VIDEO: Through a partnership with Lucid Diagnostics, the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire hosted a “Check Your Food Tube” screening event to test firefighters for Barrett’s Esophagus, a condition that can lead to esophageal cancer, one of the most lethal cancers in the country.
“Firefighters are at a 62% increased risk of developing esophageal cancer,” said Kelley Skantz, the East Coast event and sales coordinator for Lucid Diagnostics. “We’re here to catch the warning signs early before it progresses.”
Lucid Diagnostics has screened more than 15,000 firefighters nationwide through this initiative. The company says the condition is difficult to detect because it often presents no symptoms, making early screening especially important.
The test itself takes less than two minutes. Firefighters swallow a capsule attached to a thin filament. Once in the esophagus, a balloon inflates to collect cell samples on its way back up.
“It’s about a minute and a half of discomfort for 10 years of peace of mind,” said Nate Barbolish, president of Local 428, the union representing Harrisburg’s firefighters.
