With the passage of House Bill 3573, all firemen, including those who volunteer their services, will be eligible for testing for lung, prostate, testicular, skin, colon, and breast cancers.
According to Representative Daniel Pae, a Republican from Lawton, who is the bill’s author. We owe these firefighters a debt of gratitude since they had the courage to put their lives in danger in order to serve their communities. We may not be able to safeguard our firemen while they are fighting a fire, but we can help ensure that they receive free early detection of cancer after they have been exposed to carcinogenic elements in the course of duty. The sheer nature of the profession comes with risks.
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the profession of a fireman is considered to be “carcinogenic.” This classification places the employment in the same category as formaldehyde, cigarette smoke, and asbestos in terms of its potential to cause cancer.
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According to the American Cancer Society, if cancer is identified at an earlier stage, the patient has a chance of survival that is up to ten times higher.
The law had a unanimous vote of approval in the House, and it is now moving on to the Senate.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to these firefighters who risked their lives to serve their communities,” Rep. Pae said. “The very nature of the job comes with risks, and while we may not be able to protect our firefighters while they’re in a blaze, we can help ensure free early detection of cancer after their exposure to carcinogenic materials in the line of duty.”