Broward firefighters wear pink for breast cancer awareness

Firefighters to wear pink uniform shirts while on duty in October

BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – You may see firefighters across Broward County wearing pink this month in support of breast cancer awareness.

The International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4321 is holding its Passionately Pink campaign to support Breast Cancer Awareness month at Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue.

Sheriff Scott Israel and Fire Chief Anthony Stravino are authorizing firefighters to wear pink uniform shirts while on duty during the month of October to benefit the IAFF Charitable Foundation and Susan G. Komen for the Cure, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office.

"Firefighters are motivated to get involved for many reasons and often it's because they have been personally affected in some way by the disease," Israel said. "We are supporting all cancer awareness and prevention by encouraging others to give so that no cancer patient goes without life-saving treatments or having hope for a cure."

Firefighters exposed to carcinogens and other chemicals while on the job are disproportionately diagnosed with breast cancer, deputies said.

With 1 in 8 women diagnosed each year, an estimated 232,340 new cases of breast cancer and 39,620 deaths were estimated in 2013, according to BSO. Among all women affected, 85 percent have no prior family history.

Deputies said everyone is at risk for breast cancer, and the two most important risk factors are being female and getting older. Most women diagnosed with breast cancer have no other known factors.

To help reduce your risk, be sure to maintain a healthy weight, eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, exercise and limit alcohol consumption, deputies said.