SF Mayor Lurie announces $500K fund for firefighter cancer screenings

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — Half a million dollars will be earmarked in San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie’s proposed budget for a firefighter cancer screening program, the mayor’s office announced Tuesday. The pilot program will offer eligible SF firefighters state-of-the-art imaging scans and screenings that are typically not covered by insurance.

Firefighters have a 9% higher diagnosis and a 14% higher mortality rate from cancer compared to the general population, the mayor’s office said, citing research by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. More than 300 San Francisco Fire Department first responders have died from cancer over the past two decades, according to Sam Gebler, Vice President of San Francisco Firefighters Local 798.

“We know screenings save lives,” Mayor Lurie said. “When we catch cancer early, it drastically increases the survival rate of our firefighters. This investment is about honoring the people who dedicate their lives to protecting ours.”

Active-duty San Francisco firefighters over the age of 40 with at least five years of service will be eligible to participate in the program.

The mayor’s office plans to use the next year to design the pilot program in collaboration with the fire department, International Association of Fire Fighters Local 798 and the San Francisco Firefighter Cancer Prevention Foundation (SFFCPF).

“With cancer now as the leading cause of ‘in the line of duty’ deaths, early detection is more important than ever,” said SFFCPF President Tony Stefani. “We are extremely pleased that a new line item in the budget will provide funding for yearly cancer screenings. This will have a profound, positive effect on the health of the men and women who protect our great city.”