The Vincere Cancer Center in Scottsdale says it officially launched a cancer screening program for firefighters and first responders.
Vershalee Shukla is a radiation oncologist with Vincere Cancer Center and helped to found the Screen Shield program five years ago.
“We wanted to do a community project, and I happened to be reading about 9/11 and all the first responders getting cancer and being diagnosed with late stage cancer and the funding running out,” she said.
Vincere Cancer Center first paired with Phoenix Fire Department in 2018. Since then, the center says it has performed 4,000 screenings and detected over 400 cancers, delivering life-saving early detection and rapid treatment for those on the front lines.
Firefighters are known to face a high risk of cancer due to toxin exposure, but Shukla said other parts of the job can also have an effect.
“The other big reason is, you know, they work. The calls have gotten busier, so they do a lot of shift work. There’s very — there’s a lack of sleep which also disrupts their circadian rhythm and puts them at risk,” she said.
The cancer screenings involve same-day body MRIs, liquid biopsies, dermatology exams and more.
