Guidelines
Call for Participation: Canadian Guidelines for Cancer Detection in Firefighters – NEW
We invite applicants to express their interest in taking part in the development of Canadian Guidelines and Resources for Cancer Detection in Firefighters (CAN-CDF).
About the CAN-CDF Project
Firefighters face an elevated risk of cancer due to occupational exposure to fires, smoke, and hazardous materials encountered in the line of duty. Cancer is now the leading cause of death among firefighters in Canada according to worker’s compensation claims data. Through this project, we aim to better protect firefighters by developing evidence-based guidance and resources for cancer detection in firefighters.
The CAN-CDF project is led by the McMaster Cochrane Canada and GRADE Centres and funded by Health Canada. The project will develop evidence-based guidelines and tools to support cancer detection for firefighters, who face a higher risk of cancer due to their work. Recommendations and resources will be tailored for Canada’s healthcare and fire sectors. With your participation, we can better protect firefighters by improving their cancer care, strengthen healthcare professional training and practice, improve awareness of firefighter-specific cancer risks, and support informed decision-making between patients and healthcare providers across Canada. Read more about the project: here.
Who can apply?
We will need experts in various areas across the different groups. If you have expertise in or experience with any of the following, consider applying:
• Firefighters (of all types, including career and volunteer, wildland, etc.)
• Firefighter patient representatives currently experiencing, or having experienced cancer
• Individuals and families currently caring, or having cared, for firefighters experiencing cancer
• Primary care and family medicine
• Oncology
• Cancer screening and diagnosis (including program managers and policymakers)
• Epidemiology
• Health economics
• Health equity
• Guideline development methods
What groups can I apply to participate in and what are the role expectations?
You can apply to participate on the Guideline Development Group, Expert Advisory Group, Equity Advisory Group, and Knowledge Mobilization group to supporting the project. To learn more about the group roles, time commitment, and eligibility criteria review the call document: here.
Where can I complete the form?
You, or someone you wish to nominate from your organization, can apply by completing the participation form: here.
What is the deadline to apply?
We kindly ask that you respond by the end of day on February 26, 2026.
Selected participants will be invited to attend a hybrid (online and in-person) project kick-off meeting planned for March 2026, taking place in Toronto, Ontario. Applications and selection of participants for the project groups will continue to be reviewed after the kick-off meeting.
Launching New Guidelines for Cancer Detection in Firefighters
The Canadian Guidelines and Resources for Cancer Detection in Firefighters (CAN-CDF) will produce the first national evidence-based recommendations for cancer detection in firefighters.
Funded by Health Canada and led by the McMaster University Cochrane Canada and GRADE Centres, the project launching in 2026 will: 1) develop living recommendations addressing multiple cancer types relevant to the firefighting profession, 2) produce and disseminate information sheets and tools on how to use the recommendations, and explainer videos for use by health care providers and firefighters, and 3) evaluate the uptake of the recommendations and these tools.
Guideline Process and Timelines
| Year 1 | - Define priority topics and questions for recommendations - Select guideline panel and form working groups - Consult interest holders and develop and disseminate materials to raise project awareness - Project kick-off meeting |
| Year 2 | - Conduct systematic reviews on cancer detection - Continued consultation with interest holder groups - Develop ‘living’ recommendations |
| Year 3 | - Maintain and update living recommendations as needed - Develop knowledge translation tools (plain language recommendations, decision aids, training materials) - Disseminate guidelines through continuing medical education, webinars, and outreach |
| Year 4 | - Update living recommendations and finalize the guidelines - Evaluate guideline uptake and use of knowledge translation tools |
Stay Up to Date!
Join the McMaster Cochrane Canada GRADE Centre newsletter (here) to receive project updates, including an upcoming call for participation to join advisory groups, provide input on the development of recommendations in 2026-2027, and learn about available tools and resources as they are released.
