Latest news with #SteveDorsey
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Firefighter Shares 'Benign' Symptom He Noticed Before Stage 4 Cancer Diagnosis, Says He Felt 'Shock, Disbelief, Anger'
A firefighter in Baltimore has shared the apparently innocuous symptoms he experienced before being diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer on Valentine's Day Steve Dorsey, 56, told the New York Post that his swallowing issues were 'very benign," but that his health issues "progressively just started getting worse, where it was very difficult to eat anything, basically, without regurgitating it back up" "You go through all those different stages of shock, disbelief, anger," he previously told WMAR 2 News of his reaction to the diagnosisA firefighter in Baltimore is speaking out about the "benign" symptom he noticed before he was diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer. Steve Dorsey — who has worked for the Baltimore City Fire Department (BCFD) for 21 years, following in his father and grandfather's footsteps — learned of his diagnosis on Valentine's Day of this year, local ABC-affiliated station WMAR 2 News previously confirmed. While speaking to the New York Post, the 56-year-old, who is currently on medical leave while undergoing chemotherapy, revealed some of the symptoms he noticed before the diagnosis, which also confirmed the disease had spread to his lymph nodes and liver. The firefighter, who is part of BCFD's Engine 57 team in Curtis Bay, said everything had been fine health-wise until he started to have some trouble swallowing in January, per The Post. He told the outlet his issues were 'very benign' at first, and sometimes he'd have to have a drink to help wash food down. 'It progressively just started getting worse, where it was very difficult to eat anything, basically, without regurgitating it back up,' Dorsey said, per the publication. Subsequent tests revealed masses in his lower esophagus, lymph nodes and liver, The Post noted. The outlet reported that Dorsey underwent routine check-ups every six months, and high blood pressure was his only concern before his diagnosis. Per the Mayo Clinic, "Esophageal cancer is a growth of cells that starts in the esophagus. The esophagus is a long, hollow tube that runs from the throat to the stomach. The esophagus helps move swallowed food from the back of the throat to the stomach to be digested." "Esophageal cancer makes up about 1 [percent] of all cancers diagnosed in the United States, but it is much more common in other parts of the world, such as Iran, northern China, India, and southern Africa," the American Cancer Society noted. Father-of-four Dorsey told The Post that his Baltimore City Fire Department colleagues had been 'nothing but just outstanding and supportive. The love that I've gotten out of them has been amazing.' The BCFD Engine 57 Facebook page has been promoting two local upcoming fundraisers to help raise money for Dorsey's treatment, as well as previously launching a GoFundMe page. Dorsey began chemotherapy in March and is expected to have treatment until June, The Post stated. 'I will have a follow-up CT scan done to see what the tumors look like,' he said. "We're hopeful that they've shrunk down, and if the chemotherapy and immunotherapies are successful in that, then we'll just keep moving forward with that.' He told the publication that his medical leave will eventually turn into medical retirement. 'I didn't expect it to happen this early or happen this way,' he said, but insisted, 'It's been a great ride.' Dorsey's comments come after he told WMAR 2 News about his reaction to the diagnosis in March. "You go through all those different stages of shock, disbelief, anger, and then you kind of accept it a little bit, but then you get angry again, so," he said. According to the Firefighter Cancer Support Network website, "Firefighters have a 62 percent higher risk of getting esophageal cancer, and they have a 39 percent increased risk of dying from esophageal cancer," citing National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH) research. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "There are tests that can be done that are pre-cancer tests. There are other fire departments that do that for their members. Baltimore City does not offer that to us at this time," Dorsey previously told WMAR 2 News. "I would most definitely encourage my coworkers in Baltimore City and other firefighters in other places to talk to their doctor and go get tested," he added to the outlet. The GoFundMe page set up to raise money amid Dorsey's diagnosis had raised over $9,700 as of Thursday, May 22. PEOPLE has reached out to the BCFD for a comment but did not immediately hear back. Read the original article on People
New York Post
22-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Firefighter battling Stage 4 cancer had 'very benign' symptom
Baltimore firefighter Steve Dorsey had the worst Valentine's Day — but he's feeling the love now. Dorsey, 56, was diagnosed on Feb. 14 with Stage 4 esophageal cancer that spread to his lymph nodes and liver. 9 Baltimore firefighter Steve Dorsey, 56, was diagnosed on Valentine's Day with Stage 4 esophageal cancer that spread to his lymph nodes and liver. Courtesy of Baltimore firefighter Steve Dorsey The 21-year department veteran is on medical leave, undergoing chemotherapy in the hopes of shrinking his tumors, as his colleagues rally around him. 'My co-workers in the Baltimore City Fire Department have been nothing but just outstanding and supportive,' Dorsey told The Post. 'The love that I've gotten out of them has been amazing.' Esophageal cancer is an aggressive, deadly cancer often caught in advanced stages. The five-year survival rate is low — especially for Stage 4 patients. Dorsey is sharing his story to encourage first responders to be proactive about their health. The father of four is also trying to get fire departments nationwide to offer Lucid Diagnostics' EsoGuard DNA test to detect abnormal esophageal cells before they progress to cancer. 