What to do after a cancer diagnosis

Being diagnosed with cancer is an overwhelming experience because it becomes a pivotal point of your life for an undetermined amount of time., maybe the rest of your life. Navigating this journey can be difficult, and feelings of depression, anxiety, and fear are common. Here are some resources to support you or a loved one during a cancer diagnosis.

occupational cancer

actions you can take

  1. First and foremost, ensure you address your body, mind, and spiritual wellbeing.
  2. Unless you really want to, do not go alone to doctors’ visits where you may be first diagnosed.
  3. Identify someone you can talk to honestly and openly about your diagnosis and who can help with doctors’ visits. If there is no one available, reach to your Local and a brother or sister will volunteer to accompany you.
  4. Understand your diagnosis by researching useful information about your cancer diagnosis and prepare a list of questions for the physician. It is very important to use reputable sources.
  5. When it comes to cancer treatment, there is no one size fits all. It is important for you to understand treatment options and their side effects. It is also important to note that your treatment plan may change multiple times throughout a diagnosis, based on the stage, type of cancer, and how your current plan may make you feel. Cancer treatment is a very personal decision and only you can decide what is best for you after conferring with your loved ones and medical professionals. Here are some common examples of treatments:
    • Surgery – major or minor operation to remove cancer.
    • Chemotherapy – using anticancer medication that acts throughout the body.
    • Radiation therapy – using high-energy beams or implants to kill cancer cells.
    • Immunotherapy – using products of the immune system as medicine against cancer.
    • Clinical trial – experimental treatment that shows promise to be equal or better.
    • Integrative and/or alternative treatments – non-traditional, usually wholistic treatments/interventions that may be used in addition to or in place of conventional medicine, respectively.
  6. Stay organized. Use a notebook or binder to keep track of all appointments, phone numbers, questions, information you gather, and medications you take.
  7. Find support groups to get the support you need.
    • Firefighter Cancer Support Network – FCSN delivers valuable post-diagnosis resources followed by unique badge to badge, one-on-one mentorship from fire service mentors who have first-hand knowledge about battling cancer. The IAFF highly recommends that you contact the FCSN.
    • Your fire department’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) can provide resources for yourself and family members.
  8. Communicate with family and friends.
  9. Review and/or prepare a financial plan. You may want to consider consulting with a financial planner.
    • Create a budget. Look into:
      • Workers’ compensation
      • Pension
      • Amount of sick time, vacation, and comp time available
      • Continuing health insurance
  10. Maintain a normal lifestyle as much as possible.
    • Evaluate what is important in your life and focus on that.
    • Maintaining healthy relationships has been proven to be highly therapeutic.
    • Stay involved in activities when possible.
    • Manage all stressors, as much as possible.
    • Eat healthy when possible.
    • Exercise when possible.
    • Get enough rest.

Resources

Presumptive Health / Workers' Comp

For fire fighters who contract cancer, presumptive cancer laws stipulate that fire fighters diagnosed with certain cancers (varies by state/province) while on the job are presumed to have become ill due to their exposure to carcinogens on the job (there may be minimum employment or latency periods). Presumptive laws are designed to make it easier for fire fighters battling cancer to receive workers’ compensation benefits for themselves and their families.

These benefits may include:

  • Payment of medical expenses
  • Disability retirement benefits
  • Workers’ compensation benefits
  • Lost wages
  • Benefits for spouse/family as the situation allows
  • Job retraining
  • Permanent impairment payments

Presumptive laws vary greatly by state or province, so fire fighters should be familiar with the workers’ compensation system that applies to them.

Check your state/province presumptive legislation. Utilize the IAFF’S Presumptive Health Initiative page.

behavioral health: peer support/EAP

As needed, fire fighters are encouraged to seek behavioral health support when facing a significant occupational or personal life stressor, such as being diagnosed with a major medical problem like cancer.

As needed, behavioral health should be a part of the treatment plan when one is diagnosed with occupational cancer. Mental health professionals are an integral part of the multidisciplinary care team for their patients managing a cancer diagnosis. They work with their patients to identify positive coping mechanisms to manage stress, mitigate risky behaviors like smoking or other substance misuse/abuse, and encourage an active lifestyle, which ultimately can lead to a better quality of life and survivorship post-cancer treatment.

Thoughts about suicidal ideation or somehow hurting oneself are always pathological and must be addressed. Please reach out to a mental health professional if you are unable to manage these issues by yourself and/or with the assistance of your family and friends.

Many fire departments have an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) program/peer support program to assist employees in behavioral health. 

Firefighter Cancer Support Network

The Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) delivers valuable post-diagnosis resources followed by unique badge to badge, one-on-one mentorship from fire service mentors who have first-hand knowledge about battling cancer.

In partnership with FCSN, the IAFF has designated January as Fire Fighter Cancer Awareness Month to provide fire fighters the necessary tools and guidance to develop life-saving protocols for cancer prevention and to support those with a cancer diagnosis within their departments. Resources can be found at www.iaff.org/cancer-awareness-month/.

Learn more about the FCSN network at www.firefightercancersupport.org.

American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer and improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support, to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.

The IAFF-ACS collaboration provides resources, tools, and prevention techniques to help protect fire fighters with the hope of preventing future disease while providing critical patient support services across the country to improve the quality of life for fire fighters living with cancer and advocating for improved access to care.

Visit the IAFF/ACS joint partnership website, www.iaff.org/fightcancer, for resources and factsheets, including information on understanding cancer, risk and prevention, screening, diagnosis and staging, cancer care, coping and survivorship, and more.

An IAFF-specific ACS helpline is available 24/7 at (877) 901-7848 to provide guidance to IAFF members and answer questions.

Canadian Cancer Society

The Canadian Cancer Society offers a nationwide support system for people with cancer and their family, friends, and caregivers. They can help answer your questions and support you whether you’re newly diagnosed, caring for a loved one, or concerned about your own cancer risk. Access their free programs and services that can help you manage life with cancer, including their information resources, helpline, supportive online community, and much more. Visit the IAFF Canadian Cancer Society webpage.

National Firefighter Registry for Cancer

Although voluntary, consider enrolling in the NFR for cancer. In 2023, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) started to collect detailed data on cancer in fire fighters. The ultimate goal of the registry is to better understand the link between workplace exposures and cancer among fire fighters, with the potential to provide a better understanding of cancer risk among under-represented populations of fire fighters. For more information and to enroll, click here.

Survivorship: supporting the diagnosed

As cancer becomes more common in the fire service, you may be approached by a colleague who has a cancer diagnosis. Having a conversation with someone who has just been diagnosed with cancer is not easy, but your fellow brothers and sisters need your support and to know that they are not alone in their cancer journey.

If approached by someone who is sharing their cancer diagnosis with you, there are many ways you and your department can be supportive.

  • They may want to keep the diagnosis private. Make sure this is always respected.
  • Be supportive, be present, and be a good listener. Use positive dialogue and show concern. 
  • Offer to assist with rides to and from appointments and/or be a notetaker. If you are unable, find another brother or sister that can or reach out to your Local for assistance.
  • Assistance must fit the individual’s needs. Be respectful, not intrusive. Needs may be different for everyone. 
  • Encourage them to maintain copies of all reports and scans if needed for further opinions. 
  • Offer to assist with any needs their family may have. Cancer impacts whole families, not just those diagnosed.
  • Provide peer support backed by a supportive management team.