Screening, Surgery, Recovery

Peter Lennon, 45, was climbing castles in Scotland with his family and found himself lagging behind. It was odd. Walking around and being on his feet all day shouldn’t have been a problem.

As the Fire Marshal for the city of Manchester, New Hampshire, work keeps Lennon active with code enforcement, reviewing plans, public education, and fire investigations for every incident in the city. He’s held the position for 18 years, and also serves as a police officer in the neighboring town of Auburn.

For over a year, Lennon was experiencing fatigue and other symptoms, including restless legs that would keep him up at night. “I just thought it was my age, life over 40,” he said. He tried more exercise, cutting out alcohol, and taking vitamins, but he still wasn’t feeling like himself. 

In May 2023, the Local 856 firefighter’s union and the City of Manchester launched the city’s first free cancer screening program for the fire department. Organized by Dartmouth Health and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, this screening—along with a tumor removal surgery performed by Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinic Manchester's Jeffrey R. Harnsberger, MD—saved Lennon's life.

Risk and reward 

Growing up, Lennon’s family was involved with the community, and thanks to a stepbrother who was a fire chief, he spent a lot of time at the local fire station. From firefighter, to fire inspector, and now Fire Marshal, Lennon has dedicated his life to keeping people safe.

“Like anything in emergency services, we're reactive to what's going on that day,” he said. A good day is quiet. But those are rare. The adrenaline rush of calls, and the camaraderie among his colleagues is deeply rewarding, despite the risks that come with the job.

According to the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), firefighters are at a higher risk for cancer than the general population. Exposure to chemicals, toxins, and other carcinogens from clothing, furniture, and flooring puts them at risk, causing 65 percent of line-of-duty deaths each year—highlighting the need for PPE, personal protective equipment, and thorough decontamination after every fire.

On the first day of the new screening program, almost 200 firefighters and fire officials were shepherded through a low-dose CT lung scan and dermatology screening at Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester. “We figured that somebody was gonna have a positive finding from this. I didn't think it was gonna be me,” Lennon said.

A grim diagnosis

After the screening, Lennon was sent for a follow-up appointment, which included blood tests and a colonoscopy. While two polyps were removed in-office, Lennon also had a tumor that would require surgery. He was quickly referred to Harnsberger, Colon and Rectal Surgeon, at Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester.

You can go and get another opinion, Lennon recalls Harnsberger saying, but my opinion is going to be to take out the tumor and make it better. 

Lennon knew that time was of the essence: Harnsberger said that if this wasn’t taken care of immediately, the tumor could grow, and he’d only have three or four years to live. “I don't like to think about it,” said Colleen, Lennon’s wife. Together, they have an 11 and a 7-year-old daughter, as well as two older daughters from previous marriages.

Surgery was scheduled for October 20, and the time leading up to it was stressful. In addition to Colleen and his daughters, Lennon was also thinking about his father. “He’s a very important person in my life,” Lennon said. “It was very, very hard to tell him.” 

A few years back, the family lost Lennon’s sister to the opioid crisis. “My father had to bury his daughter. I didn't want to have him bury his son too,” he said.      

Finding a way forward

Lennon’s surgery took place on a Friday, and he was supposed to be in the hospital for a week. “The next morning I was eating breakfast,” he said. “I pushed myself probably a little bit more than I should have.” 

In addition to the tumor, Harnsberger removed a foot of colon, around 25 lymph nodes, and Lennon’s appendix as an extra precaution. He also spent time on Lennon’s spleen. “The surgery was longer than usual, but more thorough. I do feel very confident that Dr. Harnsberger got everything,” Lennon said.

The nurses, including Jenna Noone, RN, BSN, were incredible, he said. He wanted the catheter out, he got the catheter out. He wanted to walk, and he walked; down the hospital hallway, determined to move forward.

“He was determined to just be home,” Colleen said, and she was focused on making it as comfortable as possible. Two days later on Sunday, he was home. “I just remember losing it when I walked in the house. I didn't think I was going to be home again,” Lennon said.

Six weeks later, Lennon had a second homecoming, when he decided to go back to work. His colleagues welcomed him and offered support: with check-ins, rides, and heparin shots necessary in post-op care. Lennon knew that he’d be back: he made it his mission. “I really wanted to retire when I was ready to retire. Not because of a sickness or injury,” he said.

Now, he sees it as his role to be an advocate for preventative care and screenings like this. “This program is so important to the fire service,” he said. “People are going to be given another chance.”

Another chance for family, life, work, and adventure—including an upcoming one across the pond. “We're gonna do round two in Scotland this year,” Lennon said. He might even climb a castle or two.