February 18, 2020
9/11-Related Cancer Statistics
The tragedy of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 affected anyone who was present at what came to be known as “Ground Zero” in Lower Manhattan. Whether they were at the site on that day or in the many months that followed – first responders, residents, employees, students, teachers, and many others – unfortunately became ill. And the sad diagnosis of many of those exposed, at any time over the almost 20 years since the attacks, was cancer.
Many people. Many types of cancer.
Thousands of 9/11 responders and downtown residents and workers have died from one or more forms of cancer. Many more are attempting to adapt and live with their diagnoses, however difficult and painful. And there are still a great many people who may be sick but have not felt any symptoms or signs of being ill. The statistics of those who have or may be diagnosed with a 9/11-related cancer – of which there are more than 70 currently confirmed types – are staggering.
Thousands are at risk.
Adriana Diaz of CBS News – who attended school in the vicinity of the attacks – reported that 400,000 people were exposed to toxins at Ground Zero. As of September 2019, there were 98,330 people registered with the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP). And this number continues to rise, because one grim certainty is the number of as yet undiagnosed cases of 9/11-related cancer in the first responders or those who lived, worked, or went to school in Lower Manhattan on 9/11 or during the year after.
As time goes on, more 9/11-related cancer diagnoses expected.
“We are unfortunately seeing a rise in cancers,” said Dr. Michael Crane, who runs the WTCP at Mount Sinai Hospital. Dr. Crane notes that of special concern are cancers that are connected to “longer-acting and longer-duration toxins” such as asbestos. A sobering and frightening correlation to this, as noted in CNA, is that 9/11-related cancers can take upwards of between 20 and 30 years to develop. Hard to believe, but true. And above all, sad.
Latest statistics from the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF)
While most cancers are treatable, getting back to 100 percent health is not always possible. What is possible and probable is lifetime healthcare from the WTC Health Program and compensation from the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.
Every month, more and more of those downtown residents and workers learn that the WTC Health Program and the 9/11 VCF provide lifetime healthcare to these 9/11 “survivors” – in addition to the first responders. More survivors – downtown residents, workers, and students – file claims each month. Evidence of this awareness by the survivors is found in a recent report from the VCF. As of the end of January of this year, there were 54,992 eligibility claims filed for compensation – an increase of 611 claims since December 2019. Of the claims filed, 28,628 have been approved – an increase of 809 since December. Additional information on the number of claims filed, as well as dollar amount of the awards, can be found on the VCF Program Statistics.
What you need to know.
If you or a loved one was in Lower Manhattan between September 11 and May 30, 2002 – you are at risk, regardless of your reason for being downtown. The legal team at Hansen & Rosasco, LLP have been representing the 9/11 community since 2001, and know how to get your lifetime health benefits as well as ensure that you get the maximum compensation from the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.
Hansen & Rosasco, LLP can help.
Contact us today by either calling our toll-free number at 1-855-585-1399, or by visiting our website, where a live chat representative is ready to answer all your questions about 9/11 compensation at any time, day or night. There are never any up-front costs – our legal fee is a flat 10 percent of compensation only after we win a payment for our clients.
Posted under: 9/11 Cancers