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Session Evaluation

AOHC 2026 Concurrent Sessions

Public Health, Surveillance, and Disease Prevention

111 - Cancer in Firefighters: Screening and Prevention

Sunday, April 19, 2026
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM CT
Location: Sheraton Ballroom IV
Claim 1.0 CME

All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.


Disclosure(s):

Fabrice Czarnecki, MD, MA, MPH, FACOEM: No financial relationships to disclose
Stan Haimes, MD, MPH, CIH, FACOEM, FIAIME: No financial relationships to disclose
Daniel G. Samo, MD: No financial relationships to disclose
Susan C. Zwiebel, MD, MPH, FACOEM, MRO, CIME, P/SA: No financial relationships to disclose
Session Description: This session will start with an overview of the epidemiology of cancer in firefighters. Then cancer screening recommendations of the US Preventive Services Task Force will be compared with the recommendations of the National Fire Protection Association as published in NFPA 1580. New proposed screening methods will be reviewed, such as liquid biopsy, ultrasound and MRI. Harm, benefit and cost of screening will be discussed. Finally, prevention steps will be presented that OEM providers can recommend to fire departments, to address contamination control processes and PPE.

Educational Gaps: 1. The NFPA 1580 standard makes screening recommendations that are significantly different from the US Preventive Services Task Force.
2. Providers may not know how to evaluate new screening methods that are promoted directly to firefighters and how to provide guidance to firefighters on these methods.
3. Providers may not know how to minimize the carcinogenic exposures of firefighters.

Is this session being sponsored by an ACOEM Section or Component?: Yes - Public Safety Medicine Section

Has this session previously been presented?: No

The AOHC 2026 theme is Healthy workers. Healthy world: This session promotes healthy workers by aiming to minimize the risk of cancer among firefighters. It promotes a healthy world by keeping first responders fit to do their job and protect the public.

Learning Objectives:

  • Appraise cancer incidence studies in firefighters and draw conclusions on work-relatedness
  • Evaluate proposed methods and techniques to screen firefighters for cancer
  • Formulate a plan to decrease the exposure of firefighters to carcinogenic agents