Brotherhood, Rewritten — A Documentary by Malinda Baum

A Tattered Memories Productions Film

brotherhood, rewritten

Same fires. Both got cancer. One survived, one is dying. Both need to be heard.

A Feature Documentary  |  Director: Malinda Baum

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The Story

written out of
the brotherhood

Set in Texas, Brotherhood, Rewritten braids together Malinda's own story as a former firefighter and breast cancer survivor with the lived realities of current women firefighters, Lt. Suzanne LaFollette's denied claim, and the perspectives of union leaders, legal experts, and researchers.

The film uses one powerful case—that of Austin Fire Lt. Suzanne LaFollette, a 19-year veteran with stage-4 gynecologic cancer whose workers' compensation claim was denied because her cancers are not on the state's presumptive list—as a lens on a larger national problem.

Women face the same carcinogenic smoke, the same toxins, the same calls. But when they get sick, the laws meant to protect firefighters fail them—because those laws were written as if firefighters were all men.

~9% of U.S. firefighters are women
Roughly 89,600 women serve in fire departments across the country
1 in 5 women firefighters
In a global survey had a cancer diagnosis—a staggering rate that demands attention
11 cancers presumed job-related in Texas
Zero are female reproductive cancers—not ovarian, not uterine, not cervical
"A disease of life"
That's how Lt. LaFollette's stage-4 cancer was classified—not as an occupational disease
The Human Cost

the human cost

If a man in this department develops testicular cancer, the law assumes it's from the job. If a woman develops uterine or ovarian cancer, she often has to fight the system while fighting for her life.

lt. suzanne lafollette

For 19 years, Lt. Suzanne LaFollette answered every call, entered every burning structure, breathed in every toxin alongside her colleagues at the Austin Fire Department. When she was diagnosed with stage-4 gynecologic cancer, she filed for workers' compensation—the same protection any male firefighter with a presumed cancer would receive.

Her claim was denied. The cancers ravaging her body were not on Texas's presumptive list. In the eyes of the law, her cancer was a "disease of life"—not a consequence of two decades of occupational exposure. Her case became the catalyst for this film.

the filmmaker's fight

Director Malinda Baum knows this story from the inside. She was the first woman in her fire department—a trailblazer who proved herself on every call. Then she developed breast cancer, a disease with well-documented links to the carcinogenic exposures firefighters face daily.

Her cancer ended her firefighting career, but it ignited a new mission. Brotherhood, Rewritten is not just a documentary she's directing—it's a story she's lived. Her lens carries the authority of experience and the urgency of someone who knows that this fight cannot wait.

The Evidence

the carcinogenic truth

The science is clear. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies firefighting as a Group 1 carcinogenic occupation—the highest classification, shared with asbestos and tobacco. Yet the laws designed to protect firefighters from the cancers caused by their work were written around a male disease profile.

Group 1 Carcinogen

Firefighting is classified by IARC alongside asbestos and tobacco as a known carcinogenic occupation. Every call carries exposure risk.

Toxic Exposures

Benzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and combustion by-products are linked to breast and reproductive cancers in peer-reviewed research.

Written for Men

Presumptive cancer laws in many states were built around male disease profiles—excluding the very cancers that women firefighters develop from identical exposures.

the gap, by the numbers

the map of neglect

Most people assume that if the science says firefighting causes cancer, the law protects the firefighter. It does — for some of them. According to the IAFF State Presumptive Disability Laws Chart (January 2024), the majority of states have written presumptive cancer laws that reflect a fire service built entirely around men. Female firefighters — roughly 9% of the force — are largely invisible in those laws.

20/50
states cover breast cancer
Some with age caps & genetic exclusions
7/50
states cover cervical cancer
Despite a 500% higher risk in female firefighters
6/50
states cover ovarian cancer
Covered at the federal level — most states silent
11+
states have zero coverage
No protection for any female reproductive cancer
the fine print

Montana covers breast cancer.

But only if you are diagnosed before age 40 — and have no genetic predispositions.

