We all know the dangers firefighters face,
but did you know that they also have a markedly higher risk of
developing cancer? According to
one source, their risk is
up to 100% higher than that of the general population. I learned this stunning
fact when researching ONE FINE FIREMAN. Around the same time, I also met Fire
Chief Joe Nestor of the real San Gabriel fire department and learned that he is
a cancer survivor and dedicated member of a group called the Firefighters
Cancer Support Network, a peer support network for firefighters and their
families. As a gesture of support for the firefighting community – and in
gratitude for all the charity work they do -- I intend to donate a portion of
my royalties from every copy of ONE FINE FIREMAN, for the lifetime of the book, to the network.
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So what's the group all about? Chief Nestor was gracious enough to answer some questions.
First of all, thanks so much for taking the time to talk
about this wonderful organization. My first question would be, why are
firefighters at such high risk of developing cancer?
Firefighters
are exposed to many cancer causing materials because of the nature of the
job. They are exposed to smoke and
the products of combustion, along with hazardous chemicals that have spilled or
been improperly mixed. Cancer can take years or
decades to develop after just one exposure. When I started in the fire service more than 40 years ago,
breathing apparatus was not worn at all times during the fire, and almost never
after the fire was out, when exposure can be at its worst. Picture the World Trade Center, when
firefighters were working around the smoking rubble without breathing
apparatus. That type of smoke can
be the most toxic. Over the
years personal protective equipment (PPE) have improved, and firefighters have
gotten much better at always wearing their breathing apparatus (masks). As firefighters
get better at wearing breathing apparatus at all times when in a smoky or
chemical environment, we should see incidents of cancer go down.
Do firefighters have any particular challenges when facing
cancer? For instance, I would wonder if it’s difficult to ask for help when
you’re used to relying on your physical strength and skill. Is that the case,
or are there other challenges?
As you know, firefighters take pride
in being strong, in body, mind, and soul.
You like to think that you are above getting cancer. It is very
difficult for some firefighters to accept that they are not invincible. Firefighters are used to taking care of
people, not being taken care of.
It can be very difficult and isolating when a firefighter gets diagnosed
with cancer. The other challenge
is getting back to the job of firefighting. The number 1 goal is to get well, and number 2 is to get
back to work. I haven’t talked to
a firefighter yet that didn’t want those 2 things. And getting back to work is so important, because we want to
leave the job on our terms not on cancer’s terms. There are times when someone just can’t come back, where
getting well has to be enough. We
let those folks know that they are still part of the family, and will always
have our support.
What was the original inspiration for the founding of the
Firefighter Cancer Support Network
The Firefighter Cancer Support
Network (FCSN) was founded by Los Angeles County Firefighter/Paramedic Mike
Dubron in 2005. He was given a
very poor prognosis when he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, however, he
survived and his prognosis was changed to very good. After his recovery, he realized that there was nowhere for a
firefighter to turn, other than traditional organizations, when they are
diagnosed with cancer. As he puts
it, no one knows firefighters like firefighters. He also found that firefighters were much more prone to
having cancer in their lifetime than the general population. He founded the Firefighter Cancer
Support Network to provide comfort, strength, and hope through our own experiences
as firefighters in dealing with the devastating effects of cancer.
Does the special bond firefighters develop in the firehouse
help them when they’re diagnosed with cancer?
Yes, that is the cornerstone of the
organization. When a firefighter
is first diagnosed, we encourage them to contact FCSN. Either that day or the next day, a
large box is delivered to them.
The box has resource materials to help them and their families get
educated about cancer. We also get
them connected to a “mentor”. A
mentor is another firefighter that has also been diagnosed with their type of
cancer, or a closely related cancer.
The mentor initially provides comfort and connection, which is so
important in those first few days.
The mentor also can help get them to appointments and be present for
doctors meetings to help ask questions and take notes. Each person is unique. Some firefighters get a cancer
diagnosis, and don’t mind telling everyone. Some really want their privacy. It is up to the mentor to respect the wishes of the
individual. A mentor is there to
provide comfort and support, not to take over someone’s treatment and approach
to their cancer diagnosis.
