“Make sure you have support from loved ones, family and/or friends. You don't have to fight this alone.”
—Tina Guiler, lieutenant, Miami-Dade, FL, Fire Rescue
Tina Guiler is a lieutenant for Miami-Dade County, FL, Fire Rescue. She began her career in 1999 as a firefighter, became a paramedic within three years and later earned driver-engineer. After 18 years in operations, Guiler obtained the bid position of lieutenant fire inspector. She is the CEO of Triple F (Fierce Female Firefighters).
How did you react when your cancer was diagnosed?
I was at work in 2018 when I got the call that I had breast cancer. I was waiting for this call, and my coworkers knew that. I was on the phone with the doctor, and I didn’t even hear what he said after, “You have cancer.” My mind just froze. So, I walked back to my coworkers, and I simply just looked at them and shook my head, and they knew. They didn’t even know what to say. I called my chief and went home immediately.
My mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer just one year prior to my diagnosis. I was taking care of her and my two elderly grandparents. I thought, “How am I going to take care of them now?” I was scared.
I called my mom on my drive home and just said, “It’s cancer, Mom.” We both cried as I drove. I became numb all over and didn’t know if I would survive cancer. It was the scariest moment in my life. So much uncertainty.
How did your cancer journey play out?
Three weeks after my diagnosis, I started chemo, which lasted five months. The first week I thought that I was going to die. I was in so much pain that just lying in bed was excruciating. My bones hurt, like I was being crushed. I said to my mom, “I can’t do this. I want to stop chemo.” She was going through chemo herself and told me, “Don’t worry, you will get through it. I will be here to help you. If I can do it at 75, you can do it at 48.”
I got through chemo, and I was still working all through my treatment. I was a fire inspector. I then had a double mastectomy and needed to recover for three months completely off of work. I had a couple complications. I got through that, then I had to get radiation every day for 28 days straight. After the radiation, I was cancer-free. I had beat the odds and beat cancer!
What’s the most significant part of the journey?
Having my mom by my side fighting cancer together. I also had my friends and coworkers sit with me every single chemo treatment. That really helped me.
What advice do you have for women firefighters?
Get mammograms and ultrasounds every year. It will save your life. I waited three years, and I wouldn’t be here now if I waited longer.
I would also say, please, wear your mask even on dumpster fires or any kind of fire, for that matter. Also, wipe your skin off immediately on scene to get the soot off. Take a shower immediately at the fire station after a fire, and change your uniform. If you need to take your dirty gear and dirty uniforms with you in your car, keep all of it in a container.
Get your bunker gear washed the same day if you have an extra pair. If not, wash it the next day. Don’t wear your dirty bunker gear inside your truck. Wash your helmet off. Don’t keep soot on anything.
What’s your advice for women firefighters who have cancer?
Make sure you have support from loved ones, family and/or friends. You don’t have to fight this alone. And make sure you get multiple opinions from different doctors about your cancer diagnosis/treatments.
Join cancer support groups on Facebook. I run a private group called Triple F–Fierce Female Firefighter: 6,500 female firefighters from around the world can support you through your journey. Every woman has to show a photo ID to get in. It’s a very safe place for us to talk about anything.
I also started a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity for women in the fire and EMS services who are battling occupational cancers and on-the-job injuries. You can apply for a grant at TripleFFoundation.org.
