Detecting Cancer Early: A Better Chance at Life
After receiving my diagnosis, I truly felt ready to fight. Staying positive means hope. Research is the key to success! Thanks to the early diagnosis of my cancer, I am still alive today.
Mario Trottier has always been in excellent physical shape. A firefighter by profession, it was in May 2025 that he noticed his first symptom. He didn’t wait long before seeing a doctor. Within a few days, the diagnosis was confirmed: stage 2 kidney cancer, a cancer directly linked to his profession. Thanks to early detection, he underwent surgery a few weeks later, without requiring any additional treatment.
Thanks to research and scientific advances, Mario underwent a complete removal of his left kidney using robotic surgery. This type of equipment is paving the way for innovative technologies in patient treatment, and he highlights the many advances made in this area.
“I have a small scar of about 4 cm near my belly button, and the recovery was very quick. I met a patient at the hospital who also had a kidney removed several years ago and didn’t have the same luck as I did. He has a 30 cm scar running from his abdomen to his back. The advances are incredible!”
Behind the Job, an Invisible Risk
Exposure to contaminants, smoke, and toxic gases throughout his career is likely the cause of his kidney cancer. This type of cancer is recognized among firefighters, which is why his illness was officially declared an occupational disease.
“Fortunately, the approach to firefighters’ health and safety has undergone a true transformation. The recognition of certain cancers directly linked to the firefighting profession marked a major turning point. Today, every response is followed by mandatory decontamination, without exception, an essential step to protect firefighters from disease.”
In fact, the Regroupement des associations des pompiers du Québec (RAPQ) is co-funding a research project with the Cancer Research Society, given the many types of cancer recognized in this profession.
Thanks to scientific discoveries about the cancer risks associated with firefighting, research is enabling us to better prevent and detect the disease earlier.