CANCER ADVOCACY IN THE NEWS!
3/27/2024- 23 years later, those exposed to 9/11 continue to feel the health repercussions of toxin and toxicants from the historical urban disaster. More than the 343 firefighters who perished during that fated time, we continue to find cases in the rescue and responder service, contracting the many types of illnesses from this horrendous response call. 13x Emmy Award winning reporter Marvin Scott covers the EARLY DETECTION program as he interviews Dr. Robert Bard (Cancer Imaging Radiologist) and Ret. FF and 9/11 responder Sal Banchitta. Dr. Bard presents his state-of-the-art imaging innovations to provide firefighters with some of the most advanced scanning solutions. "There are many tools out there that patients should know about... I'm pretty fortunate to have access to Dr. Bard and his program for advanced screening and I tell all my fellow firefighters about 'Getting Checked NOW!" (See video)

"COUSIN SAL" GOES WHOLE-BODY MRI
8/8/2023- Ret. FDNY Sal Banchitta signs in to experience his Whole Body MRI from Prenuvo, NYC- a state of the art imaging company founded out of Vancouver, Canada. As one of the founding cancer awareness producers of NYCRA (NY Cancer Resource Alliance0 and F.A.C.E.S. (Firefighters Against Cancers & Exposures), Mr. Banchitta gladly accepted the invitation to receive this complete body scan as part of his pursuits of a base line for future scans and a preventative measure against cancer. "My mission alongside my fellow advocates is to learn about the latest modalities in diagnostics and treatment to bring awareness about cancer resources to the rescue community", says Sal. Prenuvo’s cutting-edge whole-body scans are based on 10+ years of clinical work while curating the biggest data set of whole-body MRI scans in the world. Unlike conventional MRIs, which take hours and often involve contrast injections, Prenuvo scans for 500+ conditions, including most solid tumors which can be detected as early as stage 1, in addition to aneurysms, cysts, and more –- all without radiation, in under an hour.

REVISITING "SALSCAN"- VISIONARIES IN COLLABORATION

10/2021- Over a year and a half into the ever-lingering Coronavirus pandemic, radiologists and medical imaging technicians worldwide have embraced the hand-held portable scanners to conduct LUNGSCANNING in triage units and Covid ICU's. But in the darkest recesses of pandemic problem-solving, teams of unsung heroes have pioneered innovative ideas in patient care protocols by boldly exploring out-of-the-box methods with whatever materials we have available.

Around April of 2020 (when NYC was at the peak of the national surge), our own COUSIN SAL tested POSITIVE for Covid-19 infection. NYCRA director Lennard Gettz assembled a clinical team starting with Dr. Robert Bard (cancer imaging specialist) and leading ultrasound tech advisors to build what turned out to be an innovative experiment in point of care safety and remote covid scanning. (see TeleMedScans.com). With the generous support of Alice Chiang, CEO of TERASON ULTRASOUND, a complete imaging package including the top-of-the line 3200T model with wifi-access and multiple probes was shipped to Cousin Sal's quarantine site. The concept was to remotely TRAIN him to scan himself via Zoom Video conferencing, remotely access the scanned files of Sal's vital organs (to the medical overreader, Dr. Bard) and to maintain a daily monitoring regimen of his lungs, heart, liver and kidneys. The concept of entering someone's quarantine site digitally, using our current remote communication tools is a smart implementation of technology- and stands as a logical model for delivering care to any infectious facility.

As Cousin Sal remains fit and healthy today, overcoming his symptoms from May of 2020, this remote scanning paradigm remains one for the textbooks today and are highly regarded as one of the Covid era's earliest successful response-driven collaborations between clinicians, technologists and patient. (see complete feature)

 


FEATURED IN MOVEMBER'S 2021 BARBER CHAIR SERIES

Time does not heal all wounds; to survive the painful ones, it is up to find positive and even productive ways to contain them. 20 years later, Ground Zero continues to burn significant emotions stemmed from the major loss of life to the ‘sucker punch’ on our country and the countless traumatic images that will never be forgotten. The fire service trained us with tools to manage many of them, but no one was ever prepared for the sensory effects of that day. Depending on whom you ask, everyone carries their own version of 9/11 and no two are ever going to be exactly the same.Speaking for myself and fellow ex-responders, visiting the museum and that entire area continues to carry a permanent weight of distress. Unlike the many tourists and museum visitors who give their version of respect to such a beautiful memorial, we continue to LIVE with it as sacred burial ground of our own, and in many ways, of a part of ourselves.

