HONOLULU (KHON2) — Firefighters need to remain proactive in keeping their health and wellness more than the general public, according to health officials.
According to the Honolulu Fire Department, firefighters have a 9% higher chance of developing cancer and are 14% more likely to die from cancer than the general public.
Back in 2023, approximately 860 firefighters tested for cancer with Galleri, an early detection test through blood. HFD offered another round of free cancer screenings to its first responders on Monday.
“We detect before there are symptoms,” said Jessica Teel, Galleri Customer Enablement team for First Responders Associate Director. “We’re searching for over 50 different types of cancer. We’re able to pinpoint if something is flagged at the location and possibly type of cancers.”
This year, HFD partnered with the Firefighter Cancer Support Network and the Hawaii Dermatological Association to also provide free skin cancer visual screenings for first responders.
Screenings are vital to increasing chances of survival, especially when cancer is detected in its early stages, per HFD.
