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The Hidden Dangers: Firefighters and Bladder Cancer Risk

By: Brandpoint

February 12, 2025 at 09:01 AM EST

(BPT) - Everyone recognizes the everyday heroism of firefighters, men and women who run toward danger to save lives and protect our communities. While their bravery carries obvious risks, firefighters also face hidden health dangers.

"Firefighters do not just face physical danger from firefighting, such as burns and injuries from falling structures," said urologist Dr. Christopher Pieczonka, Chief Executive Officer, Associated Medical Professionals of NY. "We know from research that their professional exposure to diesel exhaust, building materials, asbestos, chemicals and other things puts them at higher risk of developing bladder cancer."

Why do firefighters have an increased risk of developing bladder cancer?

The smoke and soot firefighters are exposed to contain a toxic mixture of chemicals called carcinogens, which are substances known to cause cancer.

These carcinogens are absorbed into the bloodstream, filtered by the kidneys and excreted through urine. Over time, this can lead to a buildup of carcinogens in the bladder, which can damage the bladder lining and potentially lead to cancer.

"Studies have shown that firefighters have a 9% higher risk of developing cancer and a 14% higher risk of dying from cancer compared to the general public, underscoring the need for increased awareness and preventive measures," Dr. Pieczonka said.

What can firefighters do to prevent bladder cancer?

While fighting fires is inherently risky, there are preventive measures firefighters can take to help protect themselves from bladder cancer while they safeguard our communities:

Make sure your health care team knows you have a history of firefighting.
Immediately report any symptoms of bladder cancer - like blood in the urine, frequent need to pass urine or pain when passing urine - to your health care team right away.
Lower your risk of cancer (and other diseases) by not smoking, eating healthy, getting regular exercise, limiting alcohol consumption, reducing stress and getting enough sleep.

What treatment options are available for bladder cancer?

If diagnosed with bladder cancer, the good news is that there are treatment options available that can help avoid a cystectomy, or surgical removal of the bladder. This is especially true when it is diagnosed early as non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). NMIBC is bladder cancer that has grown on the lining of the bladder but has not spread past the innermost surface of the bladder to the muscle underneath. It is the most common type of bladder cancer.

A standard first treatment for NMIBC is a medicine called Bacillus Calmette-Guerin, or BCG, which is infused directly into the bladder by a catheter. BCG is a benign bacteria that creates an immune response in the bladder, leading to clearance of the cancer in many patients.

"BCG is an important treatment option in early-stage bladder cancer like NMIBC," Dr. Pieczonka explained. "However, approximately 30 to 40% of patients do not respond to BCG, and about 50% who initially respond to BCG eventually experience a recurrence of their cancer. These patients are categorized as having BCG-unresponsive NMIBC."

However, thanks to recent treatment innovations, there are reasons for people with BCG-unresponsive NMIBC to feel hopeful. In 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved an immunotherapy called ANKTIVA^® (nogapendekin alfa inbakicept-pmln) that when combined with BCG, restores the immune system's cancer-fighting activity in patients with BCG-unresponsive NMIBC with carcinoma in situ (CIS), with or without papillary tumors.

In a clinical trial about three out of five patients (62%) had a complete response to ANKTIVA plus BCG, meaning all signs of the cancer disappeared. A similar percentage of patients (58%) had a complete response that lasted for one year or longer, and two out of five patients (40%) continued to remain cancer free after two years of treatment. Side effects patients experienced were mild and temporary, the most common side effects were fatigue, nausea, bladder irritation and diarrhea.

"Firefighters put their lives on the line every day, not just from the immediate dangers of fires, but also from long-term health risks like NMIBC," Dr. Pieczonka added. "Since many of these patients will be diagnosed with BCG-unresponsive NMIBC, I'm excited that ANKTIVA provides the possibility of years of cancer-free living while avoiding the life-altering impact of surgical bladder removal."

ANKTIVA was researched and developed by ImmunityBio. The company is dedicated to supporting the health and safety of firefighters through research, advocacy and education. For more information about ANKTIVA, visit https://anktiva.com.

This article is sponsored by ImmunityBio, Inc.

ANKTIVA Indication and Important Safety Information

Patients treated with ANKTIVA plus BCG may still be at risk for more serious muscle-invasive or metastatic bladder cancer, which can be life threatening if bladder removal is delayed. If you don't respond to a second round of ANKTIVA with BCG, bladder removal surgery should be considered. Before starting ANKTIVA, tell your doctor if you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant as ANKTIVA may cause fetal harm. Common side effects include abnormal laboratory results, increased creatinine, painful urination, blood in urine, frequent urination, urgent need to urinate, urinary tract infections, high potassium, muscle pain, chills, and fever.

For more information, visit Anktiva dot com or call 1-877-ANKTIVA. (1-877-265-8482).

ANK-00173-US January 2025

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