The average age of breast cancer diagnosis is 62.

No state places an age cap on prostate cancer.
No state excludes a genetic predisposition for testicular cancer.

This is not a data problem. It is a choice.

states with significant restrictions on female cancer coverage

state cancer restriction
Montana Breast cancer Diagnosed before age 40 only; no genetic predispositions (BRCA etc.)
Montana Cervical cancer Requires 15 years of service — testicular cancer requires only 10
Arkansas Breast & Cervical Death benefits only — no treatment or disability coverage
Kentucky Breast & Cervical Death benefits only — no treatment or disability coverage
Delaware Breast & Cervical Supplemental program only — not workers' compensation
Georgia Breast & Cervical Supplemental program only — not workers' compensation
Mississippi Breast Supplemental program only — not workers' compensation
Connecticut Breast & Ovarian Supplemental program only — not workers' compensation

Source: IAFF State Presumptive Disability Laws Chart, January 2024

Texas is one of at least 11 states with zero coverage for any female reproductive cancer. HB 1639 — signed into law June 2025 — mandates the first formal study on cancer incidence in female firefighters. Results are due September 1, 2026. The data is coming. The fight is not over.

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Get Involved

take action

01

write to your senator

HB 1639 is law. The study results arrive September 2026. Your senator needs to hear from you now — before that data lands and before the next session begins.

02

share the film

Every person who sees this story is a potential advocate. Share Brotherhood, Rewritten with fire service families, healthcare workers, and anyone who believes the law should protect everyone it sends into harm's way.

03

support the film

This film is being made independently, by a former firefighter who lived this story. Your support makes it possible to tell it.

take action

write to your senator

HB 1639 is law. The study results arrive September 2026. Your senator needs to hear from you now — before that data lands and before the next session begins. It takes less than two minutes.

step 1 — find your senator
step 2 — your information
Your information is used only to personalize the letter. It is not stored or shared.
step 3 — your letter
Subject: HB 1639 Study Results — Please Act to Protect Female Firefighters in Texas
You can edit the letter above to add your own voice. If your email client doesn't open automatically, use the copy button instead.
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20 of 50
states cover breast cancer
7 of 50
states cover cervical cancer
Sept. 2026
study results due
The data is coming. The fight is not over.
the crew

the team behind the film

malinda baum

director / producer

Documentary filmmaker and former firefighter. The first woman in her department, she developed breast cancer that ended her career and ignited this mission.

benny cartagena

crew

Bringing essential on-the-ground production expertise to tell this story with authenticity and impact.

justin ripple

crew

Contributing key creative and technical skills to bring the vision of Brotherhood, Rewritten to life.

david savary

crew

Supporting production with dedication and craft to ensure the film meets its full potential.

fatima calles

crew

Adding vital perspective and production support to the team as the documentary takes shape.

confirmed access

the voices in the film

These firefighters and fire service leaders have confirmed their participation in Brotherhood, Rewritten — bringing their stories, their authority, and their commitment to change.

lt. suzanne lafollette

austin fire department — 19 years of service
✓ confirmed on-camera

Stage 4 gynecologic cancer. Workers' comp denied. HB 1639 advocate. Her case is the catalyst for this film.

vanessa frost

health & fitness coordinator — pflugerville fire department
✓ confirmed on-camera

Bringing the perspective of health advocacy and wellness within the fire service to the documentary.

chief nick perkins

pflugerville fire department
✓ confirmed

Fire service leadership supporting the mission to protect all firefighters under presumptive cancer laws.

chief billy wusterhausen

leander fire department
✓ confirmed

Standing with the women who stand for their communities — adding command-level credibility to the call for change.

About the Director

malinda baum

Malinda Baum is a documentary filmmaker and former firefighter. She was the first woman in her department and developed breast cancer that ended her career.

This film is her story—and the story of every woman firefighter who has been told her body doesn't fit the system. Through Brotherhood, Rewritten, she's turning lived experience into a call for justice that reaches far beyond any single firehouse or state line.

Tattered Memories Productions