In October 2003, Fire Lieutenant Bob Kilduff wrote the following:
My name is Bob Kilduff. I have been a Boston firefighters for 34 years. Were it not for some help from above, marvelous medical people and dumb luck, I would be well on my way to an early death due to occupational cancer. I am telling my story in the hope that another brother or sister firefighter will not have to share my experiences,
Like many of you reading this, I only went to the doctor when hurt. You know the drill: burns, cuts, smoke inhalation and the many orthopedic injuries that come part and parcel with our job. For reasons unknown, the thoughts of retirement age prompted me in May of 2003 to get my first physical exam in 30 years. I felt the best I had in years and the test results bore this out. All was well. The doc however advised that I have a colonoscopy due to my age. Not really thrilled, I acquiesced The procedure was a piece of cake however, the test revealed a large tumor in my colon that needed to be addressed. Twenty days later, a section of my colon was removed. I had to undergo a six month chemotherapy program which could have been avoided with early detection. It now appears that my cancer is in remission and the doctors predict these procedures will help save my life.
The issue here is why go to the doctor and learn you’re very sick when you can go earlier and keep from getting very sick. I have learned the hard way that you must act prudently if you want to see your grandkids grow, have the chance to retire, golf, fish, hunt or whatever. If you don’t have regular medical checkups your odds of enjoying a long life are greatly diminished. Early detection of cancer is paramount in successful treatment. This will allow you to do what you want to do - and not what your doctor will allow you to do.
It is my hope that my writing will leave the job a little bit better than I found it and saving just one life will be worth the time involved. I ask that you take a few minutes to examine the efforts you’re taking to help keep yourself healthy. Think for a moment about my experiences over the past ten months and take the action necessary to help you avoid my fate.
Remember .... DON’T BE ME!
Fire Lieutenant Bob Kilduff lost his five-year battle with cancer on March 13, 2008.
He was 60 years old.