Grant Program for Cancer Detection for Career Professional Firefighters (Virginia)

Grant Program for Cancer Detection for Career Professional Firefighters (Virginia) is sponsored by Virginia Department of Fire Programs (in conjunction with the Virginia Fire Services Board). This program provides grants to localities for the provision of cancer detection to career professional firefighters that are employed as a full-time paid employee of a fire department, state agency, or political subdivision in Virginia.

New Virginia funding aims to expand cancer screenings for career firefighters Add Us On Google Add as a preferred source on Google ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - A new state investment is expected to help more Virginia firefighters access cancer screenings, as fire service leaders continue raising awareness about the increased cancer risks associated with the job.

The Virginia General Assembly has approved Governor Abigail Spanberger’s budget amendment, creating a $2 million annual grant program to help localities fund cancer screenings for career firefighters. Firefighters say the funding comes as cancer remains one of the leading health risks in the profession.

“I’ve been doing this now for 29 years and firefighters are 9% more likely to get cancer than your everyday citizen,” said Matt Scott, deputy chief with Bedford Fire & EMS. Scott was diagnosed with aggressive kidney cancer in late 2023. After surgeons removed his left kidney in early 2024, the cancer spread to his lungs, liver and stomach.

“It actually spread after the removal to my lungs, my stomach and my liver,” said Scott. Years later he is now almost in remission and cancer free, but he says he wish he would have got screened earlier. “The estimated that this kidney I had inside of me was there 15 years before I was diagnosed,” said Scott.

Scott said he wants to see more firefighters receive routine cancer screenings and hopes additional cancers will eventually be covered under Virginia’s presumptive care law. Kidney cancer is not currently included. Roanoke Fire-EMS officials say firefighters are routinely exposed to carcinogens while responding to emergencies.

“We are exposed to carcinogens at a much higher rate and more frequently, I guess, than the general population,” said Lt. Emily Turner, training specialist with Roanoke Fire-EMS. Turner said the department provides annual physicals, but those exams do not currently include cancer screenings, meaning firefighters must pay for them out of pocket.

She said ultrasound screenings offered through the International Association of Fire Fighters have already identified cancers that may have otherwise gone undetected. “We’ve had people who were diagnosed with cancer from those screenings who otherwise would not have been diagnosed until it was much more advanced,” said Turner.

Turner said Roanoke Fire-EMS also works to reduce exposure by providing firefighters with two sets of turnout gear so contaminated gear can be cleaned after calls. Fire officials say they hope the new state funding will remove financial barriers and help more firefighters detect cancer earlier, when treatment is often most effective. Scott says its crucial more screenings, and broader cancer coverage, become available.

“It is extremely important for firefighters to lobby to get every kind of cancer covered under the presumptive care act,” said Scott.

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