Press Release: 2024-10-01
Cancer Screening Success Story: Chicopee Fire Captain Back on the Job After Successful Surgery
Free Screening Through Fire Academy Credited in Early Detection of Kidney Cancer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
9/30/2024
CHICOPEE — Captain Zachary Vozella of the Chicopee Fire Department wasn’t experiencing any symptoms when he signed up for a free ultrasound through the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, but he knew that firefighters are at higher risk of developing occupational cancer.
“I think I read about it in an email and it seemed like a good idea,” Capt. Vozella said of signing up for the screening. “I met the criteria. I’m 43, I’ve been on the job for 12 years, and I knew the screenings were available through the Academy. So I figured, why not?”
The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy delivers a robust cancer awareness, prevention and early detection program on behalf of the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services. Ultrasounds and mammograms were added to the screening options just last year, joining skin cancer screenings, PSA blood tests, and chest CT scans – all of which are available at no cost to eligible career, call, volunteer, and retired firefighters.
“Occupational cancer is the leading cause of death in the fire service,” said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine. “Firefighters are more likely to develop cancer, to develop it at younger ages, and to receive a late diagnosis. Our cancer screening program reflects a statewide commitment to support our firefighters’ health and safety, and I encourage every firefighter in every Massachusetts fire department to take advantage of it.”
Captain Vozella contacted the MFA, filled out a questionnaire, and got a phone number for Mercy Medical Center in Springfield, where he set up an appointment.
“It was very easy,” he said of the process. “Mercy did my intake over the phone and set up the appointment, and I showed up and did it. It was totally painless.”
Captain Vozella got the results the same day through Mercy’s patient portal – and got the wind knocked out of him.
“They said that the ultrasound showed something concerning, a neoplasm, and that I should get it checked out,” he said. “I was scared. I was nervous. It was nerve-wracking. I got an appointment at my doctor’s office the next day.”
A week later, he had a CT scan and followed up with a visit to a specialist.
“He told me it was cancer based on the imaging and behavior of the growth,” Captain Vozella said. “He told me I was really lucky I had the screening when I did. I had no symptoms, and I probably wouldn’t have had symptoms until it grew and spread and started causing problems. It could have ended up killing me.”
Captain Vozella had surgery to remove his left kidney on July 30, about four weeks after his initial visit. The pathology report after the surgery revealed the cancer was stage 1B chromophobe renal cell carcinoma.
“They got me in pretty quickly,” he said, adding that he was grateful throughout the ordeal for the support he got from his family at home and at the Chicopee Fire Department.
After returning to work on Sept. 27, Captain Vozella is urging his brother and sister firefighters to recognize the risk of occupational cancer, discuss those risks with their doctors, and most importantly put their health front and center.
“I found from talking to the doctors that a lot of them are unaware of the dangers we face, as far as cancer goes,” he said. “So many people I’ve talked to have asked why I even got checked. They have no idea what we’re exposed to, and they’re not going to know unless you talk about it. So it’s really important to be an advocate for your health. You have to take the initiative.”
“We’re thrilled and relived that Zach is recovering,” said Chicopee Fire Chief Daniel Stamborski. “We’ve lost too many of our brother and sister firefighters to cancer, and we don’t want one more family or firehouse to go through that pain. Please, take advantage of these screenings. And if you’re a fire chief, please recommend them to your personnel. As this case shows, they could save a life.”
To learn more about the cancer awareness, prevention, and early detection programs that the Department of Fire Services offers firefighters at no cost through the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, visit the DFS website.