Believe…

in prayer.

Brett Mattson

As of 2021, I have been a firefighter/paramedic with the Chino Valley Fire District in Chino, California, for thirteen years. I am also a Haz-Mat Specialist and a member of the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team.

In July 2019, I was diagnosed with rare spindle cell melanoma (SCM), Stage 4. My radiation oncologist told me I had maybe one year to live. I was only 37 years old at the time of my diagnosis.

I was working on shift and felt immense back pain, which my doctors and I thought was orthopedic in nature. I underwent spine surgery to correct the issue, and that is when my cancer was discovered. In addition to surgery, I underwent immunotherapy treatment at the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, CA, and radiation therapy at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, CA.

Through much prayer, excellent doctors, medical treatment, and determination, I was in full remission only five months later. I’m now back to work full-time and continue with follow-up care.

Because of my experience and the help from the Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) throughout my diagnosis and treatment, I am now both a mentor and a Department Liaison for the FCSN.