Michael Dubron is a firefighter/paramedic assigned to Air Operations with the Los Angeles County Fire Department. He's also a cancer survivor, and founder and president of the Firefighter Cancer Support Network.

Tell us a little about the network.

The Firefighter Cancer Support Network is a volunteer network of fire department personnel who are cancer survivors and who are willing to share their personal experiences and provide comfort, strength and hope to those diagnosed with cancer. It's in place to serve fire department members and their immediate family who are faced with the challenging and often terrifying diagnosis of cancer.

What was the genesis for the network?

In 2003, at the age of 39, I was diagnosed with rectal cancer. I considered myself lucky — not from the standpoint of the diagnosis, of course, but lucky because I had friends, other firefighters I knew who had beaten other forms of cancer already. The fire service is such a close, family-type organization, that the day I was diagnosed, I had four co-workers at my house within 20 minutes.

In my case, the original diagnosis was not very favorable. I was given one to three years to live. The issue of mortality really hits you, and there is such a wide range of emotions you go through. Anger, disbelief and confusion consumed me. But I found my greatest comfort was being able to call on those individuals I knew in the fire service who had already experienced the battle with cancer because they were truly able to empathize with me.

As my HMO was lining up a pretty grim treatment plan of radiation, chemotherapy and surgery that would leave me with a colostomy, I was doing additional research and came across the colorectal cancer center at USC — Norris. I went there and was most fortunate to meet a surgeon who, as it turned out, pioneered a surgical technique that could be performed on me. The surgery was performed and the outcome was such that not only did I not need radiation or chemotherapy … and even the colostomy wasn't required.

I was off work for nine months after that. And while I was recovering, of course I felt this great sense of relief — going from one to three years to live to a 90% cure bracket — but I just kept thinking, “Why am I so lucky?” And when I'd go in for my check-ups, I'd see all these less-fortunate people, and I'd have this really weird feeling. I just felt this very strong need to give something back.

I got to thinking how lucky I had been to find other firefighters who were cancer survivors, and it hit me: Why should it be a case of having to be lucky? Why can't there be a program so that if a firefighter or someone in his or her family is diagnosed with cancer, they can make a phone call or go to a Web site and find support? They shouldn't have to be lucky or go searching for help.

What were your initial steps?

At first I was thinking just of L.A. County Fire, but there are a host of departments in the area, and I couldn't see turning anyone down, so there was no geographic limit. I just started putting out the word personally, and then through the department, that I was setting up this firefighter cancer support network, and if someone wanted to participate, to come to the next meeting.

The first meeting was held in September of 2005, and things have just grown from there.

What about other cancer support networks? How does the Firefighter Cancer Support Network fit in with them?

Obviously there are many, from the American Cancer Society and the Lance Armstrong Foundation to the many local programs. And they are great, great programs. But what I thought was important about this program, is that firefighters, these can-do men and women who fight fires, who answer 911 calls, and who do all they do, don't really know how to “knock on the door” to ask for help — or at least don't feel comfortable doing it. That's how I had felt, but one firefighter can just about always talk to another firefighter about anything, no matter where they each live or work. I thought that this program could help people knock on the door, be there for them, and open the doors to those other great organizations as well. What I tell people is “We're trying to put as many good tools in your cancer treatment ‘toolbox’ as possible.”

If readers are interested in learning more, what should they do?

They can visit the network's Web site at www.firefightercancersupport.org, they can e-mail me at mikedubron@firefightercancersupport.org, or they can call toll-free 866-994-3276.