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Bill Helps Oregon Firefighters Get Cancer Coverage

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Published: Feb 16, 2009 8:48 pm

On Tuesday, a bill was passed by the Oregon House that would establish some cancers, including multiple myeloma, as job-related for firefighters.  Under state compensation law, the bill will require cities in Oregon to cover cancer treatment for firefighters.

Even though firefighters wear protective gear, they are still exposed to many carcinogens each time they enter a burning building.

Thus, the bill requires coverage of 12 types of cancer: brain, colon, stomach, testicular, prostate, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, throat, mouth, rectal, breast, and leukemia. Furthermore, it delegates cities with the task of proving that the cancer is not work-related.

The Oregon House sent Bill 2420 to the Oregon Senate in a 55-1 vote.

For more information, please visit the Oregon Legislature press release.

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