Seventh Annual Firefighter Symposium Tackles Duty-Linked Cancer
The international event emphasizes Sylvester’s FCI’s role in raising awareness about the higher cancer risks firefighters face.
Copper, a metal known for its strength and ability to transfer energy, is a traditional gift for a seventh anniversary. In this spirit, the seventh annual International Fire Service Cancer (IFSC) Symposium—hosted by Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine—provided rock-solid support and transferred science-backed knowledge in the campaign against firefighter-related cancer. Sylvester’s Firefighter Cancer Initiative (FCI) has been a key component of this research and the IFSC Symposium, which was held Feb. 20-21.
The collaborative platform draws participants from the firefighting, scientific, academic and government sectors. The symposium regularly features dozens of speakers and panelists addressing critical conversations, shared research and best practices for cancer prevention and early detection in the fire service.
“As we marked the 10th anniversary of Sylvester’s FCI at this year’s symposium, we celebrated a decade of steadfast commitment to protecting those who protect us,” said Alberto Caban-Martinez, D.O. Ph.D., M.P.H., C.P.H., deputy director of Sylvester’s FCI and assistant professor of public health sciences. “Over the past 10 years, we have converted research into action, built partnerships that drive meaningful change, and empowered the fire service with the knowledge and tools to reduce cancer risk. This milestone is not just a reflection of our progress. It is a call to the future.”
Cancer causes more than two-thirds of firefighter line-of-duty deaths. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified fire-related occupational exposure as carcinogenic to humans. Research shows that firefighters face an increased risk of cancer because of repeated exposure to toxic chemicals released during fires. When modern buildings and household items burn, they produce hazardous substances such as benzene, formaldehyde and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), all known carcinogens. Aside from that, disruption of circadian rhythms because of shift work and sleep deprivation has also been classified as a probable carcinogen.
A Growing Movement
Since its inception, the symposium has transformed from a national event into an international one. This change reflects the expertise of Sylvester’s FCI in raising awareness and fostering a sense of urgency about the risks faced by firefighters, whose collective incidence of cancer is higher than many other professions.
Three hundred firefighters and experts attended the inaugural 2019 symposium. This year’s conference had more than 750 participants in person and online.
“The International Fire Service Cancer Symposium provides a much-needed forum for interdisciplinary researchers and first responders to discuss the state of the science related to cancer in the firefighting sector,” said Sylvester’s FCI Director Erin Kobetz, Ph.D., M.P.H, associate director for community outreach and engagement at Sylvester and Judy H. Schulte Senior Endowed Chair in Cancer Research. “Over the two days, there were important connections made, potential collaborations inspired and a strengthening of Sylvester’s Firefighter Cancer Initiative’s commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our fire service colleagues to reduce their risk of cancer.”
Drilling Down at the Symposium
The 2025 symposium featured more than a dozen presentations on an array of topics. These included firefighter wellness, nutrition and physical activity as possible cancer preventives, mental health challenges facing firefighter cancer survivors and cancer dangers from specific materials and substances encountered in firefighting.
Sylvester’s FCI researchers were well-represented among the presenters. A panel led by Dr. Caban-Martinez presented research on electric vehicle (EV) fires, an emerging danger that will only grow as EVs are increasingly adopted nationwide. EV fires typically release more than 100 chemicals, including heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium and lead, all known carcinogens.
A second panel discussion addressed challenges and advancing firefighter health and safety implementation strategies. This session, led by Natasha Schaefer Solle, Ph.D., RN, research associate professor in the Department of Medicine and Public Health Sciences at the Miller School, featured recent research findings on occupational exposures, mental health considerations and innovative implementation approaches to improve overall firefighter well-being.
The discussion also explored barriers to cancer prevention policy adoption, including organizational resistance and logistical constraints. It provided practical recommendations for integrating research-driven cancer prevention measures into fire departments nationwide.
The symposium featured numerous scientific poster sessions showcasing emerging researchers. Miller School M.P.H. student Angie Gaitan shared findings on a study examining the relationship between leisure-time physical activity levels and sleep quality among firefighters, using data from Sylvester’s FCI Assessment of Firefighter Diet Quality and Lifestyle Behaviors. Given the high prevalence of sleep disturbances in the fire service because of shift work, stress and exposure to hazardous environments, understanding the role of physical activity in improving sleep outcomes was highlighted as critical.
In separate presentations, Miller School Ph.D. student Alexia Lydia Kafkoutsou and M.D./M.P.H. student Vikasni Mohan explored the potential health impacts, including gynecological health risks of occupational exposure to PAHs among women firefighters.
Prevention, Screening and Support
Prevention strategies and cultivating a prevention mindset were cornerstones of the 2025 symposium. Workshops and presentations regularly emphasized early detection, lifestyle modifications and departmental policy changes to reduce exposure risks.
“In the next decade, we will push even further, leveraging innovation, expanding our reach to all fire service occupational sub-groups, and ensuring that every firefighter has access to the prevention strategies and early detection tools they need to reduce cancer risk,” said Dr. Caban-Martinez. “We will continue to stand as one with our fire service colleagues in the battle against firefighter-related cancer.”
Tags: cancer research, Dr. Alberto Caban-Martinez, Dr. Erin Kobetz, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sylvester Firefighter Cancer Initiative