HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia Beach and Portsmouth firefighters had access to a unique two-year-old test that takes a sample of the lower esophagus and detects pre-cancer.
“This particular test can give you pre-cancer signals and allow you to go through treatment before you actually have cancer, which is going to be really paramount to keeping them healthy,” said Max Gonano, president of Virginia Beach Professional Fire and EMS, IAFF Local 29247.
Firefighters run into burning buildings with harmful chemicals often. Research shows firefighters are at a 9% increased risk of getting diagnosed with cancer and at a 62% higher risk of getting esophageal cancer, according to the Firefighter Cancer Support Group.
Esophageal cancer has personally touched the Virginia Beach Fire Department.
Matt Gallina, a Virginia Beach firefighter, is undergoing treatment for esophageal cancer after a blood test alerted the otherwise healthy firefighter.
Knowing the importance of early detection, both the Virginia Beach and Portsmouth fire unions brought the EsoGuard test, which looks for pre-cancer in the esophagus.
“Early detection and preventative screenings are a very important thing,” said Kurt Detric, president of the Portsmouth Professional Firefighters & Paramedics IAFF Local 539. “…We’ve taken it upon ourselves as our union and in the fire service in general to really push preventative cancer screenings for our members.”
Gonano added: “It’s our chosen profession. We’re very proud of what we do and we love what we do, but we also want to be safe and go home to our families.”
The screening is just one of many the unions are looking to bring in for their members this year.
