Federal Firefighter Cancer Detection and Prevention Act of 2025
The Federal Firefighter Cancer Detection and Prevention Act of 2025 would require the Secretary of Defense to provide to Department of Defense firefighters, at no cost, medical testing and related services to detect, document, and help prevent certain cancers. These services would be incorporated into the annual periodic health assessment (or other indicated intervals) and would cover breast, colon, prostate cancers, and other cancers identified by the CDC as higher risk for firefighters. The bill sets minimum screening criteria (including frequency and professional review), allows opt-out, requires use of consensus standards, and directs documentation of test uptake and results while protecting privacy. It also authorizes sharing de-identified data with the CDC to improve knowledge about cancer occurrences among firefighters. The definition of “firefighter” is someone whose primary job/MOS is firefighting, and a “high-risk” individual for prostate cancer includes African Americans, individuals with a first-degree relative diagnosed with early-onset prostate cancer, or others labeled high risk by the Secretary.
Key Points
- 1The bill requires DoD to provide, at no cost, appropriate medical testing and related services for cancer detection and prevention to each DoD firefighter during annual health assessments (or as otherwise indicated).
- 2Breast cancer: for female firefighters, mammograms are required with specific frequency (twice yearly for ages 40-49, at least annually for ages 50+, and as clinically indicated), with a licensed radiologist reviewing and reporting results.
- 3Colon cancer: screening includes risk/benefit communication for stool-based tests starting at age 40 (or as indicated), and regular visual examinations (colonoscopy, CT colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy) or stool testing starting at age 45 (or as indicated), with a licensed physician reviewing results.
- 4Prostate cancer: for male firefighters, provide information on risks/benefits and offer a PSA test at least annually for those 50+ or 40+ if high-risk, and as clinically indicated.
- 5Other cancers: routine screenings for other cancers identified by the CDC as higher risk for firefighters, conducted during the annual health assessment; opt-out for firefighters is allowed.