Unpopular Opinions In the Fire Service

[u/Launch_Rockface]

I am curious what other peoples unpopular opinions of the fire service are? I know there are alot of things we are doing or trying to do to improve the fire service as far as training and wellness, but I also know alot of it is just not that great in my opinion.

[u/Strict-Canary-4175]

“Being out of shape and Sleep deprivation causes more cancer” No it doesn’t. For a few reasons.

The first one is because sleep deprivation doesn’t cause cancer. Secondly, because yeah. It’s the gear. There definitely are studies on it, but let’s say all of the data was just things we can observe.

If it’s not the gear why do firemen get cancer at such an elevated rate? Why is a majority of the cancer we get inside where our bunker pants are (bladder, prostate, colon, uterine)? And we wear those more often than the rest of our gear? Seems like maybe it’s the gear.

And if it’s the sleep deprivation and being out of shape, why isn’t cancer effecting fat guys who work a ton of overtime more often? It doesn’t. So it seems like that’s not the problem. Matter of fact; I was eating so clean it was almost an ED and running ultra marathons when I got diagnosed with cancer. So I don’t think it was that I was fat and sleepy.

I also had to have pretty extensive genetic testing done when I had cancer because I was abandoned at birth so I have no family history. In which they found that my cancer was occupational. From the PFAS in the gear.

If you want to work out in gear, go ahead. Save that money and that time though because your city isn’t going to go out of their way for you. Good luck big dog

[u/Direct-Training9217 → u/Strict-Canary-4175]

First off, I'm really sorry to hear about your cancer diagnosis and I hope you're doing better.

"first one is because sleep deprivation doesn't cause cancer." Respectfully that's not true, there is a lot of science that says it does. Especially interrupted sleep

Being in shape and working out lowers your chances of getting cancer. Doesn't remove it.

We don't get cancer that much more than the general population. We're 9% more likely, which isn't ideal but that's not a huge difference.

Occupational cancer is usually tied to carcinogens and smoke exposure. But I will say you would definitely know more than me about that since you're going through it yourself.

Like I said it's an unpopular opinion.

Stay safe and healthy, hope you come back stronger than ever 

[u/Strict-Canary-4175 → u/Direct-Training9217]

You’re right I do know more about it.

Thanks for explaining all of that to me anyway. Take care.

[u/Direct-Training9217 → u/Strict-Canary-4175]

Take care