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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WBRC) – Tuscaloosa firefighters hosted a special screening at their headquarters this week.
A company tested them for esophageal cancer, an occupational risk for them.
This kind of precautionary testing is a first for firefighters in Tuscaloosa.
It became possible after city councilors approved new money for firefighters to take annual physicals.
These tests are optional, but leaders within the fire department say firefighters see the benefit of getting this precautionary testing done.
“And there’s just different things we can inhale that get down into our esophagus or down even into our lungs,” Capt. Blake Squires with Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue explained. This is just another thing to determine the life span of our guys. Or help them find a potential problem.”
They’ll swallow a pill-sized scaping device down their throat that extracts cells from their throat.
“So, it’s so important for firefighters because they are at a 9% increased risk for developing any kind of cancer. But a 62 per cent for developing esophageal cancer,” according to Jill Vaughn, clinical manager at EsoGuard.
Officials with EsoGuard, the company performing the tests, say firefighters must meet three or more risk factors before taking the tests.
They include:
- Individuals with chronic GERD symptoms
- Male
- More than 50 years old
- White Race
- Obesity
- Tobacco Smoking
- Family History of BE or EAC in a first degree relative
- Occupational or environmental exposure (smoke inhalation/fire/chemicals)
Results from these tests should be available in about two to three weeks.
The company plans to return to Tuscaloosa to test more firefighters in January.
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