'My mission is to bring awareness to esophageal cancer [since firefighters have a] 63% higher [risk] than the general population. It's right there with testicular cancer and mesothelioma,' Dorsey said. 'And also bring awareness, too, that there is testing available.' 9 Esophageal cancer is an aggressive, deadly cancer often caught in advanced stages. The five-year survival rate is low — especially for Stage 4 patients. Courtesy of Baltimore firefighter Steve Dorsey Dorsey said he underwent routine check-ups every six months, with high blood pressure his only concern. Everything was fine until January, when he started to have trouble swallowing. The difficulties were 'very benign' at first — sometimes he'd have to drink some fluids to wash the food down. 'It progressively just started getting worse, where it was very difficult to eat anything, basically, without regurgitating it back up,' Dorsey recalled. 9 Dorsey joined the fire department in 2004, becoming a pump operator assigned to Engine 57 in Curtis Bay. Courtesy of Baltimore firefighter Steve Dorsey A series of tests revealed masses in his lower esophagus, lymph nodes and liver. Chemotherapy began in March and is expected to last into June. 'I will have a follow-up CT scan done to see what the tumors look like,' Dorsey shared. 'We're hopeful that they've shrunk down, and if the chemotherapy and immunotherapies are successful in that, then we'll just keep moving forward with that.' 9 Though he's on medical leave, Dorsey often returns to the firehouse to visit with his colleagues. Courtesy of Baltimore firefighter Steve Dorsey In the meantime, Dorsey has been making regular trips to the firehouse to see his pals. The longtime pump operator, assigned to Engine 57 in Curtis Bay, misses the camaraderie. In one recent visit, he was the first to back a new firetruck into the firehouse, a symbolic tradition in the fire service. 'Firefighting is one of those jobs where you absolutely love the job,' Dorsey said. 'I like to say being a firefighter in Baltimore city is the best job in the world and probably one of the worst places you can do it.' 9 'It's been a great ride,' Dorsey said while reflecting on his 21-year career. Courtesy of Baltimore firefighter Steve Dorsey Dorsey is a third-generation Baltimore firefighter. He had long dreamed of being on the front lines and decided to go for it at 35 as his oldest son graduated from high school. While he knew about the physical dangers, he wished there was a better understanding of the long-term health risks when he joined the department in 2004. Firefighters endure toxic chemicals, smoke, extreme heat and loud noise while saving lives, raising their risk of post-traumatic stress disorder, heart disease, respiratory illnesses and certain types of cancer. 9 Dorsey is a third-generation Baltimore firefighter. He had long dreamed of being on the front lines and decided to go for it at 35 as his oldest son graduated from high school. Courtesy of Baltimore firefighter Steve Dorsey Beyond battling blazes, Dorsey said he was constantly exposed to diesel exhaust at the firehouse due to inadequate ventilation. Even his protective gear exacerbated the problem. 'When I came to the fire department in 2004, firefighters were only issued one set of turnout gear,' he said, noting that dirty gear used to be a badge of honor. 'Changes have been made over the years. We've been issued a second set of turnout gear — the coat and the pants — and so after a fire, we actually send those in and they get laundered, and we switch into our second set of gear.' 9 Dorsey's turnout gear used to be a badge of honor, but it likely exacerbated his cancer risk. Courtesy of Baltimore firefighter Steve Dorsey A spokesperson for the Baltimore fire department did not return a Post request for comment. Dorsey said the city recently agreed that his cancer is a line-of-duty illness. Esophageal cancer is a relatively rare cancer, accounting for only 1% of all cancer cases in the US. The Firefighter Cancer Support Network reports that firefighters have a 39% increased risk of dying from esophageal cancer. 9 Dorsey is a father of four and grandfather of five (pictured here). Courtesy of Baltimore firefighter Steve Dorsey Lucid Diagnostics, headquartered in Manhattan, hopes to catch the cancer before it develops. EsoGuard is a non-invasive test that uses a swallowable capsule to collect cells from the lower esophagus for analysis. The test, which launched commercially in 2019, looks for genetic markers associated with Barrett's esophagus (esophageal precancer) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (cancer). 'A lot of fire departments across the country are partnering with EsoGuard to offer this testing to their members. Baltimore city was not one,' Dorsey said. 9 Dorsey is trying to get fire departments nationwide to offer Lucid Diagnostics' EsoGuard DNA test to detect abnormal esophageal cells before they progress to cancer. Lucid said it has screened over 10,000 firefighters. In New York, it's held small events with the FDNY. 'We have been engaging with the 9/11 WTC foundation to add this as a covered benefit, but do not currently have an active policy,' Lucid told The Post. 'We remain optimistic that the clinicians see the value for this high-risk group and we'll be able to fully implement it at the NYC WTC in the coming months.' As he spreads awareness about the importance of cancer screenings, Dorsey is being celebrated by his community for his impact and resilience. Two fundraisers have been set for the summer to help pay Dorsey's medical expenses. Over $9,700 has been raised via GoFundMe. Eventually, his sick leave will turn into medical retirement. The grandfather of five had planned to retire in six or seven years — not like this. 'I didn't expect it to happen this early or happen this way,' Dorsey said. But as he reflected on his career, he noted that, 'It's been a great ride.'
