I always knew firefighting was a dangerous occupation
From the Editor
Dr. Schwarzenberger is the former physician editor of DermWorld.
By Kathryn Schwarzenberger, MD, FAAD, March 1, 2023
I grew up in a very small town where firemen, all of whom were volunteers from the community, were called to action with a very loud siren that would pierce the quiet of the night. Our house shared the same block as the firehouse, so I knew when they were called to action, and I watched the big trucks leaving and returning to the firehouse. It seemed like such an exciting role and while I then realized that there were dangers involved in their work, it wasn’t until recently that I learned that firefighters face potentially even greater risks than being caught in a burning building. In the line of duty, firefighters are exposed to a significant number of toxins that increase their risk of many types of cancer, including melanoma.
One of our AAD colleagues, Dr. Christine Kannler, tragically became aware of this association after losing her young firefighter brother to esophageal cancer. Since that time, she has devoted considerable time and effort providing skin cancer education and screenings to firefighters in her region and beyond. Her dream is to help minimize some of these cancer risks and hopefully save firefighter lives. I’m sure you will find her story inspiring and, perhaps you will consider setting up a similar screening in your community. (The AAD can help with their SPOT Skin CancerTM program!) Unfortunately, firefighters are not alone in their occupational risk of skin cancer; other workers, including airline crew members and those with military service, are also at higher risk of skin cancers from their work-related chemical and/or ultraviolet radiation exposures. Taking an occupational history has never been more important to help us identify our patients who may warrant a closer and more frequent look at their skin!
Where there’s a will there’s a way…and where there is no will, there will be lawyers. Or something like that. Estate planning is probably not on anyone’s top 10 list of favorite things to do, but given that all of us worked very hard to get where we are, it seems important for us to have a say in what happens to our assets when we are gone. This is especially important for those of us with children who would need care should the unthinkable happen to us. Hopefully, you have all addressed your estate planning at this point, but we have spoken with several experts who offer a few tips that you might not have considered. Obviously, everyone’s situation is unique, so I encourage you to think about your and your family’s needs and find someone who can help ensure that your planning is up to date and complete. As hard as it is to do, it’s actually quite a comfort to have it done.
March is always one of my favorite months, not just because the dark nights are finally getting shorter, and the songbirds are back and singing once again. Of course, I’m talking about the AAD Annual Meeting! I was somewhat amazed when I recently realized that other than the very few years missed because of work obligations, a pesky virus, and delivering a child, I have attended close to 30 Annual Meetings. And I have truly enjoyed every one of them. It is my springtime renewal ritual, where I go to convene with friends and exhaustedly return full of new ideas and energy for the coming year. I am very much looking forward to seeing many of you in New Orleans this year. Laissez les bon temps rouler!
