VIDEO: Research indicates firefighters are at a higher risk of getting and dying from esophageal cancer. The Fort Worth Fire Department wants to get ahead of it.
On Wednesday, the department began esophageal cancer testing at its training facility, which will last through the end of next week.
“We’ve done some other cancer screenings, but the previous cancer screenings that we do do not detect the esophageal cancer, which… with our job… we’re at a greater risk than the general public," said Jason Cearley, a battalion chief with the department.
The Firefighter Cancer Support Network says firefighters have a 62% higher risk of getting esophageal cancer, and a 39% increased risk of dying from it than others, citing research from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.