Texas firefighter-paramedic dies of colon cancer at 33

By Leila Merrill

FLOWER MOUND, Texas — Firefighter-paramedic G. Wade Cannon, 33, died of cancer Saturday after two years of chemotherapy, participating in clinical trials and inspiring other firefighters to undergo screenings.

The Flower Mound Fire Department announced Cannon’s passing on Sunday, saying he had occupational colon cancer. Cannon served with the department for over six years.

“Very energetic young man just starting out his career in fire service,” Capt. Tim Mackling, president of the Flower Mound Professional Firefighters Association, told NBC DFW.

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Mackling said that after being diagnosed with stage four colon cancer in September 2020, Cannon “started fighting for his life” with the help of his wife, Chelsea, other family members and fire department colleagues.

A video about his cancer battle was posted to YouTube last year.

“I have absolutely no plans on not beating this,” Cannon said in the video.

Mackling said that Cannon’s story inspired other firefighters to have cancer screenings and that two of them discovered early-stage colon cancer as a result.