A Scottsdale-based cancer center has had a busy year diagnosing Valley firefighters with cancer.
Vincere Cancer Center diagnosed 22 firefighters with cancer in 2019, according to oncologist Dr. Vershalee Shukla.
The center started screening firefighters for cancer in November 2018, and melanoma has been the most common diagnosis.
“The other cancers have been rare cancers, we picked up a lymphoma as well but, there’s bladder cancers, all types of cancers, breast cancer, testicular cancer prostate cancer,” Shukla told KTAR News 92.3 FM. “They’re all across the board.” But what do the cancer screenings for firefighters include? “It’s custom to each firefighter and their risks,” Shukla said.