Barry Brady Act-Covered Cancers

The act is legislation that provides that when the State of Tennessee, any municipal corporation, or other political subdivision of the state maintains a fire department that has established or establishes any form of compensation to be paid to firefighters for any condition of impairment of health that results in the loss of life or personal injury in the line of duty or course of employment, there is a presumption that any condition or impairment of health of firefighters caused by the forms of cancers covered by this statue, that results in hospitalization, medical treatment or disability, has arisen out of employment, unless the contrary is shown by competent medical evidence. 

The act covers the following cancers:

• Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (2019)
• Colon cancer (2019)
• Skin cancer (2019)
• Multiple Myeloma cancer (2019)
• Leukemia cancer (Added 2022)
• Testicular cancer (Added 2022)
• Breast cancer (Added 2025)
• Pancreatic cancer (Added 2025)
• Prostate cancer (Added 2025)

The act further states that any such condition or impairment of health that results in death is presumed to be a loss of life in the line of duty, to have arisen out of employment, and to have been in the actual discharge of the duties of the firefighter’s position, unless the contrary is shown by a physician board-certified in oncology. Secondary employment and/or lifestyle habits may be considered when determining whether a firefighter is eligible for the presumption.