Cancer is the most dangerous threat to firefighter health and safety today.
–Firefighter Cancer Support Network
Did you know that cancer is responsible for 2/3 of the career firefighter line-of-duty deaths? Studies show that firefighters have a 9% higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14% higher risk of dying from cancer than the general U.S. population.
Compared with the general population, firefighter cancer risks are higher for these cancer types (ref):
- Testicular cancer – 2.02 times the risk
- Mesothelioma – 2.0 times greater risk
- Multiple myeloma -1.53 times greater risk
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma – 1.51 times greater risk
- Skin cancer – 1.39 times greater risk
- Malignant melanoma – 1.31 times greater risk
- Brain cancer -1.31 times greater risk
- Prostate cancer – 1.28 times greater risk
- Colon cancer -1.21 times great risk
- Leukemia – 1.14 times greater risk
The Galleri Multi-Cancer Detection Test
If you are a firefighter or their loved one, I want to tell you about one of the MOST exciting developments in early cancer detection, in years. It’s called Galleri, a state of the art test that can detect the presence of over 50 different cancers with a 99.5% specificity with one simple blood draw. The Galleri blood test is also able to identify the site of the cancer’s origin in the body with an 89% accuracy.
I titled this article “Firefighter Cancer Screening Blood Test” because it’s suited perfectly for this high-risk occupation, since it can detect many of the cancers that develop in firefighters.
While current guidelines recommend that we screen for breast, prostate, colorectal, cervical and lung cancers, over 70% of all cancer deaths are caused by other cancer types which we do not commonly screen for. In fact, among 12 cancers that are responsible for 2/3 of all cancer deaths per year in the U.S., the Galleri test can detect these with a 76% sensitivity.
It’s estimated that if the Galleri test were added to routine cancer screenings, the number of cancers detected in adults in the U.S. through screening could increase from 200,000/year to over 600,000/year, a 3-fold increase in cancer detection.
Why is this test such a huge breakthrough? Because earlier detection of cancers often means better survival outcomes for our patients. Data show that the 5-year cancer mortality rate for all cancers is 79% when detected late versus 11% with early detection.
The Galleri test should be used, annually, in ADDITION to guideline-recommended cancer screenings such as mammography, colonoscopy, PSA (prostate specific membrane antigen), cervical cancer (Pap smear and HPV testing) and lung cancer (low dose lung CT scan) screening. The other screening tool that I recommend for those who want to do even more to detect cancers that may be missed on all of the above tests is whole body MRI (see my article on this).
Galleri is recommended for use in ANY adult with an elevated risk of cancer, such as those 50 or older, those with a personal or family history of cancer or ANYONE interested in early cancer detection.
If a cancer signal is detected on a Galleri test, your healthcare provider will complete a diagnostic work-up for further evaluation.
The Galleri test costs $949, and while not covered by insurance, Grail offers all patients the option for a 12-month payment plan.
I am offering this test to anyone who is interested after an initial consultation in our office, GenesisCare, in Kennewick WA. Call our office to schedule your consultation: 509-987-1800.
If you are not local, the test is available (U.S., only) through my remote counseling service: https://ioeprogram.com/product/galleri-test-30-minute-lab-review-consult/
Learn more about the Galleri test: https://www.galleri.com
