JACKSON, Miss. ( WJTV ) – In honor of Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month, the Jackson Fire Department (JFD) hosted an esophageal pre-cancer screening event on Thursday.
Deputy Fire Chief Cleotha Sanders sand firefighters are exposed to harmful toxins everyday when they extinguish fires.
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Organizers said firefighters are at a significantly higher risk of developing cancer, including a 62% higher risk of esophageal cancer.
“We thank associates for hosting this event is give our firefighters to the opportunity to detect things early in the event that someone is positive for esophageal cancer. And our guys, they are participating,” said Sanders.
Doctors said some risk factors include being 50+ years of age, obese, male, heartburn and reflux.
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