This Week's Advocacy News: 'Altered Regulation of Genes Linked to Prostate Cancer Among Firefighters'

May 31, 2024 by Jaimie Vickery MPP, ONS Director of Government Affairs and Advocacy

Firefighters may have an increased risk of prostate cancer because of on-the-job chemical exposures, according to new research (https://healthsciences.arizona.edu/news/releases/research-shows-altered-regulation-genes-linked-prostate-cancer-among-firefighters) from the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health and University of Michigan in collaboration with fire service partners and researchers around the United States through the Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study (https://www.ffccs.org/). Firefighters are diagnosed with prostate cancer at a rate 1.21 times higher than the general population, possibly because of chemical exposures, including smoke and firefighting foam, during firefighting.

University of Arizona Health Sciences

ONS Perspective

First responders, particularly firefighters, face higher cancer risks (https://voice.ons.org/news-and-views/mobile-cancer-clinic-provides-screening-and-education-for-first-responders) from exposure to toxic chemicals and other factors. The University of Arizona's new research connects per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance exposure to prostate cancer risk, but previous studies have associated (https://doi.org/10.1289%2FEHP13174) the carcinogens with additional cancers, such as renal cell carcinoma of the kidney among assigned females and chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma among assigned males.

Firefighters have a significantly higher risk (https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2019-105962) for being diagnosed and dying from cancer than the general U.S. population. Cancer is the leading occupational illness (https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/enews/enewsv20n9.html) affecting firefighters, and research is emerging on whether families of firefighters are also at increased risk for cancer.

ONS is addressing disparities in cancer diagnosis, including those among specific populations. Read our letter of support for legislation to provide enhanced cancer screening for firefighters (https://www.ons.org/sites/default/files/2024-05/ONS%20National%20Firefighter%20Registry%205-24%20FINAL%20.pdf) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Firefighter Registry (https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/firefighters/registry.html?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpNuyBhCuARIsANJqL9PfzIGTPdpllBN_rWjbavkmdpkPbgIDolheafK0l3nNntOYSrlRj8kaAstQEALw_wcB) to better understand the link between occupational exposure and cancer among firefighter populations.

Advocacy Resources

ONS Resources

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