Last night's NBC News segment featured an in-depth look at firefighter occupational cancer.
The segment featured an interview with a Boston firefighter who is battling blood cancer and Fire Commissioner Joseph Finn, who called cancer rates in the fire service an "epidemic." According to the segment, three active or just-retired firefighters are diagnosed with cancer each month.
Cancer, according to the International Association of Firefighters, is now the leading cause of death among firefighters. As a result, Boston, New York, Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Toronto and Calgary fire departments are tracking and reporting cancer rates.