“Decon, decon, decon! Be sure to, at minimum, gross decontaminate after every working fire you are involved in.”
—Brad Blakeney, Firefighter III/field technician, Cobb County, GA, Fire & Emergency Services
Brad Blakeney is a firefighter and field technician with Cobb County, GA, Fire & Emergency Services. He has been a firefighter for 12 years. Blakeney is a member of the department’s peer support team and its cancer committee. As a lead volunteer organizer for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, he co-hosts an annual head-shaving event to raise money to help to prevent childhood cancer. Previously, Blakeney was a police officer for 13 years in Cobb County and is an Air Force veteran.
How did you learn that you had cancer?
In spring of 2014, I began to experience intermittent severe headaches in the occipital region of my head. This was unusual for me, as I very rarely have headaches at all. At first, I thought they might have been caused due to elevation (my wife and I were in the mountains) or change in barometric pressure due to the change in seasons.
I regularly see a chiropractor and continued to do so in case [the headaches] were a matter of spinal misalignment. After numerous weeks of adjustment, my chiropractor advised me that my alignment was better than it had ever been. He asked me what I thought the next step would be. I told him I thought an MRI would be in order. He agreed and set me up with my neurosurgeon. I was then scheduled for an office visit on June 13, 2014.
During the MRI, a lesion was discovered on the left cerebellum of my brain. My neighbor had taken me to my appointment due to the fact that I had another headache that morning. I was scheduled for surgery 10 days later.
Upon resection of the tumor, it was sent off to the Mayo Clinic for diagnosis, and it was discovered to be medulloblastoma, a malignant brain tumor. My doctor was able to remove the tumor in its entirety. By God’s grace, the tumor was completely encapsulated and hadn’t grown into any tissue.
What was your reaction when you discovered that you had brain cancer?
Upon hearing the news from the doctor, my mind started to shut down. The next morning when I woke up and realized what I was dealing with and it was something out of my control, I placed it all in God’s hands and had faith that He would get me through it.
How did your cancer journey play out?
After surgery, I spent 10 days in a top-level neuro-ICU for recovery. I had a cerebrospinal fluid shunt in my head to allow swelling to go down. I was then scheduled for a strict regimen of radiation therapy to begin six weeks post-op. During radiation therapy, I had to be strapped face down on a table for approximately 30 minutes per treatment. This type of therapy is known as CyberKnife. Six weeks after completing radiation therapy, I began a nine-month chemotherapy regime.
What was the most significant part of the journey?
The support my family and I received from friends, family and my fire service family. While in the hospital, I had visits from multiple crews from the department, including high-ranking members of the command staff. The department took great care of me during my recovery, allowing me to work light duty to continue to fully provide for my family. All of this showed me that the Brotherhood is real. A true blessing!
I also am blessed to be married to the most wonderful woman, the love of my life, my rock, who supported me throughout my entire experience. Her name is Amy. She never left my side the entire time I was in the hospital. She actually stayed all 10 days I was in the hospital. We have been married now for 23 years, and my son, Carter, has just entered U.S. Air Force–Basic Military Training. He was 12 at the time this all started.
My faith in God is also huge for my mental welfare, knowing He obviously has bigger plans for me.
What do you want firefighters to know about cancer?
Decon, decon, decon! Be sure to, at minimum, gross decontaminate after every working fire you are involved in.
Cancer is no joke, and prevention is the best way to avoid contracting cancer.
Healthy habits and being physically fit is also a huge contributor in the prevention of cancer.
Dirty gear is no longer a symbol of being a “salty” firefighter. It is a potential death sentence.