• See Sal's complete MOVEMBER interview
Check out full VIDEO
Also see followup article @ AUTHORITY MAGAZINE

Also, learn more about Movember's Veterans and First Responders Mental Health Grant Program and other mental health resources.


ADVOCACY: A RESCUE CALL FOR ALL MY FELLOW RESPONDERS

My name is Sal Banchitta- aka- Cousin Sal. I've had an incredible 30+ year career in the NY Fire Department, what so many of considered to be the best job in the world. There is no other profession that even comes close to the rewards of being a city firefighter. We were the first and last line of defense to protect this great city from any catastrophe and aligned with a special family of the most unique and remarkable men and women is truly the ultimate blessing.

So many of us will back me on this; there is no such thing as a RETIRED FIREFIGHTER. The very spirit to make a difference as a first responder is a calling that stays with all of us until our last day. We are 'built' to stand watch for any threats to our community and be at the ready to do what needs to be done to restore safety and normalcy to the lives of our neighbors. One of many such examples is 9/11- where so many old-timers and active responders from all over the country raced to New York City at a moment's notice to unite with our fellow rescuers. Seeing our city in peril was an instant call to run to the scene without any hesitation and stand next to our fellow rescuers to work and sacrifice everything all over again.

20/20- REVISING THE RESCUERS CODE
A retired rescue worker from ground zero once told me "...we used to live by the rule that first responders should give care to all others -- but it's time we understand how to take care our ourselves too!" After enough grey hair and doctors appoointments, age finally gave way to insight and perspective when it comes to looking out for my own health. Where terms like PREVENTION and LONGEVITY finally made their way to "life-after-the-FD", I have acquired a new appeciation for awareness, education and research as far as health issues (and cancers) that loom over responders who exposed themselves to toxins on the job.

If hindsight is 20/20, history has a great way of teaching us the most important lessons- and defining the next steps in our immediate future! The many lives lost in disasters like wars and fires seem to result in a battery of revolutionary adjustments to our policies and processes. Out of the 1975 NY Tel Exchange fire (for example) where 699 responders lost their lives to cancer, the big take-away from this disaster was to bump up safety equipment for all firefighters- including HAZMAT scanning and protection. We recognized that modern construction materials and the many industrial advances (like the prevalence of plastics in so many applications) emitted so many deadly toxins and carcinogens to anyone exposed when set ablaze.

HEALTH EDUCATION ADVOCATE

I lerned another major lesson in all over this- that CANCER IS SNEAKY. In many cases, this disease actually HIDES- and in even more cases stays DORMANT (like a terrorist "sleeper cell"). Cancers can be time-based, and when it finally comes out, you rarely get a warning until it's too late. For the average firefighter (where most of us think we are Superman), GETTING CHECKED is not always at the top of our list of things to do. Delaying checkups is one of the main causes for cancer malignancy which is why docs always say "the sooner you get it checked, the better the likelihood of killing the cancer!" Today, because of enough disasters and educational programs, I am glad to see that we are finally changing our tune about our own safety. But my job is just getting started. I hope to reach more people through the internet and through streaming videos to get the word out!

THE MOST PRECIOUS GIFT
"Life is the most precious gift of all... including the undying love and support from our families, our friends and the entire community at large --reminding us that ours was a job worth doing! Rescuers risk everything for the continuance of all this... for everyone and for ourselves!" Sal Banchitta's contributions to the First Responders Cancer Resource shows his heart is still in the right place for the society of firefighters -both retired and active. He finds a major need for this advocacy "for the 'under-informed', those in denial or anyone negligent about the need for proactive health checkups".

Since day one, he (alongside his band of fellow responders) took on every call -completely aware of the OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS that came with this line of work. Meanwhile, the true battle that any retired rescuer faces from any job-related toxic exposure is the looming concern for the many possible unknowns, including time-released cancers, prostate/lung and liver disorders, heart diseases and strokes (just to name a few).

