b'PROVIDING CANCER ANSWERS:John Johnson Turns His Diagnosis into an OpportunityB Y J E N N W O O L S O NJ ohn Johnson is a big believer in regular department physicals. Thats because they saved his life not once, but twice. In 2014sixteen years after Johnson was hired as a fire fighter with Gig Harbor Fire Departmentblood work at a routine physical came back abnormal. He was sent to a hematologist and, after additional lab work and a bone marrow biopsy, he was diagnosed with essential thrombocythemia. This rare form of leukemia, caused by a mutation on the Janus kinase 2, or JAK2, gene, can lead to blood clots and strokes. Although Johnsons platelet count was 792,000, compared to the normal 400,000, hed been experiencing no symptoms.That genetic mutation is caused by exposure to something at some point, but theyll never be able to pinpoint it exactly, Johnson says. But fortunately for him, in the state of Washington, leukemia is covered under presumptive language, so his ongoingFirefighting is a great job, Johnson says. I wouldnt change treatment, medications and doctor visits are covered. what Ive done for anything. Ive been lucky enough to have Johnson, who was promoted to assistant chief at Gig Harborcancers that are treatable. But the Firefighter Cancer Support in 2020, continued working throughout his treatment andNetwork and other organizations are trying to educate first added duties working with the Washington state affiliate of theresponders early on about cleaning your gear, whats in the Firefighter Cancer Support Network. The organization aims tosmoke and what we can do to make a better future for ourselves.provide education and information about cancer prevention toHe says that early in his career, dirty gear was kind of a badge all of the states fire academies. They also provide peer supportof honor. Not anymore. to fire fighters or family members diagnosed with cancer,At Gig Harbor, in addition to having an extra set of gear, including a toolbox of information on cancer and a calendar togross decontamination and regular professional gear cleanings, keep track of appointments. The network will deliver the toolboxJohnson also is focused on the bigger picture. His district in person if requested or mail it out and follow up with a phonerecently passed an $80 million bond to redesign some stations. call to answer questions. Johnson is part of the team redesigning the new stations to Johnsons department took a break from physicals during thebe safer, including decontamination facilities within all of height of COVID but restarted the practice in the fall of 2021. Inthe stations, updated diesel exhaust systems and negatively addition to monitoring his cancer, he knew his age indicated thatventilated bunker gear rooms.he needed a colonoscopy. And, last but not least, Johnson goes back to those He had the screening procedure, and when he woke up,lifesaving department physicals. He admits that some fire the nurse said that the doctor would like to speak to him in thefighters are hesitant to get a physical because they worry that consultation room. Thats usually not a good sign, right? heif theyre diagnosed with cancer, theyll lose their job. I am the jokes. The doctor said, Im not an oncologist, but Ive beenposter child that that will not happen, he says. Departments doing this for a long time, and you have a mass in your colon thatinvest a large amount of money in their employeeswith I think is cancer. hiring, outfitting them with gear, doing all of the training. Johnson was referred to a colorectal surgeon and was ableTheyve invested all that money in you, and they want to keep to get an appointment the next morning. Two weeks later, theyou as an employee.surgeon removed his entire ascending colon and 12 adjacentPlus, he adds, youre a human being to them.lymph nodes. The mass was indeed malignant, and because there also was cancer detected in one lymph node, his cancer was designated as stage 3B.After recovering for a few months, he started 12 rounds of chemo, finishing the last one in July 2022. Since then,Firefighter Cancer Support Networkbloodwork, a follow-up colonoscopy and a full-body CT scanAny local union or fire department interested in have all shown no signs of cancer. information or a presentation from the Firefighter Back when I started [as a fire fighter], we really had noCancer Support Network (FCSN) can put in a request education about cancer risks, Johnson says. His own personalat FCSNWA.org. Washington state is one of the knowledge was based on his dads experience. After serving asfew states where the Firefighter Cancer Support a fire fighter in the U.S. Navy, he ended up with three differentNetwork is self-sustaining through dues made to the forms of cancer.Washington State Council of Fire Fighters.29'