Podcast Shines Light on firefighters’ Elevated Cancer Risk,Driven by University of Miami Research
MIAMI,FL – A new podcast is amplifying critical research revealing the disproportionately high cancer risk faced by firefighters due to on-the-job toxic exposures. The initiative,spearheaded by the Sylvester Firefighter Cancer Initiative at Sylvester comprehensive Cancer Center,part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine,aims to translate scientific findings into actionable strategies for protecting those who protect communities.
Leaders of the initiative, Alberto Caban-Martinez, D.O., Ph.D., M.P.H., and Erin Kobetz, Ph.D., M.P.H., are working to break down the science behind the increased risk and advocate for cultural and behavioral changes within fire departments. Research from the Sylvester Firefighter Cancer Initiative demonstrates that smoke, soot, and other residue carried on firefighters’ gear and skin contain chemicals known to cause cancer.”Without knowing the exact mechanism, we knew that the soot on their turnout gear and on their person could contribute to risk,” saeid Dr. Kobetz, vice president for health promotion and chief wellbeing officer, the John K. and Judy H. Schulte Senior Endowed chair in cancer research and associate director for community outreach and engagement at Sylvester. “That was enough to say, ‘We need to change culture. We need to change behavior.'”
The collaborative, firefighter-driven research has already begun to yield tangible results, transforming research into practical solutions. Dr. Caban-Martinez, deputy director of the Sylvester Firefighter Cancer Initiative and professor of public health sciences at the Miller School, emphasized the long-term goal. “Our main outcome is to try to reduce cancer risk,” he said. “We’ll never be able to get risk down to zero, but you better beleive we’re going to work really hard to get it down.”
The podcast serves as a platform to disseminate these findings and foster a broader understanding of the challenges firefighters face, ultimately working towards a safer future for those serving on the front lines.