On April 22, 2021, I heard six words that no one wants to hear: “I’m sorry, but you have cancer.” Despite being in the firefighter cancer world for a decade and a half, I wasn’t prepared to hear those words. Even though I always believed that it was a matter of when, not if, that news would be delivered to me, each word was impossibly heavy. I was unsure of what was the first step that I had to take on the new path that I had in front of me.
Sharing the news with my loved ones and friends was extremely difficult. There simply is no easy way to tell someone that you have cancer. The words immediately stir fear and panic in the person who you are telling. If I am to be completely transparent, I couldn’t tell my mother, because the thought of her grief was too unbearable. I had my wife share the information.
Throughout my cancer journey, I made notes about my feelings and about steps that I had to take. I knew while I was going through my diagnosis that this information could help other firefighters who face a new diagnosis, to navigate the turbulent waters, to ensure that they do everything that’s within their power to have the best outcome for them and for their family.
Pursue support right away
The Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) assists firefighters and their spouses. One of the first calls that you should make is to FCSN (866-994-3276), or go to FirefighterCancerSupport.org.
The FCSN Wellness Coordinator can assist you with two important items:
Firefighters who are part of FCSN’s Mentor Program are survivors of various cancers from across the United States.
The role of mentors is to share their journey and how it relates to your diagnosis. The ability to talk to a firefighter who can relate to your situation in an expedited fashion can be comforting and reassuring. Mentors understand the job and all of the lunacy that can accompany it.
FCSN will send a Firefighter Cancer Toolbox to you free of charge. It contains resources to help you to plan, communicate and take action with your doctors, loved ones, and your brothers and sisters in the fire service.
An occupational firefighter cancer diagnosis not only can affect you physically but mentally, too. Cancer patients often feel anxious, stressed or depressed. If any of these issues linger, it’s extremely important for you/your loved ones to reach out to a licensed clinician or your doctor right away.
Be your own advocate
After your cancer diagnosis, it’s vital to gather all of the information that will help to guide your decision-making regarding your health during and after your treatment.
Making appointments. You already waited an inordinate amount of time to receive your diagnosis, and before that you were stressed with the “what ifs.” Once diagnosed, the “what ifs” are replaced by reality, and the stress of what comes next can be overwhelming and consume you and your loved ones. Work the phone and get into a specialist/doctor as soon as possible.
Second opinion. Don’t be afraid to pursue a second or third opinion. Having options is great, particularly when so much is on the line. Sifting through several opinions and the recommended actions allows you to make an informed decision on your treatment plan.
Virtual appointments. If one good thing came out of COVID-19, it was the wide acceptance of virtual appointments. The ability to sit on your couch and talk to specialists throughout the world is an opportunity to take advantage of.
In the same vein, laboratory results can be shared easily through the MyChart app.
Prepare questions for appointments. It’s imperative to prepare questions to ask the doctor. A great resource is the American Cancer Society. Consider creating a custom list using American Cancer Society questions and your own questions that are related to your situation.
Bring someone to appointments. Sitting with your doctor or specialist can be nerve-wracking. Your mind can be completely overwhelmed and unable to process the information that’s given. To assist you to fully comprehend what the doctor explains, have a loved one or a good friend take notes. This individual might be the one who’s responsible for asking questions to the doctor or specialist.
The battle
Firefighters are notoriously stubborn and unwilling to ask for help. In times such as these, put your pride aside. Your friends and loved ones care and want to help. Let them help with meals, errands, yardwork and your commute to appointments. Furthermore, an extended support system can allow your inner circle to take a break.
Life slowing down when you are newly diagnosed can emerge as an area of concern. Idle minutes/hours might allow you to think potentially unhealthy thoughts. Keeping busy (hobbies, games, sports, music, etc.) is a great way to escape reality, if even for a short amount of time.
