Glendale firefighter spreads cancer awareness message to warn of growing problem among firefighter community

GLENDALE, Ariz. - A retired Glendale firefighter is fighting a battle with cancer. 

It's a problem that is becoming all too common among firefighters across the country. 

January is "Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month" and he's encouraging his colleagues to get health screenings.

Meet Kevin Thompson

The backstory:

Kevin Thompson spent 26 years saving lives and just because he is retired doesn't mean he's done helping others.  

"I'd still be there doing it if I could," said Thompson. 

He became a Glendale firefighter in 1993 and didn't leave until his cancer diagnosis forced him to take a medical retirement. 

"I have multiple Myeloma and I was diagnosed in April of 2019," he said. 

He added that 75% of his plasma had cancer cells and for the last 6 years or so, Kevin's been fighting for his life, going to appointment after appointment at Banner Health.

Dig deeper:

"There is no cure for multiple Myeloma. I have to do regular chemotherapy to keep it at bay," he said. "So I've been on probably five or six different chemo medications over the last few years."

Multiple Myeloma is one of the cancers listed in Arizona's Presumptive Cancer Law for firefighters.

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What they're saying:

"Firefighters are generally at higher risk for cancer because of the exposure that they have to a lot of toxins that are not just inhaled, but can actually be absorbed through their skin as well," said Dr. Pardis Javadi, a surgical oncologist at Banner MD Anderson.

If it weren't for his diagnosis, Kevin says he'd still be working for the fire department.

"It's the best job in the world, but we shouldn't have to die to do it. So if I can help, that's my goal," said Thompson.

His goal is to share his story in hopes that it encourages current and retired firefighters to get screened.

"Many people on the job have that attitude. On the job of being a firefighter, they want to try to leave the place better than they found it and so my whole deal is that continued effort with my brothers and sisters," he said.

Kevin says even though his career led to cancer, he says he wouldn't change a thing.