July 13, 2012 – IAFF members in Oregon have won an important victory in a work-related testicular cancer case. The Administrate Law Judge Review Panel ruled in favor of Tualatin Valley Local 1660 fire fighter Steve Fisher in a workers' compensation case in which the insurance company, SAIF, failed to rebut the presumption that Fisher's testicular cancer resulted from his employment as a fire fighter.

Dr. Francesca Litow, occupational medicine specialist and former IAFF occupational medicine resident, successfully refuted the claims made by physicians testifying on behalf of SAIF by providing the Review Panel a thorough and convincing testimony on Fisher's behalf.

“This was our first cancer case under our presumptive legislation, and our first appeal to the workers' compensation board,” says Kelly Bach, president of the Oregon State Fire Fighters Council (OSFFC). "We are grateful and proud of the IAFF’s and Dr. Litow’s assistance, without which Brother Fisher would not have been awarded his just benefit.” Fisher, an advocate for fire fighter cancer issues, says, “I wanted to have this case publicized in hopes that it will help other members in Oregon and throughout the IAFF.”

Based on a systemic review of the medical literature on fire fighter exposures to carcinogens and the medical literature concerning the relationship between fire fighting and testicular cancer, Dr. Litow illustrated to the Review Panel that the weight of evidence in this case supported Fisher’s claim that his cancer was a result of his occupation as a fire fighter. The Review Panel said Dr. Litow’s testimony was “thorough, well explained, and persuasive” and “demonstrated a convincing breadth of knowledge on both the medical literature and the claimant’s specific employment activities.”

“These wins will provide the peace of mind to all fire fighters who each day in the performance of their duties are exposed to potentially carcinogenic agents,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. "The IAFF and our Medical Residency Program will continue to assist of our members with such precedent-setting cases.” Schaitberger congratulates the efforts of OSFFC President Bach and the leadership of Tualatin Valley Local 1660. "This was an extremely important victory for our member, Steve Fisher, as well as all fire fighters and their families across the United States and Canada."