Wilmington Firefighters Foundation

Supporting the Firefighters and Community of Wilmington, NC

WFD Wellness & Cancer Initiative

The Wilmington Fire Department plans to take action to address wellness and cancer in firefighters in both risk reduction and increased awareness through enhanced screening, additional gear, specialized equipment and updates to processes and procedures.

Due to exposure to carcinogens through smoke and fire, firefighters are at an increased risk for cancer when compared to the general population.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), firefighters are at a 9% increased risk for cancer in general, but for specific types of cancer such as mesothelioma and testicular cancer as, are at a 100% (double) increased risk.

Specific types of cancers that firefighters are at an increased risk of getting:

Testicular cancer: 2.02 times greater risk

Mesothelioma: 2.0 times greater risk

Multiple myeloma: 1.53 times greater risk

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma: 1.51 times greater risk

Skin cancer: 1.39 times greater risk

Malignant melanoma: 1.31 times greater risk

Brain cancer: 1.31 times greater risk

Prostate cancer: 1.28 times greater risk

Colon cancer: 1.21 times greater risk

Leukemia: 1.14 times greater risk

WFD Wellness & Cancer Initiative​​The Wilmington Fire Department plans to take action to address wellness and cancer in firefighters in both risk reduction and increased awareness through enhanced screening, additional gear, specialized equipment and updates to processes and procedures.

WFD Wellness & Cancer Initiative

The Wilmington Fire Department plans to take action to address wellness and cancer in firefighters in both risk reduction and increased awareness through enhanced screening, additional gear, specialized equipment and updates to processes and procedures.