A new bill working its way through the North Carolina General Assembly would expand death benefits for firefighters diagnosed with cancer.
Currently, state law only provides benefits for firefighters diagnosed with one of six specific types of cancer, Mesothelioma, Testicular cancer, Cancer of the small intestine, Esophageal cancer, Oral cavity cancer, and Pharynx cancer.
House Bill 97, which recently passed its first reading, would add stomach cancer to the list of covered cancers, WFMY reports.
While this is a step forward, some firefighters say, they argue that all cancers should be covered, given the high risks they face in their line of work.
Travis Magaha, with the North Carolina Firefighter Cancer Alliance, also highlighted the importance of funding for preventive measures, such as cancer screenings, to address the root of the problem.
House Bill 97 now moves to a committee for further review.
