WASHINGTON — The Firefighter Cancer Support Network launched a month-long awareness campaign Tuesday highlighting cancer risks among firefighters and its effort to develop national firefighter-specific cancer screening recommendations.
The campaign, “The Sacrifice Didn’t End on 9/11,” runs through Sept. 30 and coincides with the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. FCSN said the effort is focused on early cancer detection and is not a fundraising campaign.
How to participate today
FCSN encourages firefighters and fire service organizations to support the campaign by putting its cancer-awareness message in front of more members. Specifically, departments, unions, state associations, training organizations and partner nonprofits can participate in four ways:
- Follow FCSN on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, and reshare campaign posts throughout September using #TheSacrificeContinues.
- Use the campaign’s captions and graphics on department, union, association or organization social channels.
- Post fact sheets in stations and day rooms, and raise cancer screening during shift change, training or company meetings.
- Send campaign materials directly to members through email, newsletters and other internal communications.
Department leaders are also encouraged to download, customize and share the letter below urging members to stay current on cancer screening, understand occupational exposure risks and use FCSN support resources.
What to expect in 2027
According to FCSN, existing national cancer screening recommendations are based largely on age and general-population risk and that no national firefighter-specific screening recommendations currently exist. Now the organization is leading the National Initiative for Firefighter Cancer Screening Recommendations, bringing together specialists in oncology, occupational medicine and epidemiology along with firefighter health and fire service representatives.
Rollout of the recommendations is expected to begin in 2027.
FCSN explains what to expect: “What publishes in 2027 are evidence-informed recommendations. FCSN’s Health and Wellness Advisory Council is unanimous on the point: ‘guidelines’ implies a standard of evidence and validation that firefighter-specific screening has not yet reached. Recommendations are the honest starting point, and they carry the flexibility to evolve as the evidence base is built. Building that evidence base is the longer-term goal.”
Why it matters
More than 400 FDNY members have died from World Trade Center-related illnesses since 9/11, according to figures cited by FCSN, exceeding the 343 FDNY members killed in the attacks.
The World Trade Center Health Program was caring for 145,275 responders and survivors as of June 30, 2026. During the life of the program, 57,044 members have had a cancer certified as a World Trade Center-related health condition.
Cancer risks also extend beyond 9/11 responders. A National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health study of nearly 30,000 career firefighters found 9% more cancer diagnoses and 14% more cancer deaths than expected based on U.S. population rates. In 2022, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified occupational exposure as a firefighter as carcinogenic to humans.
Of the 311 International Association of Fire Fighters members honored at the union’s Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial in September 2025, 247 died of occupational cancer, according to FCSN.
Learn more
Visit thesacrificecontinues.com for cancer screening information, fact sheets, videos and tools to help start conversations about cancer risk and early detection in their departments.
Founded in 2005, FCSN is a nonprofit organization providing cancer-related support and education to career and volunteer firefighters, EMS providers, retirees and their families.