TECHNOLOGY CATCHES UP TO MORTALITY RATES
It is this level of awakening that drew him to commit to sharing this vital information with his fellow rescuers, both retired and on active duty. His passion to learn about job related cancers also covered learning about ALL innovations, advancements in lab and genetic testing, diagnostic technologies and facilities available to track, monitor, treat and prevent cancers. “In the fight against cancer, education is job #1… we need to be smart about this disease and to make better decisions about all the options available. (Also see: (article) An Upgrade in Post-9/11 First Responders Cancer Screening and (article)"Patient-Friendly" Advancement in Early Cancer Detection)

WHAT'S NEW ABOUT PSA... EVERYTHING ELSE!
PSA Tests seem to remain as the gold standard in any institutional checkups- including fire departments all across the country. After all, its the easiest and most affordable way to get a base line (barring its accuracy) and the insurance companies favor this. ... Getting poked 12+ times in what felt like complete guesswork was terrible experience. In the end, we found that the biopsy could have been avoided if the PSA reading gave more information, and a more accurate assessment.

As a member of a family predisposed to cancer, the stress of waiting for the biopsy, then actually undergoing the procedure thinking I MAY have have cancer or not was completely an unfair ordeal to put anyone through. Thanks to a little Google search, I took matters in my own hands and met a tumor imaging specialist who uses Doppler Ultrasound technology to scan the prostate (Dr. Robert Bard). It was easy, affordable, accurate and provided real-time answers in minutes. The radiologist found the spot and identified a pre-cancerous tumor, but not one that demanded heavy concern- and certainly not a biopsy. He later taught me about other diagnostic options like AI powered MRI's and the new liquid biopsies that are now available to (someday) replace the PSA test. (See complete article@ Modern Diagnostic News)

GENERATIONS OF RESCUE SERVICE!
Meet ELIZABETH - my greatest achievement in life! It's not uncommon for the drive for rescue service to continue down the family line. Ever since she was a baby, she always loved to visit me at the fire house and get on the fire trucks- not knowing she was planning her future right then and there. Today, Liz is a New York State certified EMT-B in a Suffolk County L.I. Fire Dept. She is also a recent graduate with honors of Farmingdale State College and is on her way to Med School! (what a Brain!) She is also a current volunteer in the NY Cancer Resource Alliance as a columnist and an assistant editor of the educational awareness quarterly magazine-The Journal of Modern Healing.
(SEE: Complete article on ASTHMA and other 9/11 Toxins)


OUTSMARTING CANCER WITH SELF-AWARENESS
Once you do enough Google-searching (especially key words like "CANCER PREVENTION", "STAY IN REMISSION"), you'll learn how to come up with a simple plan to keep cancer away- or increase the likelihood of beating cancer with the comprehensive Early Detection & Prevention plan. In each case, much can be done to prevent the current stage. The first step is to GET MORE FAMILIAR WITH YOURSELF.

• Be aware of your genetic lineage: risk of cancer increases upon heredity. The first place to look is within your own dna or family history. Many cancers tend to travel down generations. It can also have the tendency to skip one generation and appear in the next one.

• Periodic Checking of your body for any anomalies like lumps, bumps, discolored bruises or growths. Self-checking is the first base. Also stay on top of unusual feelings like frequent headaches, unique pains and strains- anything that feels out of the ordinary. Take nothing for granted when it comes to your body.

• Know your environment: Many health issues are known to be caused by environmental toxins. Where you sleep, eat and work could be affecting how you feel later. Some health hazards are fairly visible and apparent while others may need some historical research in your area where there may have been potential chemical wastes or spills in the past. If you know of such issues, further research, demographic studies, protective measures and targeted checkups may be your next step.

