“I was living the dream! Now, I have this damn cancer, and I was concerned that it would disrupt my career, and it did.”
—John J. Salka Jr., battalion chief (ret.), FDNY
John J. Salka Jr. retired as a battalion chief with FDNY, serving as commander of the 18th battalion in the Bronx. He has instructed at several FDNY training programs as well as conducted training programs at national and local conferences. Salka co-authored the FDNY Engine Company Operations manual and wrote the book “First In, Last Out–Leadership Lessons from the New York Fire Department.” He also operates Fire Command Training (firecommandtraining.com), is a Firehouse contributing editor and is a member of the Firehouse Hall of Fame.
How did you learn that you had cancer?
After going for my annual medical at the FDNY medical office, I received a phone call from a fire department doctor, who informed me that my PSA [prostate-specific antigen] number was elevated, and I should follow up on that with my doctor. I asked if this was an urgent matter, because I was about to take a short trip, and he said not really but that I should check it out when I return, and I did. After another visit, a number of tests and procedures were scheduled, which eventually resulted in me being informed that I had prostate cancer.
What was your reaction when you discovered that you had prostate cancer?
I was at work in the firehouse when my doctor called to give me the results of the exams and tests that he had administered to me a week earlier. He said that the biopsy was “positive.” He didn’t say the word “cancer.” I then asked if that meant it was cancer, and he said, “Yes.” It was a little bit of a shock, but not really. I asked one or two more questions, which he answered, and then he suggested I make an appointment, so we could talk further about the condition and the possible treatments. I sat there in the office thinking about what was ahead and started writing down questions that I had about this condition, treatment options and life expectancy.
How did your cancer journey play out?
It immediately turned into a training session about prostate cancer and all of the treatment options available at that time. I knew nothing about prostate cancer or any other kind of cancer. I was quite satisfied with the way the doctor explained all of it to me and answered all my questions. He also set up follow-up appointments with several other doctors to explain each of the treatment options in a more detailed manner to help me decide which one to choose.
What was the most significant part of the journey?
Amazingly, the issue I was most worried about was how this was going to affect my career in the fire department. I had over 32 years with the FDNY, and I was the battalion commander of the 18th Battalion in the Bronx. I was living the dream! Now, I have this damn cancer, and I was concerned that it would disrupt my career, and it did.
What do you want firefighters to know about cancer?
This is a very hard question to answer, because there is so much to know about cancer. There are so many types of cancer and the severity varies from person to person.
What I can say is that you have to have regular checkups with your doctor to stay healthy. If you do get cancer, it can only be better to discover it earlier rather than later.
Secondly, again depending on the type of cancer you have, you need to immediately get educated about your condition and the treatment options. There were so many issues that I had to know about and learn in order to make educated decisions about my treatment. Don’t just talk and listen; take notes. From your first visit with a doctor, keep a detailed written log about what is being said. Every doctor doesn’t know everything about your condition.
