Greetings to our firefighters, families and friends! Welcome to FFVC’s new blog, Smoke Eaters, Cancer Beaters. I’m Suzette Martinez Standring, Chief Correspondent, which is a fancy term for She-Who-Shares-Your-Stories. Early cancer testing for firefighters is our goal because of the documented higher risk of occupational cancer.
Every story advances the mission of Firefighters Vs Cancer.
It’s humbling to talk to firefighters who have persevered through cancer as well as family members who have lost beloved wives, husbands, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, friends and colleagues to occupational cancer.
Also, female firefighters have cancer conditions very different from their male colleagues, and FFVC aims to address that, too.
Why share stories? Because you are not alone.
I’m not a firefighter, but I know cancer. Since 2020, I’ve managed my non small cell adenocarcinoma. I fall into that new demographic of Asian women who have never smoked, but who have lung cancer. I’ve had two surgeries, radiation, chemo, and now I’m on lifelong antibody/chemo infusions every three weeks for 30 minutes. But don’t cry for me, Argentina. I’m responding well, and this new treatment didn’t even exist for me five years ago. Every year, bold breakthrough treatments are saving lives. The key is early detection.
Cancer instantly changes your life and viewpoint. Your medicine cabinet looks very, very different. You come to value the gift of time. Those who experience serious illness know that even dark humor can bring a healing bout of belly laughs.
Recently, my doctor was thrilled that my full torso CT scans showed no metastatic or new growths. My blood panels are normal. There even may be an opening toward “maintenance” but that’s a long way down the road. But it’s a thrilling possibility, given that I was told I’d be on these infusions for the rest of my life. So take heart!
For firefighters, support from the brotherhood and sisterhood is legendary. Many shared stories of lucky coincidences and miracles. Often one’s eyes open to a life purpose (like me writing for you).
I know about miracles. This is how I discovered my lung cancer early. God is good because he paralyzed my right leg in late 2019. The paralysis lasted for only five hours in the ER, but doctors were baffled and ordered tests. They found nothing connected to the paralysis (which has never returned). But on my very last MRI, they detected a cancerous growth, Stage 1, on my lung. I’m grateful my general health remains strong because of early detection.
Fast forward to my writing your stories for FFVC.
Founder Mike Foley asked me to write for FFVC as he was a fan of my nationally syndicated spirituality columns, which ran for 15 years. On my then-cable TV show (which ran 11 years) about authors, I featured Mike’s book, Busy As Hell: Stories, Tall Tales, Legends, Yarns, and a Cast of Characters from the Boston Fire Department’s Famed War Years. It’s how he came to know me and my writing.
When he approached me to do this, I thought, “Hell to the yeah! What a great way to give back.”
Special thanks to Lisa Smith Molinari, a military spouse columnist with Stars and Stripes, who came up with the snappy title, Smoke Eaters, Cancer Beaters.
So stay tuned, Firefighters, and if you have a story related to occupational cancer, please email me: suzette@firefightersvscancer.org
You are not alone. Stay well and get tested early!
Suzette Martinez Standring
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