San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation

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San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation

SFFCPF helps to detect and prevent cancer, and get access to experts for active and retired FF.

08/25/2026

On August 14, the City of San Francisco officially dedicated Tony Stefani Way alongside San Francisco Fire Station 1, honoring retired SFFD Captain and SFFCPF Founder Tony Stefani.

The location carries special meaning. Tony served as Captain of Rescue 1 at Station 1, and it was during this chapter of his 28-year career that he was diagnosed with cancer in 2001.
That experience would eventually lead Tony to establish the San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation in 2006.

Twenty years later, his name now stands beside the firehouse as a recognition of a lifetime of service and the work he helped begin to address occupational cancer in the fire service.

As Tony shared at the dedication, “I want it to be a reminder to think about yourself and your health.”

07/25/2026

A cancer diagnosis can change everything in a moment.

For firefighters and their families, the first days can bring fear, uncertainty, difficult decisions, and the overwhelming question of where to turn next.

The shock of hearing the diagnosis. The weight carried by families. The challenge of finding the right specialists, understanding treatment options, and making decisions quickly.

For many, the San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation was one of the first calls they made.

Through Health Navigation, access to trusted specialists, research support, second opinions, and compassionate guidance, the Foundation helps ensure no firefighter or family has to face cancer without a path forward.

This is why the work matters: prevention, answers, advocacy, and support when it is needed most.

07/22/2026

A cancer diagnosis can bring fear, uncertainty, and more questions than answers.

No firefighter or family member should have to navigate that alone.

Through Health Navigation, we connect active and retired firefighters and their loved ones with trusted guidance, specialist referrals, resources, and support from diagnosis through treatment and beyond.

When you call, you'll speak with a member of our team who will walk you through what we offer and connect you with a navigator.

You don't have to figure this out alone.

07/15/2026

Danger does not always end when the call does.

Fireground contaminants can remain on turnouts, gloves, hoods, and helmets long after a firefighter leaves the scene. Without proper separation, those toxins can travel into vehicles, stations, and homes.

That is why the San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation is funding and distributing clean and contaminated gear bags to SFFD members.

It is a simple system with an important purpose: helping reduce cross-contamination and protecting the people firefighters go home to.

Cancer prevention continues long after the fire is out.

07/04/2026

Today, we celebrate the community that makes San Francisco strong.

That includes the firefighters who answer the call, the families who stand beside them, and the people who work every day to protect the health of those who protect us.

To the members of the San Francisco Fire Department and the loved ones who support them: thank you.

Wishing our community a safe, meaningful Independence Day.

06/21/2026

Men’s Health Week is a good reminder to stop putting off the appointment.

For firefighters, having a Primary Care Physician matters. Your doctor should understand your job, your exposures, your family history, and your screening needs.

Ask about prostate health, colon cancer screening, skin checks, annual bloodwork, and any symptoms or changes you have been ignoring.

Early detection can change the outcome.

Make the call. Book the appointment. Stay current.

06/17/2026

Firefighter safety does not stop at the scene.

It includes training, gear, exposure reduction, physical readiness, and the health checks that can help identify problems early.

During Firefighter Safety Stand Down week, we are reminding firefighters that prevention is part of readiness.

That means scheduling annual physicals. Talking to a Primary Care Physician. Staying current on cancer screenings. Paying attention to changes in your body instead of brushing them off.

The job is demanding. The exposures are real. Your long-term health deserves the same discipline you bring to every call.

06/12/2026

Firefighters train to stay ready for the job.

But readiness is not only measured in strength, endurance, or time on the stairs.

Annual physicals, cancer screenings, and having a Primary Care Physician are part of staying strong for the long run.

Book the physical. Ask the questions. Stay current.

06/09/2026

After a cancer diagnosis, the next steps can feel overwhelming.
For firefighters and their families, the road through treatment, recovery, follow-up care, and life after cancer can bring questions that are hard to answer alone.

SFFCPF’s Health Navigation program helps firefighters understand next steps, find support, and move through the process with someone in their corner.

We honor every firefighter living with cancer, every firefighter in recovery, and every family walking beside them.
You are not alone.

06/01/2026

May you now rest in Peace, Brother🙏🙏🙏..

Retired San Francisco firefighter Ken Jones left us yesterday, surrounded by his family, after a courageous battle against stage 4 lung cancer...But that was not his only battle...Ken and his wife, retired San Francisco firefighter Helen Horvath, were forced into waging a battle against Blue Shield, his city-provided insurer under a Medicare Advantage plan, after it denied coverage for immunotherapy recommended by his oncologist, UCSF Dr. Mathew Gubens, one of the top Thoracic Medical Oncolgists in the Country.
While going through treatment, Ken and his wife Helen fought to bring this injustice to light so no other individual battling this insidious disease would be denied the treatment that could possibly save their life.
His family, fellow firefighters, Assemblymember Catherine Stefani, and City leaders rallied in support, highlighting the frustrations many face with insurance denials. Ken's case has drawn widespread attention and spurred calls for greater accountability in health care for public servants.
Ken and Helen's advocacy, courage, and refusal to back down will continue to inspire our firefighting community to make positive steps forward to ensure that this injustice does not happen again.

Address

San Francisco, CA
94103

Website

https://www.sffcpf.org/

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