ADDITIONAL LINKS: IDENTIFICATION OF WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEM AND HOW TO BOOST IT

What do you know about the 1975 NY TEL EXCHANGE FIRE? Listen to Gary Stemm's experiences in "The Fire Still Burns" - a mini-series of interviews about surviving first responders from historical events. They describe their firsthand experiences and share their thoughts about safety and health and concerns about all first responders. This episode highlights the devastation of the 1975 NY Tel Exchange Fire, a disastrous event where 700+ firefighters responded to one of the largest fires in NYC history which ended in tragedy due to the toxic nature of this deadly fire. • See Video Pilot

A HISTORY IN PHOTOS: SEE CHIEF BOB CHECCO'S FD ARCHIVES
Looking back at the massive collection of photos in his personal vault, Chief Bob Checco assembled this priceless treasure trove of experiences, stories and photographic portraits about many of the retired firefighters of New York in one globally-accessible set of galleries (see: www.FDPixGallery.com). Thanks to his remarkable memory for the many names and faces in this tremendous collection of never-before-published photos, we can finally enjoy coursing through the generations of FD history as far back as his 'probie' years when he snapped that first shot in 1958. This is Chief Checco's gift to the surviving members of the FDNY and their families. Visit his photo archives at: www.FDPixGallery.com

LEARN ABOUT BURNS... AND SMARTER WAYS TO READ THEM
MRI's and X-rays are still photos. They're very helpful in checking what's under the skin, but still pictures do not tell the full story. Join the modern age of imaging technology with REAL-TIME scanning power. Real-time scanning performs more like a video camera allowing a true action scan power for faster searching, monitoring and tracking. Get the full story in true motion from moving tumors and foreign bodies like splinters and shattered glass particles-- plus the ability to study the blood flow of the injury! See BurnScan site

THE AFTERMATH: VISITING THE GROUNDS
12/3/2019- You could never remove all the disturbing emotions and images from your mind. We called it THE PILE- a simplified name for something short of the largest crime scene and HAZMAT case in history. September 11, 2001, I was front and center of all that- and today, the entire area has been completely transformed into a polished memorial and a museum. As with any memorial, it makes you think a lot and reminiss about the historical impact. But for the many responders, it's still about the toxic smells, the dust, the heat and the pain that comes with my tour of duty. I guess time heals wounds differently for all of us. (Coming soon- "Rescue Memoirs")

BACK ON THE JOB - 'A LA YOUTUBE'
Since we started our public education program about rescue safety, it was just a matter of time before our producers decided to go national with streaming video. This year, the creative directors of Modern Healing news and the Rightwriters Studios are developing CousinSal-TV! Soon, you'll get to meet my "mini-me" as one of the studio hosts of the first responders health program! We've got some of the top FF community leaders and safety experts sharing some of the most important topics in wellness and prevention to bring your health and longevity back on the front burner. 10-4!


FIRST RESPONDERS HEALTH AWARENESS PROGRAM
Recently in the news, they're talking a lot about asbestos and asbestos-related cancers due to 9/11 exposure because when the Twin Towers collapsed, all the asbestos that was in there for insulation was aerosolized. And when you breathe that stuff in, in small particles that have been micronized from the explosion and compression phenomena, when those particles get lodged in the lungs, the body doesn't have a good way to excrete it. Because lung tissue (unlike liver tissue for example) heals by scarring and not regeneration, when the lungs are exposed to chronic irritants that the body can't get rid of, chronic inflammation and irritation ultimately leads to the death of lung cells called pneumocytes. That area of damage causes bronchiectasis and scar tissue formation which can lead to COPD and the diseases associated with that including cardiovascular problems and death. (SEE: Complete article on ASTHMA and other 9/11 Toxins)

 


"GET CHECKED NOW!" HEALTH SPEAKER SERIES
I've been on the road with cancer speakers like Dr. Jesse Stoff and Dr. Robert Bard from NYCRA since 2018. Together, we produced many videos for social media and visited firehouses and FD member meetings where we would present about prevention and early detection. This year, we've got some new names and faces to add to our mission including Dr. Noelle Cutter (Cancer Researcher and Professor of Molloy College), Darryl Vandermark (HAZMAT Chief) and Cheri Ambrose (cofounder of MBCC). Together, we aim to cover new ground in public awareness about cancer- everything from what's going on in the news like current statistics, resources and the latest innovations. This is where we really make a difference in the community! Check us out at HEALTHSCANNYC.org

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