about us
WE HELP FIREFIGHTERS AND THEIR FAMILIES COPE WITH CANCER
Since 2005, the nonprofit Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) has provided assistance and one-on-one mentoring to thousands of cancer-stricken firefighters and their families. FCSN also delivers extensive firefighter cancer awareness and prevention training nationwide.
Vision: To be the global leader in firefighter cancer support, awareness and education.
Mission: To assist firefighters and EMS providers and their immediate families diagnosed with cancer by providing badge to badge support, training and guidance.
Vision: To be the global leader in firefighter cancer support, awareness and education.
Mission: To assist firefighters and EMS providers and their immediate families diagnosed with cancer by providing badge to badge support, training and guidance.
ABOUT US
Cancer: The Greatest Threat to Firefighter Health and Safety
Cancer is one of the greatest threats facing firefighters today—and its impact reaches far beyond the fireground.
According to the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), 63% of firefighter Line-of-Duty deaths since January 2000 have been attributed to occupational cancer. In 2025 alone, 80% of Line-of-Duty deaths were attributed to occupational cancer.
The risk extends beyond fatality statistics. Research has found that firefighters have a 9% higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14% higher risk of dying from cancer compared with the general U.S. population.
And yet, we still don’t have a complete picture.
There is limited data on cancer among volunteer firefighters, which comprises up to 70% of our Fire Service, and the U.S. Fire Administration’s firefighter fatality statistics do not currently capture cancer-related deaths in the same way they capture other Line-of-Duty fatalities. This lack of data can make the true scope of the problem difficult to see.
What we do know is clear: firefighters face increased exposure to cancer-causing substances throughout their careers, and every firefighter—career or volunteer—is at risk.
That is why the Firefighter Cancer Support Network exists.
Firefighters risk their lives for us. We’re here to stand with them when cancer threatens theirs.
About the Firefighter Cancer Support Network
We are committed to helping firefighters and their families navigate a cancer diagnosis, providing support and resources throughout treatment and recovery, and working to prevent the next firefighter from facing cancer alone. Here’s how:
24/7 Badge-to-Badge Mentorship
When a firefighter is diagnosed with cancer, FCSN connects them with a trained fire-service mentor who is a cancer survivor and understands the unique challenges of the job. These mentors provide personal support, guidance, and hope throughout the cancer journey. FCSN has a network of more than 200 experienced mentors ready to help.
Immediate Support After Diagnosis
Within days of a cancer diagnosis, firefighters and their families can receive FCSN's cancer-support toolbox, including our signature Cancer Survivorship: A Firefighters Guide. These practical resources help individuals and families navigate medical appointments, treatment, physical and emotional challenges, workers' compensation, caregiving, communication with medical teams, and survivorship.
Support for the Whole Family
Cancer affects more than the person who receives the diagnosis. FCSN extends support to caregivers and children, helping families navigate the emotional and practical challenges that come with cancer.
Cancer Prevention & Awareness
FCSN provides cancer prevention and awareness education to firefighters across the country. Our award-winning education program, Doing It Right —recognized by the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF)—has been delivered to more than 175,000 firefighters nationwide. The program gives fire departments the knowledge and tools they need to reduce cancer risks before a diagnosis occurs.
Research, Resources & Advocacy
FCSN works with internationally recognized cancer researchers, physicians, and fire-service experts to better understand cancer in the fire service. We share critical data, publish white papers and practical resources such as Crackyl magazines Focus on Cancer, volumes 1 and 2, and advocate for healthier and safer fire-service communities.
Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month
Through a partnership with the IAFF, every January, FCSN launches the latest in dedicated awareness and prevention initiatives, that include free online education equipping fire departments with the tools, resources, and guidance they need to strengthen cancer-prevention practices and better support members who receive a diagnosis within their departments.
No Firefighter Should Face Cancer Alone
Cancer may be the greatest threat facing the fire service, but no firefighter should have to face it alone. From the moment of diagnosis through treatment, recovery, and beyond, the Firefighter Cancer Support Network is here to provide the knowledge, resources, and peer support firefighters and their families need. We stand badge-to-badge with the fire service—supporting those facing cancer today, empowering departments to prevent cancer tomorrow, and honoring every firefighter whose life has been changed by this disease. Together, we can protect those who protect us.
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BE THE DIFFERENCE
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If you are in need of help, FCSN is ready to assist you any way we can during this challenging period in your life.
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