San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation Spearheads Campaign Calling for Action to Address Firefighters Increased Risk for Cancer.Bladder Cancer bladder cancer Malignant tumour of the bladder. The most significant risk factor associated with bladder cancer is smoking. Exposure to chemicals called arylamines, which are used in the leather, rubber, printing, and textiles industries, is another risk factor. Screening is the First Program Underway SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden -- With hundreds of pairs of empty firefighter's boots, helmets, and tri-folded American flags lining the steps of San Francisco's city hall as a backdrop, about 300 active and retired firefighters honored their fallen members who lost their lives to cancer and called for action to increase awareness of the silent death of firefighters from job related cancers. The firefighters gathered to announce the establishment of the San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation, a non-profit organization that is leading a campaign to bring awareness to the increased risk that firefighters have of getting cancer. The Foundation is dedicated to educating San Francisco firefighters, whether active or retired, about the prevention and early detection of cancer. Firefighters Union Local 798 provided a $100,000 contribution to the foundation. The founder and Chairman of the Board of the Foundation, Captain Tony Stefani a retired San Francisco firefighter and cancer survivor said, "We don't have an organization dedicated to solving the increased incidence of cancer and the impact it's taking on the lives of our retired firefighters, and those still on the job. One of our immediate goals is early detection and making sure that those who are diagnosed with cancer get the quality care and the support they have earned through their service to their community." Captain (Ret.) Stefani added, "In a partnership with UCSF Medical Center The UCSF Medical Center at Parnassus Heights and Mount Zion in San Francisco, California are the major research and medical teaching hospitals of the University of California, San Francisco. It has been ranked as the 7th-best overall medical center in the United States by U.S. and funding from the city, the SFFD SFFD San Francisco Fire Department SFFD Santa Fe Fire Department (Santa Fe, NM) has begun providing free bladder cancer screening to all its current and retired firefighters. It's a voluntary program at this time, but we've already had about 1,000 people lining up to take the NMP NMP New Millennium Program (NASA) NMP National Military Park (National Park Service) NMP N-Methylpyrrolidone NMP Network Management Protocol NMP Not My Problem 22 BladderChek urine test - and we're just beginning. We hope that we can build on the success of this program and launch screening programs for other cancers for which we are at-risk." Tom O'Conner, President of the Foundation and a Lieutenant in the SFFD said, "As firefighters we risk our lives each day as part of our job. Now there is research that reports we have a higher risk than most people to get cancer. We need to know the potential health hazards of simply reporting for duty so we can be able to do something about it." Mayor Gavin Newsome stood with the firefighters and spoke of the commitment by his administration to provide the funding for bladder cancer screening for all firefighters and retirees. The Mayor also recognized the efforts of everyone involved. The bladder cancer screening program is the result of the efforts of Captain (Ret.) Stefani, Dr. Marshall Stoller, professor and Vice Chairman, Department of Urology urology Medical specialty dealing with the urinary system and male reproductive organs. It traces its origin to medieval lithologists, itinerant healers who specialized in surgical removal of bladder stones. , University of California, San Francisco (UCSF UCSF University of California at San Francisco ) School of Medicine and urologist Urologist A physician who deals with the study and treatment of disorders of the urinary tract in women and the urogenital system in men. Mentioned in: Congenital Bladder Anomalies, Lithotripsy, Men's Health, Overactive Bladder urologist at the UCSF Medical Center and his colleague Dr. Kirsten Greene. For the last year and a half, they worked with the SFFD administration with the approval of Chief Hayes-White. Deputy Chief Gary Massetani directs the bladder cancer screening program for the SFFD and secured city funding for the project. Dr. Stoller and Dr. Greene are reviewing the bladder cancer screening results from the NMP22 BladderChek Test and providing follow-up and further evaluation for any firefighter who may have a positive test result. As part of a long-term study, they have also administered cancer questionnaires to the firefighters to determine the incidence of other job related cancers among the San Francisco firefighters. More than 1,000 questionnaires have been completed by those on active duty and retirees. Dr. Stoller explained, "We began screening for bladder cancer because it was apparent that there were a number of our local firefighters diagnosed with the disease - I have treated many of them. Firefighters are likely at a higher risk for bladder cancer than most people. And the tests that we could use in our initial screening, a dipstick dipstick /dip·stick/ (dip´stik) a strip of cellulose chemically impregnated to render it sensitive to protein, glucose, or other substances in the urine. test to assess for microscopic blood in the urine and the NMP22 test NMP22® test Urology A urine assay for identifying Pts at risk for recurrent bladder CA; Pts with high NMP22–nuclear matrix protein levels 10 days post-surgery tend to have recurrent CA within 3 months. See Bladder cancer. for bladder cancer are easy and inexpensive. The NMP22 test for bladder cancer is a urine test and results are available on the spot." Dr. Greene added, "Our long term goal is to evaluate how many of our firefighters are getting cancer and what type of cancer. The research is important to assess the health hazards these people face in the line of duty In the Line of Duty may refer to:
A poignant moment driving home the message for the firefighters assembled, was the remembrance of their comrade, Larry Murray who died of bladder cancer. He was the driver of Engine 3 the busiest engine company in the city. Larry stood at the pump panel many hours throughout his career inhaling diesel fumes fumes odorous gases and other volatile materials; inhalation of irritating fumes causes coughing and, if sufficiently severe, irreversible pulmonary edema. while pumping water to firefighters. One of the pairs of empty boots was for Larry who didn't die a heroic death in a fire, but silently - and as a hero dedicated to saving others. About the San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation The San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation was incorporated in March of 2007 as a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering the prevention and early detection of cancer occurring in firefighters through proven scientific research and education. Initial funding for the organization was provided by a $100,000 donation from the San Francisco firefighters union Local 798. Tony Stefani, a retired Captain with the San Francisco Fire Department The San Francisco Fire Department provides fire and emergency services to the City and County of San Francisco, California. The SFFD serves an estimated population of 1.2 million people (which includes the approximately 740,000 citizens residing in the 47. (SFFD) and cancer survivor is the founder and Chairman of the Foundation. Other officers and board members include: President: Tom O'Conner, Lieutenant SFFD and Treasurer of Local 798 Vice President: Jeff Malone, retired firefighter and cancer survivor Secretary: Joe Moriarity, retired battalion Chief SFFD, and Vice President of Local 798 Treasurer: Kieth Onishi, firefighter SFFD and member of Christy Yamaguchi's foundation Directors: John Hanley, Captain SFFD and President of Local 798 Karen Heald n. 1. A heddle. Esq., Lieutenant SFFD Sherman Tillman, firefighter SFFD, Shop Steward A Labor Union official elected to represent members in a plant or particular department. The shop steward's duties include collection of dues, recruitment of new members, and initial negotiations for settlement of grievances. Cross-references Labor Union. Station 13 Dr. Marshall Stoller, urologist, professor and Vice Chairman, Department of Urology, UCSF School of Medicine and UCSF Medical Center Dr. Kirsten Greene, urologist Department of Urology, UCSF Medical Center |
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