The purpose for this website is to gather as much  information regarding FF cancer into one place, as it is scatter all over the internet, and at times can be difficult to find. To the best of my knowledge it is current at the time of publishing. As with any research, cancer research is changing at a rapid pace. What I do know from my own dealings with cancer is you must be diligent in watching for signs in your own body. The earlier you catch cancer the better chance in beating it.    

   While this site is primarily for retired Fire Fighter there is also good information for those that continue to work, or just starting their careers  

  I hope the site gives you a good understanding: 

  1. the cancers we deal with
  2. how to protect your self - what to watch for
  3. make a claim in the Province of BC
  4. All sources can be verified and credit goes to them for  their drive in making their research available to us on the internet. If I have missed to credit anyone I apolgize, please reach out so I can give credit where credit is due. 

 

Old School FireFighters 

Biography: 

My name is John Hudson. I am a 37-year career firefighter with Vancouver Fire and Rescue. I spent my first 15 years as a front line FireFighter. Enjoyed working as a driver of both an engine and ladder.I even spent a year serving on our old Vancouver Fire Boat #2. Spent almost 5 years in the Departments Dispatch officer. Moved back to the fire floor to write my officers exams and moved through the Lt's and Captains  positions and finaly retired as a Battalion Chief. In the entire process I was fortunate to joins varoius teams, Tech Resuce, CanTF1 which was Canada's First Heavy Rescue Team. . All in all by anyones standard I had a great career.

I retired in 2013

I am also a 3-time survivor of cancer. So, beating cancer is important to me. As firefighters we have lost many of our brothers and sisters to this plague.

The cancers that I have had to deal with are as follows:

  • kidney cancer, right kidney removed in 2009. Caught early just surgery to remove kidney no additional treatment required. On the presumptive list.
  • Skin cancer – melanoma, the worst skin cancer one can get. It was caught early minor surgery to remove an area about a Loonie in size. No further treatment required. 
  • Basel cell skin cancer is about the mildest skin cancer one can get. Minor surgery to remove a very small area. Again, no further treatment.
  • Skin cancer is currently not on the presumtive list, however I managed convince my ajudicator to accept the claim. 
  • both skin cancers were discovered after I was retired.

I continue to monitor my body for any additional signs of cancer, as we all should.

The two skin cancers I have dealt with are not on the presumptive list for Work Safe.  As other jurisdictions across Canada have skin cancers on their own presumptive lists, I am a strong advocate to have the BC’s Legislature to include skin cancer on BC’s presumptive list.

As well as any other cancers that afflict Firefighters.

In Brotherhood

John Hudson

 

Note: there are active links through out this web site - they are in red and underlined click on them the actual web site will show up in blue and take you to the site.