Chandler officials highlight high participation in first responder cancer screening pilot

Assistant Chief Keith Wiggins presented Chandler Fire's first responder cancer screening pilot to the City Council at the May 19 study session, saying the program has achieved high participation and identified several cancers among department members.

Wiggins told the council that cancer is now the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths for firefighters nationally and summarized department screening results, including 95 percent participation in the first year and more than 75 percent participation to date this year. "To date, we have identified eight different cancers," Wiggins said, and he noted the department had one line-of-duty death from cancer in 2018.

The nut of the discussion was the program's preventive focus and cost rationale: Wiggins cited World Health Organization findings that screening is two to four times less expensive than treatment, and he said early diagnosis improves survivability. He told the council the coming year's services would include low-dose lung CT scans, breast ultrasounds for female firefighters and PFAS testing.

Councilmember Poston thanked Wiggins and said the participation rates answered earlier questions about uptake. A vice mayor who spoke at the meeting called the results "impactful" and said the pilot may outgrow that label, praising the program's preventative reach. No motion or vote was taken during the study session.

City staff and council members discussed continuing the program and noted the contract referenced in the presentation; Wiggins and council members expressed appreciation for city support but did not ask the council to take a formal vote during the study session.

Next steps identified in the presentation were continued program operation and formal contract processes already in the council packet; the council did not take formal action at the May 19 study session.