‘Give cancer the axe;’ firefighters wear pink to support breast cancer awareness month

DAYTON — Firefighters in Miami Valley have been wearing pink through the month of October to raise awareness of breast cancer.

>> Dayton firefighter injured in weekend house fire

News Center 7′s Kayla McDermott spoke with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) to learn that they “take this month personal[ly].”

>> Firefighter hurts back, taken to hospital after fire in Springfield

Firefighters inhale soot, smoke, and other chemicals daily that can develop into multiple forms of cancer.

>> Katie Couric reveals breast cancer diagnosis

Firefighter Support Cancer Network states that firefighters are 14 percent more likely to contract and die from cancer compared to the general population.

>> Mobile mammograms give women option during Breast Cancer Awareness Month

President of Dayton’s IAFF, Kraig Robinson, has seen this first-hand.

“We’ve had at least 10 guys that have have died from some type of cancer related claim,” Robinson informed News Center 7.

“We have some female firefighters that have had breast cancer as well,” Robinson added.

>> Cincinnati Zoo is participating in October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month

“We’re going to try to ultimately give cancer the axe,” Robinson concluded.

The firefighter union sells pink breast cancer awareness shirts and contributes approximately $3,000 worth of proceeds to a cancer charity every year.

©2022 Cox Media Group