NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — There has been a dramatic increase in the number of 9/11 rescuers and responders with cancer in the past year, according to a published report.
The New York Post says that Mount Sinai Hospital’s World Trade Center Health Program reported 1,140 cancer cases last year. Now the number is up to more than 2,500.
Among the cancers being diagnosed at a much higher rate than the general population: prostate cancer, thyroid cancer, leukemia and multiple myeloma.
The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund is expected to receive more claims by the Oct. 14 deadline. So far, there are 1,145 claims listing cancer.
Over 2,500 Ground Zero Workers Have Cancer – It’s A Much Higher Figure Than The Normal Population
Originally published at the Huffington Post UK on 7/28/2014
The heroes of 9/11 – those that rushed in to help on the day the Twin Towers were demolished – are paying a high price for their selfless work.
“In its latest tally, the World Trade Center Health Program at Mount Sinai Hospital counts 1,655 responders with cancer among the 37,000 cops, hard hats, sanitation workers, other city employees and volunteers it monitors.”
Epidemiologists said studies show that 9/11 workers have developed some cancers at a significantly higher rate than the normal population — including prostate, thyroid, leukemia and multiple myeloma.
Why is this the case, however?
Ground Zero was a mixture of debris that rescuers breathed in, at a time when the priority was helping people and getting them out of the situation.
“But to establish a link between such exposures and cancer requires actually observing more documented cases of cancer among responders than would have been expected had they not breathed in the toxins.”
One such hero, a retired FDNY captain, 63, was chose not to be named, worked non-stop for a week at Ground Zero and developed inoperable pancreatic cancer and lung disease.
“I knew that day that a lot of us would get sick,” he said to The Post.
See related:
9/11 first responders outraged over exclusion of cancer from Zadroga health act
9/11 Hero Dies of Cancer on Christmas Day – FDNY says cancer was 9/11-related
