5 Cancer Screenings to Ask Your Physician About

Did you know? The rate of line-of-duty deaths from cancer-related illness is rapidly increasing and is on pace to overtake cardiac disease as the leading killer of firefighters nationwide. According to the National Fire Protection Association, more than 68 percent of all firefighters will develop some form of cancer in their lifetimes.

This is a sad reality for Minnesota’s firefighters, but thankfully, there are steps you can take to detect cancer in its early stages. One of the most impactful ways to mitigate your risk of cancer is to get an annual physical exam. While getting your exam, tell your provider that you are, or have been, a firefighter.

After you’ve shared that information with them, they will likely give you the following screenings:

  • A comprehensive physical assessment
  • Laboratory testing including blood tests and urinalysis
  • A pulmonary function test
  • Imaging such as chest x-ray (every 5 years) or low dose CT scan
  • Cancer screenings for early detection of prostate, cervical, colorectal, breast and lung cancer.

All of these screenings can truly be life-saving as they can help detect cancer before it escalates. Some fire departments even offer free yearly cancer screenings, so it could be worth checking-in with leadership to see if you could get your screenings at the firehouse.

No matter where you get screened for cancer, the important thing is that you do it! And most importantly, tell your firefighting brothers and sisters to do the same.

To learn more about firefighters’ higher risks for cancer – and what can be done to help prevent it – consider enrolling in our cancer deep-dive class. The two-hour class is free until June 2021 and educates firefighters on activities that put them at higher risk for developing cancer, proper PPE strategies for mitigating cancer risks, and what types of screenings can be done to catch cancer early. Register HERE.

Recent News

MnFORE 2025: A swinging success
July 31, 2025
The benefits of peer support for firefighters
July 24, 2025
Break the silence: Challenge mental health stigma
July 21, 2025
Same team, new titles: MnFIRE leadership update
July 8, 2025
Getting to know yourself better
June 25, 2025
Keeping alcohol use in check
June 11, 2025
Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

Ease and relief: two things that the Critical Illness Program aims to provide to each recipient.

All active Minnesota firefighters are automatically enrolled in MnFIRE’s Critical Illness Program, which provides a lump-sum cash payment up to $20,000 after diagnoses of critical illnesses such as cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder or a heart attack. Find out more here: mnfireinitiative.com/hhap/#CI
... See MoreSee Less

Ease and relief: two things that the Critical Illness Program aims to provide to each recipient.

All active Minnesota firefighters are automatically enrolled in MnFIRE’s Critical Illness Program, which provides a lump-sum cash payment up to $20,000 after diagnoses of critical illnesses such as cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder or a heart attack. Find out more here: https://mnfireinitiative.com/hhap/#CI

Props to our Buddy Mericle of Keewatin Fire Department – our latest training survey Streamlight Survivor flashlight drawing winner! 🙌

Your department could be the next to gain important occupational health knowledge through MnFIRE training! Sign up today: mnfireinitiative.com/training/
... See MoreSee Less

Props to our Buddy Mericle of Keewatin Fire Department – our latest training survey Streamlight Survivor flashlight drawing winner! 🙌

Your department could be the next to gain important occupational health knowledge through MnFIRE training! Sign up today: https://mnfireinitiative.com/training/
Load more
Skip to content