Aiming to promote awareness, prevention, and early detection of cancer during a month-long initiative, Gov. Maura Healey has declared January “Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month” in Massachusetts.

As part of this effort, the state highlights the importance of awareness campaigns in cancer prevention to safeguard firefighters’ health and well-being.

State Fire Marshal Jon Davine reported that nearly 1,400 firefighters participated in free cancer screenings through the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services in 2025, a record for the DFS Firefighter Cancer Program.

“Whether you’re a call, volunteer, or career firefighter, active duty or retired, these programs are available at no cost to you or your department,” Davine said. “The worst cancer diagnosis is a late one, so please take advantage of them.”

From 2024 to 2025, there was a significant increase in firefighter cancer screenings provided through this program.

According to Davine, this surge in screenings could be attributed to better awareness of the options, improved accessibility, and increased conversation within the fire service about the importance of early detection.

“Whatever the reason, it’s a great result, and we want to see those numbers continue climbing,” he said.

The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy has also introduced a new instructor-led cancer awareness presentation in partnership with the Firefighter Cancer Support Network this past year titled “Doing it Right: Reducing Cancer in the Fire Service.”

The expanded program has already reached approximately 600 recruits, 50 chiefs and senior officers, and approximately 230 firefighters across various ranks.

These awareness campaigns, which no doubt helped produce the soaring number of screenings, have a main cancer-causing culprit in mind.

By now we’ve all heard about toxic chemicals known as PFAS, which remain in the environment long after their initial use, and by doing so expose all of us to a variety of cancers.

Virtually no one’s immune from their deleterious effects, since they’re found in a wide variety of everyday products.

However, certain segments of the population are more susceptible to the health hazards PFAS present, especially firefighters, since those carcinogens have been found in the protective gear that’s supposed to keep those first responders safe.

Ridding those toxic materials from firefighters’ gear was the intent of legislation signed by the governor in August 2024.

Awareness campaigns and toxic materials removal legislation represent just two of the state initiatives undertaken to ensure firefighters receive the resources they need.

Another example of additional aid — the Massachusetts Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program, which distributes funding to replace vital gear.

Administered by the state Department of Fire Services, the grant program provides reimbursement for the purchase of 135 types of eligible equipment, including turnout gear, ballistic protective equipment, and thermal imaging cameras.

Providing increased opportunities for cancer screening and equipping firefighters with state-of-the-art gear – free of cancer-causing agents – is the least we can do for these selfless first responders.

Sentinel and Enterprise

Editorial cartoon by Joe Heller (Joe Heller)