The dream of the Firefighter Cancer
Support Network would be for it to become as relevant as the Breast Cancer
Awareness effort has become. I am
amazed at what the folks involved in Breast Cancer Awareness have done. I know that when a woman, or a man, are
diagnosed with breast cancer, they know that they do not have to feel isolated,
that there are people and organizations there for them. They know that all they have to do is
reach out and someone will be there.
That is what I want to see for the Firefighter Cancer Support Network.
You also work with family members of firefighters. What’s
the most important thing people can do to support a loved one with cancer?
First and foremost to provide
comfort and support. Second, this
is a battle. When you hear that
someone is “battling cancer”, that is exactly what they need to do. They are in a fight for their
lives. You need to be up for the
challenge, and help them in the battle.
You are one of their soldiers!
Get into the fight with them.
Do research. Take them to
appointments. Be a second set of
ears in the doctor’s office. Don’t
let them get isolated. Challenge
them to fight harder if they need to.
Help them to feel as normal as possible. Never give up hope.
If they are firefighters, or part of a firefighter family, encourage
them to contact the Firefighter Cancer Support Network.
As a cancer survivor yourself, what would you say to someone
facing a cancer diagnosis? What have you learned from the experience of
fighting cancer?
First, I would tell them that I am
an 11 year survivor. Cancer is not
a death sentence. Next, you are
still the same person. Cancer does
not define you, it is just a small part of you. I would tell them their life is going to be different, and
not necessarily for the worse. I
believe I am a better person because I have battled cancer. For me, and this is not for everyone, I
would have talked about it more.
It was just kind of my wife and I initially from 2001-2005. In 2005 when I got involved with the
Network, I talked about it to anyone that wanted to listen. That really helped me.
My story is a little different. When I was diagnosed in November 2001
with Bladder Cancer, I went in for surgery 2 days later. In 3 weeks I was back at work as a
Battalion Chief. At the time I was
with Pasadena Fire. I was also at
the beginning stages of competing for the Fire Chief job in San Gabriel. I had my second surgery in February
2002, and also started chemo. I
only took 4 days off for that one.
I told my doctor at the time that I was competing for a Fire Chief’s
job, and asked him if I should continue to pursue that. This is where having the right doctors
and people around you is so important.
He said, “What do you want to do?
Do what you want to do.
Don’t worry. Life is too
short to worry. Do what you want,
you are going to be fine. We are going
to take good care of you.” So I
continued with the process and became the Fire Chief for the City of San
Gabriel. I was cancer free until
2005, when it came back in a mild form.
One more surgery, and this time chemo with Interferon. Cancer free ever since, 7 years and
counting.
That’s great news! Is there anything patients who are not
connected with the firefighting community can learn from how your organization
works?
Yes, go to the website. It has information and videos
explaining how the Network works.
If you want to read about a firefighter’s experience, go to
testimonials. They will talk about
their experience with their particular type of cancer. At the end of each testimonial is an
e-mail for the individual. Send
that individual an e-mail, and I know you will hear back.
Is there anything else you’d like to say about the network?
The biggest challenge for us is
getting the word out. Most
firefighters don’t even know that the Network exists, and is available to
them. Many times I go to funerals
for firefighters, where the firefighter has died of cancer. If I wasn’t aware of their cancer, I
always wonder what their last few weeks and months were like. Did they get everything that they
needed? Did they have people to
talk to? Did they get all the
treatment they needed? Did they
get to the right doctors? How
about the families, are they getting everything they need (I will always ask)?
Firefighters are amazing, they will
rally around the firefighter with cancer every time. But many times it is just the department that the
firefighter, or his/her family member, is part of. My hope is that in the future, when a firefighter is
diagnosed with cancer, one of the first calls will be to the Firefighter Cancer
Support Network.
Chief Nestor, thank you so much for sharing your story, thoughts and inspiration.
If you’d like to know more about the Firefighter Cancer
Support Network,
click here.
ONE FINE FIREMAN will be out on November 13. Click the "Books" page for more.
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