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, at no cost to the firefighter, medical testing and related services to detect and prevent certain cancers as part of the DoD annual periodic health assessment (or at other indicated intervals). The bill targets cancers that are more prevalent among firefighters, including breast cancer for women, colon cancer, prostate cancer for men, and other cancers identified by the CDC as higher risk for firefighters. It sets minimum screening criteria (with specific frequencies by age and risk), requires professional review of test results, and allows for opt-out by the firefighter. It also authorizes the use of consensus technical standards, provides for privacy-protective data collection and trend analysis, and permits sharing de-identified data with the CDC to improve understanding of cancer occurrences among firefighters. The act defines who counts as a firefighter and who is considered a high-risk individual for prostate cancer.
Key Points
- 1Provides, at no cost to the firefighter, appropriate medical testing and related services during the annual periodic health assessment (or as indicated) to detect, document, and prevent certain cancers for DoD firefighters.
- 2Breast cancer: for female firefighters, mammograms with specified frequency (twice a year for ages 40–49, at least annually at 50+, and as clinically indicated) plus radiologist review comparing new and prior mammograms.
- 3Colon cancer: for 40+ (or as clinically indicated), communication of stool-based test risks/benefits; 45+ (or as indicated) regular visual exams (colonoscopy, CT colonography, flexible sigmoidoscopy) or stool tests, with physician review of results.
- 4Prostate cancer: for male firefighters, annual PSA testing and counseling on risks/benefits for 50+ (or 40+ high-risk), with possible testing 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.
- 6Optional participation: firefighters may opt out of the testing or related services.
- 7Use of consensus technical standards and privacy protections: testing standards to follow national consensus standards; privacy safeguards for de-identified data; potential sharing of data with the CDC to improve understanding of cancer incidence among firefighters.