use of PPE
⇒ Tobacco use (smoking, smokeless tobacco, vaping)
⇒ Alcohol consumption
⇒ Poor dietary habits
⇒ Excess bodyweight
⇒ Excess visceral fat
⇒ Prolonged sedentary behavior
⇒ Tobacco use (smoking, smokeless tobacco, vaping)
⇒ Alcohol consumption
⇒ Poor dietary habits
⇒ Excess bodyweight
⇒ Excess visceral fat
⇒ Prolonged sedentary behavior
Excess body weight (overweight or obesity) is associated a higher risk of developing 13 types of cancer
– The American Cancer Society
Before exploring the evidence, take a moment to understand why this resource was created and how to get the most from it. The sections below outline the need to prioritize exercise as a key cancer-prevention strategy in the fire service, explain why regular physical activity and exercise are powerful tools for reducing cancer risk and improving outcomes, and provide considerations for navigating the eBook based on your needs and interests.
1a. An Overview of Cancer in the Fire Service
⇒ Fire fighter LODD
⇒ Cancer incidence & mortality among fire fighters
⇒ Key research timeline
⇒ IARC (re)classification of firefighting
⇒ National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer
⇒ Collaborations & success stories
⇒ Cancer incidence & mortality among fire fighters
⇒ Key research timeline
⇒ IARC (re)classification of firefighting
⇒ National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer
⇒ Collaborations & success stories
1b. Non-Modifiable Risk Factors
⇒ Occupational exposure to carcinogens
⇒ Night shift work & sleep disturbances
⇒ Job-related stress & burnout
⇒ Sex, race, and genetics
⇒ Night shift work & sleep disturbances
⇒ Job-related stress & burnout
⇒ Sex, race, and genetics
1c. Modifiable Risk Factors
⇒ Improper use of PPE
⇒ Tobacco use (smoking, smokeless tobacco, vaping)
⇒ Alcohol consumption
⇒ Poor dietary habits
⇒ Excess bodyweight
⇒ Excess visceral fat
⇒ Prolonged sedentary behavior
⇒ Tobacco use (smoking, smokeless tobacco, vaping)
⇒ Alcohol consumption
⇒ Poor dietary habits
⇒ Excess bodyweight
⇒ Excess visceral fat
⇒ Prolonged sedentary behavior
Excess body weight (overweight or obesity) is associated a higher risk of developing 13 types of cancer
– The American Cancer Society
Before exploring the evidence, take a moment to understand why this resource was created and how to get the most from it. The sections below outline the need to prioritize exercise as a key cancer-prevention strategy in the fire service, explain why regular physical activity and exercise are powerful tools for reducing cancer risk and improving outcomes, and provide considerations for navigating the eBook based on your needs and interests.
1a. An Overview of Cancer in the Fire Service
⇒ Fire fighter LODD
⇒ Cancer incidence & mortality among fire fighters
⇒ Key research timeline
⇒ IARC (re)classification of firefighting
⇒ National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer
⇒ Collaborations & success stories
⇒ Cancer incidence & mortality among fire fighters
⇒ Key research timeline
⇒ IARC (re)classification of firefighting
⇒ National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer
⇒ Collaborations & success stories
1b. Non-Modifiable Risk Factors
⇒ Occupational exposure to carcinogens
⇒ Night shift work & sleep disturbances
⇒ Job-related stress & burnout
⇒ Sex, race, and genetics
⇒ Night shift work & sleep disturbances
⇒ Job-related stress & burnout
⇒ Sex, race, and genetics
1c. Modifiable Risk Factors
⇒ Improper use of PPE
⇒ Tobacco use (smoking, smokeless tobacco, vaping)
⇒ Alcohol consumption
⇒ Poor dietary habits
⇒ Excess bodyweight
⇒ Excess visceral fat
⇒ Prolonged sedentary behavior
⇒ Tobacco use (smoking, smokeless tobacco, vaping)
⇒ Alcohol consumption
⇒ Poor dietary habits
⇒ Excess bodyweight
⇒ Excess visceral fat
⇒ Prolonged sedentary behavior
Excess body weight (overweight or obesity) is associated a higher risk of developing 13 types of cancer
– The American Cancer Society
Before exploring the evidence, take a moment to understand why this resource was created and how to get the most from it. The sections below outline the need to prioritize exercise as a key cancer-prevention strategy in the fire service, explain why regular physical activity and exercise are powerful tools for reducing cancer risk and improving outcomes, and provide considerations for navigating the eBook based on your needs and interests.
1a. An Overview of Cancer in the Fire Service
⇒ Fire fighter LODD
⇒ Cancer incidence & mortality among fire fighters
⇒ Key research timeline
⇒ IARC (re)classification of firefighting
⇒ National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer
⇒ Collaborations & success stories
⇒ Cancer incidence & mortality among fire fighters
⇒ Key research timeline
⇒ IARC (re)classification of firefighting
⇒ National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer
⇒ Collaborations & success stories
1b. Non-Modifiable Risk Factors
⇒ Occupational exposure to carcinogens
⇒ Night shift work & sleep disturbances
⇒ Job-related stress & burnout
⇒ Sex, race, and genetics
⇒ Night shift work & sleep disturbances
⇒ Job-related stress & burnout
⇒ Sex, race, and genetics
1c. Modifiable Risk Factors
⇒ Improper use of PPE
⇒ Tobacco use (smoking, smokeless tobacco, vaping)
⇒ Alcohol consumption
⇒ Poor dietary habits
⇒ Excess bodyweight
⇒ Excess visceral fat
⇒ Prolonged sedentary behavior
⇒ Tobacco use (smoking, smokeless tobacco, vaping)
⇒ Alcohol consumption
⇒ Poor dietary habits
⇒ Excess bodyweight
⇒ Excess visceral fat
⇒ Prolonged sedentary behavior
Excess body weight (overweight or obesity) is associated a higher risk of developing 13 types of cancer
– The American Cancer Society