VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — This week, firefighters in Virginia Beach and Portsmouth are getting screened for esophageal cancer.
Firefighters have a 62 percent higher risk of getting esophageal cancer, according to the Firefighters Cancer Support Network.
Several firefighters lined up Monday at the Virginia Beach Professional Fire and EMS Union Hall for the EsoGuard DNA test for esophageal precancer.
Union President Max Gonano was one of the first to be screened.
"Any opportunity that we can take to screen our members for cancer, in particular this cancer, we're going to take that opportunity to make sure they are healthy and safe," he explained.
Education about the cancer risks associated with the job has been a priority for the Virginia Beach Fire Department. Last year, the department provided firefighters a first-of-its-kind multi-cancer early detection screening for 50 different cancers.
That's how fire investigator, Matt Gallina discovered his diagnosis of esophageal cancer. He's undergoing treatment in Houston, Texas.
The EsoGuard test requires a clinician to insert a capsule attached to a thin tube through the mouth and to the lower esophagus to collect cells. Those cells are sent to a lab and results come back in two to three weeks.
Former Virginia Beach Fire Chief David Hutcheson was tested and said the screening is about survivability.
"We want to do everything we can to bring these tests to the forefront, so that we catch these cancers early — for one, that we can have a high survivability rate."
The test is also being offered Wednesday at the Union Hall, and later this week in Portsmouth.