National registry could help reduce cancer risk among Mississippi firefighters

PINE BELT, Miss. (WDAM) - A new registry is now open to firefighters in an effort to track the prevalence of cancer among those in the profession.

The National Firefighter Registry for Cancer was launched a few months ago by the Centers for Disease Control.

The registry is open to all firefighters, regardless of employment status.

Researchers will take a look at individuals’ personal demographics, including their medical history and work environment.

This data will be used to track cancer diagnoses among firefighters, compare cancer risks among different groups and evaluate how certain exposure can increase their risk.

Lamar County Fire Coordinator Kyle Hill said he’s hopeful the registry will help with prevention and diagnosis.

“Obviously, that’s difficult to prove that it was because of that,” said Hill. “But, one of the questions they ask on the registry is, does anyone in your family have cancer, like your mother, father, brother, sister.

My dad passed away from brain cancer, so I answered ‘Yes,’ which gives me a little predisposition there, but my dad was a volunteer firefighter, too."

If eligible, Mississippi firefighters diagnosed with cancer due to their jobs can receive up to $50,000 in assistance through the “First Responder Health & Safety Act.”

To sign up for the registry, click HERE.

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