Firefighters in France are facing challenges in having their cancers recognized as occupational diseases, a concern they aim to emphasize during a planned demonstration in Paris on September 29. Mathieu, a firefighter with over 25 years of service in the Paris region, was diagnosed with kidney cancer during a routine scan in October 2025. He has been working to have his condition recognized as an occupational disease, a process he describes as both difficult and time-consuming. In 2022, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified exposure to the conditions firefighters face as carcinogenic to humans. France has made some progress in this area, recently adding mesothelioma and bladder cancer to the list of recognized occupational diseases. These now include liver cancer and throat cancer as well. Frederic Monchy, president of the National Union of Professional Firefighters and related personnel, called this development the most important social progress for firefighters in the last decade. Despite these advancements, firefighter organizations argue that France is still lagging in recognizing the full range of occupational diseases affecting the profession. A major demand from the unions is the recognition of exposure to toxic and carcinogenic agents. To push for this, the unions have organized a six-week strike and a demonstration in Paris on September 29. They emphasize that the health and safety of firefighters must become a national priority. Since January, nearly 100,000 hectares have burned in France, according to the National Forestry Office. Firefighters have been working tirelessly, often for weeks at a time, facing exposure to smoke, high temperatures, and physical strain. According to a 2019 report by the National Agency for Health Safety (Anses), these conditions can increase the risk of accidents and the development of diseases. The issue of occupational cancer has been slow to gain attention in France. In 2022, only 31 occupational disease claims from firefighters were recorded by the National Retirement Fund for Local Government Employees (CNRACL). Establishing a clear link between exposure and disease remains a major administrative challenge, according to Frederic Monchy. Firefighters like Mathieu, whose cancer is not officially recognized as occupational, face a difficult process of gathering evidence, including scientific studies and personal records of symptoms and exposure. Mathieu's experience is not unique. RIFS (Risks, Fires, Smoke, Health), an organization supporting firefighters in these cases, highlights the complexity of navigating multiple layers of decision-making. The group is pushing for the inclusion of new occupational diseases, such as colon, prostate, and testicular cancers, as well as melanoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, based on limited but existing links to professional exposure according to IARC. RIFS also stresses the need to recognize gynecological cancers, as women make up 23% of the firefighter workforce. Remy Laurens, president of RIFS, notes that it is currently impossible to determine how many firefighters have died from cancer related to their profession in France. In contrast, Canada has taken a pioneering approach by erecting a bronze statue of a firefighter pointing to a wall inscribed with the names of firefighters who died in service, including those who succumbed to cancer linked to their occupational exposure.