Removing Healthcare Barriers for First Responders

Today, I was privileged to help The Urology Group with an important health screening for Northern Kentucky’s first responders. For three hours, we conducted free prostate cancer screenings at the Edgewood, Kentucky Fire/EMS station. 

The free screening was in response to a series of studies conducted over the last several years showing evidence of higher cancer rate–including prostate and testicular cancer–among firefighters. Many of the men who attended today’s screening had no idea that their line of work puts them at higher risk for prostate cancer. 

A three-year study conducted by the University of Cincinnati concluded that firefighters face a 102 percent greater chance of developing testicular cancer than the general public and a 28 percent greater chance of developing prostate cancer.

As physicians, when we hear these statistics we feel an obligation to respond, as these brave men so often do for our communities. We started with first responders in Northern Kentucky and The Urology Group is making plans to continue screenings for firefighters in Greater Cincinnati. 

Even if you’re not a firefighter, it’s important for all men to know the risks. You should be screened annually if you are a man: 

• Over the age of 50
• Over the age of 40 with a family history of prostate cancer
• Of African-American descent 

Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in American men. The American Cancer Society reports that nearly 30,000 men will die of prostate cancer this year, but early detection saves lives. Together, we hope to extinguish prostate cancer. 

LINK to cancer studies:https://www.code3foracure.org/studies.html