PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Because of the inherent dangers in their work, experts say firefighters are at a higher risk for several cancers.
That’s why Pasco County Fire Rescue is focusing on early detection in its occupational health program.
Fire Rescue Capt. Cody Compagni is the first in his family to join the fire service, but he’s the latest in a long line of men in his family with cancer. Thanks to the program, he said he was able to catch a potentially life-threatening condition before it was too late.
“My thyroid was not abnormal, but it was kind of misshapen,” Compagni said. “When they sent it for genetic testing, I had the RAS mutation — which means that it’s not cancer now, but it 100% will be cancer at some point.”
On the advice of doctors and his wife, who works at the Moffitt Cancer Center, Compagni underwent a complete thyroidectomy earlier this month.
Because doctors removed his thyroid, the 15-year veteran of the fire service will have to take the medication every day for the rest of his life.
If it meant he was able to remain healthy, it was a tradeoff Compagni was willing to make.
But without the team at Pasco County Fire headquarters, Compagni would not have known anything was wrong.
“We do things that your normal physical, from your physician, they’re not going to do,” said Aimee Gervasi, a nurse with PCFR’s occupational health program.
A firefighter turned nurse, Gervasi and other nurses screen every member of the department for cancers and other health hazards, which helps firefighters like Compagni fight cancer before it’s too late.
“We’ve had some cancer diagnoses from this program and, to my knowledge, all are cancer free at this point,” Gervasi said.
JJ Martinez leads health and safety for Pasco Fire Rescue.
“We have a wall as soon as you walk in with all the firefighters we lost to cancer, with all the firefighters we lost to cardiac issues, to mental health,” Martinez said. “In their memory, we’re going to continue fighting for that firefighter.”
Compagni, a father of two, says the county’s program allowed him address his medical condition and move on with his life.
“For more, being able to catch this early, having the ease of mind that it’s out, and it’s done, is amazing,” Compagni said.
Andy Cole
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