Lawrence firefighters receive free cancer screenings [Video]

And because of what they’re exposed to, firefighters are twice as likely to develop certain types of cancer than the rest of us.

That’s why several local groups came together Tuesday to offer free cancer screenings for the entire Lawrence Fire Department.

The city partnered with Community Health Network and a company called GRAIL to give a Galleri test. It’s a blood test that can detect more than 50 types of cancer in the early stages.

The increased risk for these men and women is due to exposure to smoke, soot and other chemicals during fires. 

Eighty-three of the city’s 100 firefighters got the test Tuesday.

“They’re exposed to carcinogens, things like that which is just a day at the office for them which John Q. Citizen isn’t exposed to, …