A cancer diagnosis often serves as a wake-up call, and you can’t help but think about the big picture. However, the diagnosis should serve as an opportunity to hit the reset button, to figure out what truly matters in your life, and you probably will be more inclined to not sweat the small stuff, to make each moment count.
Inevitably, loved ones carry a huge load during your cancer battle, to be the rock and to keep the family afloat in your time of mental and physical anguish. Take the time to make sure that they are OK. Give your supporters a break or a night out. Loved ones might not be going through your pain physically, but they still feel every bit of it.
Legal considerations
Obtaining an approved workers’ compensation occupational cancer claim is significant. A presumptive cancer claim might assist you regarding your medical expenses, lost wages, lump-sum payments, disability retirements, and benefits for your family.
That said, your focus should be on one thing: beating your cancer. By appointing a legal representative who works in the workers’ compensation field, you can pass the cancer claim responsibility to that person and concentrate on your health battle.
Many workers’ compensation attorneys offer a free consultation visit. It’s important to make sure that an attorney successfully fought on behalf of firefighters who had cancer claims. In the process of identifying an attorney, don’t be afraid to ask fellow firefighters for recommendations on attorneys.
Generally, workers’ compensation attorneys only are paid if they win, usually a fixed percentage (such as one-third or 40 percent) of the total amount.
Ideally, you obtained supplemental cancer insurance before your diagnosis. Depending on its type, the insurance plan will pay you a lump-sum benefit or based off of the interventions during your treatment, such as surgeries, medication, hospital stays, transportations, chemotherapy and radiation. Supplemental cancer insurance plans typically cost $10–$30 per month.
Complete the following items as soon as you can after being diagnosed with cancer. This requires what can be a very difficult yet needed conversation with your loved ones. In fact, all firefighters should address all of these items even without a cancer diagnosis.
Gather important documents and contact information. This includes property deeds, birth certificate, marriage certificate, vehicle titles, etc. Place all of the documents, etc., in one safe place.
Execute a last will. You can name an administrator to oversee the distribution of your estate and the legal guardian for your minor children. (Without a will, states often become involved and might not make the same choices that you would.)
Wills for Heroes is a national foundation through which first responders can obtain a legal will for free.
Complete a living will. This spells out the medical treatments that you would and wouldn’t want to be used to keep you alive.
Establish a durable power of attorney for healthcare. This allows someone else to make decisions regarding your healthcare if a circumstance arises in which you are unable to make those decisions.
Establish a durable power of attorney for finances. Doing this allows you to name an individual who you want to oversee all of your financial decisions.
Plan final arrangements. Informing your loved ones about your final arrangements can be a very difficult and morbid conversation. However, your loved ones shouldn’t have to guess what you want.
Once the battle is won
So, you persevered through your diagnosis and came out the other side. You now have the opportunity to share your testimony, and the hope would be to prevent a fellow firefighter from following in your footsteps.
Learn how firefighters can prevent occupational cancer and share what you learn with your department, holding each other accountable. Hopefully, they take your input to heart and do everything that they can to not receive an occupational cancer diagnosis.
Becoming an FCSN mentor is a great opportunity to “pay it forward,” to talk to a newly diagnosed firefighter who has the same cancer that you beat. You understand what that person is going through and can give that individual hope. Interested survivors can contact the wellness coordinator by email at [email protected].
Be strong
Cancer can be messy and difficult, and sometimes there isn’t a happy ending, but I hope that this article provides optimism that you can beat your diagnosis. A silver lining that I found was the thought of helping others by passing along my experiences.
Jim Burneka Jr.
Jim Burneka Jr. has been a firefighter/paramedic with the Dayton, OH, Fire Department since 2001. He has been involved in the fight against occupational cancer for more than 14 years and has presented on cancer prevention throughout the United States and Canada. Burneka's training has been certified through the International Society of Fire Service Instructors' Training Certification Program. He hosts a weekly Firefighter Health & Wellness podcast that’s called "The 25 Live" and is a member of the technical committee for NFPA 1585: Standard on Contamination Control.
