VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia Beach firefighters are joining the effort to Crush Cancer. Did you know that firefighter occupational cancer is the leading cause of line-of-duty death in the fire service? 10 On Your Side has reported stories on local firefighters battling cancer and some losing that battle, which is all the more reason to join the fight to crush cancer. For Max Gonano, local president of the Virginia Beach International Association of Fire Fighters, it’s really simple. “It’s all about prevention. Right? And surveillance," Gonano said. "So if we can prevent someone from getting cancer, that’s going to be job number one.” Over the years, 10 On Your Side has profiled efforts by firefighters to bring attention to early detection of cancer the number one way to crush cancer before it’s too late. “We want to catch it as early as possible because we know that’s going to make a better outcome," Ganano said. "I mean, that’s the best thing you could do for cancer is catch it early." Catch it early. 10 on Your Side has reported on Virginia Beach’s screening programs to catch cancer. “In 2021, we did the ultrasound screening," Ganano said. "We've done that test again in 2023. We've also done an esophageal cancer screening.” Gonano said firefighters are 62% more likely to be diagnosed with esophageal cancer. In November 2023 Fire Captain Josh Xenakis had a thyroidectomy when they removed 14 lymph Nodes and one was cancerous, “Early preventive measures, gallery tests that we did through our department and things like that are very, very advantageous for us. We've caught quite a few, I feel, and gave the guys, a fighting chance at beating their cancers.” According to the Fire Department, every fire they go into there are 140 different carcinogens. Captain Alex Lane also had a full thyroidectomy. 30 lymph Nodes taken out of the neck, and 7 came back positive. He is now tested every six months. Capt. Lane on why thyroid cancer is so prevalent with firefighters, “The thyroid is probably our most exposed area. We wear that flash around our neck, and the flash hood sits around our neck, sometimes the dirty side of it is exposed. I think as a department we do a pretty good job of deconning our gear after fires.” Bringing awareness is one reason Crush Cancer is putting the Spotlight on the Virginia Beach Fire Fighter Community. Think about this: Due to their exposures encountered in their work environment the International Agency for Research on Cancer, reclassified firefighting as a group 1 carcinogen, “For that reason, it’s so important that we have aggressive screening guidelines for firefighters because the normal medical guidelines are simply not sufficient to protect us,” Gonano said. Personal accounts of cancer It began in the fall of 2021. Virginia Beach Fire Captain Josh Xenakis and Captain Alex Lane took part in a union-offered ultrasound screening. Both came back with nodules on the thyroid. Xenakis sought medical attention. He’s told he is young, healthy, nothing to worry about. “I was content with my doctor telling me, we’ll monitor every six months," Xenakis said. "I didn’t think there was too much to it. We'll just monitor. If Alex hadn’t come in and told me about, I would never have known, at least not at that time.” That is when Lane was talking about his medical ordeal when he got diagnosed. “The nodule was identified and my doctor kind of blew it off," Lane said, "and then after Capt. [Matt] Cheverotti was diagnosed, that was a warning sign.” Also, in August 2021, Cheverotti would be diagnosed with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, a rare, highly aggressive malignant tumor. Sadly, Chevy, as he was known, died. Chevy’s situation was a wakeup call for the department. “It was a call to action, to look out for yourself, and those around you,” Lane said. “My wife said, look, let's get this thing looked at again. So I went back to my doctor, got another ultrasound. Then they ordered a biopsy, as well, that came back as cancer. It was medullary thyroid cancer. …Then they referred me over where I had surgery and had a total thyroidectomy with 30 lymph nodes taken out of the left side of my neck — seven of those cancerous.” In both cases, it does not appear the cancer has spread. Back to Xenakis, he’s watching Lane's case unfold. “His stories are just about exactly like mine," Xenakis said. "It really wasn't a big deal to anybody. And that's what forced me to go back in and get a biopsy.” Xenakis found out in July 2023 that his thyroid had to come out. “I had a complete thyroidectomy in November of 2023, and that was it," Xenakis said. "Luckily, everything was contained to my thyroid. They took out 14 lymph nodes and took out my whole thyroid. And that was, that was that — one was cancerous.” Virginia Beach Master Firefighter Matt Gallina is not so fortunate, and is now in the advanced stages of esophageal cancer. Both Xenakis and Lane think about both “Matts” a lot, and they give you these reminders. “If you get an abnormal test result, follow up on it, read into it, and be your own advocate," Xenakis said. "You've got to turn every rock over because if you don't, one small error can create a fatal mistake down the road.” Said Lane: “I don't think the doctors understand the greater risk that we're in. So, with our job, with all the carcinogens that we're exposed to.” Xenakis said that "you got to make sure you go home at the end of your shift, and you don't want the silent killer to come get you.” And that's the reason, Xenakis said, to be a part of Crush Cancer. “And so, this does bring awareness," Xenakis said, "and I think it's good for guys that have gone through that ordeal to get out and speak to the other individuals that are in their organization.” More information 10 On Your Side will be at the Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. We have 31 teams signed up so far, and it's growing. Learn more about Crush Cancer here. You can sign up to join the battle to Crush Cancer here.