Scottsdale-based center formalizes pioneering initiative after screening more than 4,000 firefighters, detecting over 400 cancers, and leading the fight for early detection and prevention of occupational cancer

Vincere Cancer Center, a world-class cancer center and leader in early detection and precision oncology, today announced the official launch of ‘Screen Shield,’ its First Responder Cancer Screening Program, the nation’s first and most comprehensive initiative dedicated to detecting and preventing cancer in firefighters and first responders. After years of success serving this high-risk community, the program formalizes Vincere’s commitment to protecting those who dedicate their lives protecting others. Since 2018, the initiative has completed more than 4,000 screenings and detected over 400 cancers, delivering life-saving early detection and rapid treatment for those on the front lines.

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Founders radiation oncologist Dr. Vershalee Shukla and surgeon Dr. Pablo Prichard standing in front of the Vincere Cancer Center in Scottsdale, Arizona.

As part of this milestone, retired Phoenix Executive Assistant Fire Chief Scott Walker has been appointed Director for Fire Service Programs at Vincere, bringing decades of fire service leadership to help scale the model nationwide. Chief Walker helped design the original firefighter screening model in 2018 and continues to shape its growth and impact today. His operational expertise and advocacy for firefighter health have also driven key research collaborations with Harvard University and the Karolinska Institute focused on toxin exposure and cancer prevention.

“When I started in the fire service more than 30 years ago, we didn’t fully understand how the toxins we encountered could increase our risk of cancer,” said Chief Walker. “Today, we know better and we have the tools to do better. Vincere’s program is saving lives, and our mission is to make this kind of early detection accessible to every firefighter in America.”

Founded in 2017 by radiation oncologist Dr. Vershalee Shukla and surgeon Dr. Pablo Prichard, Vincere was built on a singular mission: to conquer cancer (“Vincere” is Latin for to conquer). Recognizing the alarming cancer risks faced by firefighters, Dr. Shukla and Dr. Prichard launched the screening program, in partnership with the Phoenix Fire Department in 2018. It has since expanded statewide and beyond, becoming the nation’s gold standard for early detection and prevention among first responders.

Vincere’s work and research is helping define the next frontier of environmental oncology, an emerging field focused on how toxin exposure contributes to cancer risk. By studying the effects of PFOS, microplastics, and other environmental toxins, particularly among high-exposure populations like firefighters, Vincere is advancing a proactive model of cancer care. This approach integrates early detection, multi-modality screening, advanced imaging, and data-driven insights to not only treat disease but help prevent it before it starts.

Firefighting is now classified as a Group 1 carcinogenic occupation by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2023). According to the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF, 2023), 72% of firefighter line-of-duty deaths in 2023 were caused by occupational cancer, and firefighters face a 14% higher risk of developing, and dying from, cancer than the general population (NIOSH, 2017). With more than one million career and volunteer firefighters across the U.S, the need for comprehensive, preventative, cancer screening has never been more urgent (NFPA, 2020).

“Firefighters are being diagnosed with cancer at younger ages and at higher rates than ever before,” said Dr. Vershalee Shukla, Founder and Radiation Oncologist at Vincere Cancer Center. “Our goal is simple but urgent: to detect cancer early, understand the environmental causes, and help minimize future risk. We use multiple complementary screening modalities so we can find as many cancers as possible, as early as possible, in a way that is both efficient and cost-effective. This program gives our first responders a fighting chance through proactive, personalized, and data-driven care.”

Vincere’s Screen Shield Program, integrates cutting-edge diagnostics, combining several modalities rather than relying on any single test, personalized risk stratification, and multidisciplinary same-day care. This comprehensive approach is designed to catch cancers that a single scan alone might miss, from internal tumors to early skin cancers. The program includes:

• 3T Total Body MRI (twice the strength of consumer offerings) read by subspecialty radiologists and oncologists
• Liquid biopsy testing using Exact Sciences’ CancerGuard, with Vincere conducting over 1,000 tests prior to commercial release
• Dermatology, urology, cardiology, and mental health specialists for comprehensive, same-day assessment
• Diagnosis-to-treatment turnaround in under 10 days, led by Vincere’s in-house oncology team
• Colonoscopy and Upper Endoscopy at accelerated criteria
• Quantitative Transmission Ultrasound for earliest and safest imaging detection in dense breast tissue

More than half of Vincere’s radiation oncology patients today are firefighters or their family members which is a testament to the trust and reach the program has earned within the firefighter community.

“By understanding the link between exposure and disease, we can finally shift from treatment to prevention,” said Dr. Prichard. “This has also led to the creation of the ‘Forever Young’ television series, bringing this education to the public. The firefighters and first responders we’ve met and treated since launching this program are extraordinary people doing vital work and this program is how we honor their service and protect the health of those who protect us.”

About Vincere Cancer Center

Founded in 2017 by oncologist Dr. Vershalee Shukla and surgeon Dr. Pablo Prichard, Vincere Cancer Center is a premier destination for early detection, precision oncology, and holistic cancer care. Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Vincere blends technology, compassion, and innovation to deliver faster diagnoses and better outcomes. Its First Responder Cancer Screening Program is the nation’s first comprehensive initiative dedicated to firefighter and first responder cancer prevention and research. For more information, visit https://vincerecancer.com and https://foreveryoung.tv.

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Since 2018, Vincere Cancer Center has completed more than 4,000 screenings and detected over 400 cancers, delivering life-saving early detection and rapid treatment for those on the front lines.