Why Did 9/11 Cause Prostate Cancer?
The majority of workers and individuals near the Exposure Zone did not wear personal protective equipment in the weeks and months that followed 9/11. This has resulted in an increased risk of developing cancers, including prostate cancer.
This increased risk of prostate cancer is largely due to the toxic dust cloud that hung over Lower Manhattan in the weeks and months that followed 9/11. This dust cloud contained a mixture of 2,500 contaminants and toxins, including soot, benzene, cement, glass fibers, asbestos, and heavy metals. The air also contained dioxins from the burning and collapse of the planes and towers, as well as jet fuel. The air contained particulate matter and carcinogens at two to six times higher than normal levels.
The builders of the WTC towers coated 75 percent of the first tower with a thick layer of asbestos. When it collapsed, that asbestos filled the air. Three months after the attacks, buildings in the Exposure Zone still contained high levels of asbestos.
First responders and survivors in the Exposure Zone are also at an increased risk for developing an aggressive form of prostate cancer due to the toxins they inhaled. A study published in Molecular Cancer Research found that inhaling the toxic dust at 9/11 caused a series of cellular events, including the increase in inflammatory T-cells. This inflammation has led to an increase in aggressive prostate cancer in anyone in lower Manhattan on or during the months after 9/11, including the workers and residents who survived and the first responders.
Is Your Prostate Cancer Linked to 9/11?
In 2012, an FDNY study identified an increase in 9/11 prostate cancer in FDNY officers who worked or volunteered in the Exposure Zone after 9/11. Other studies around this same time showed that World Trade Center responders showed an overall increase in certain types of cancers – especially prostate cancer. This prompted the Administrator of the WTCHP to add prostate cancer to their growing list of WTC Health Program Covered Conditions.
A recent study from Mount Sinai School of Medicine confirms the strong link between the dust and fumes at the World Trade Center and the diagnosis of prostate cancer.
According to their study, 9/11 recovery workers and responders had an increased risk of developing cancer, including:
- 9 percent higher rate of cancer
- 41 percent higher rate of leukemia
- 25 percent higher rate of prostate cancer
- 219 percent higher rate of thyroid cancer
Because of these conclusive studies, the WTCHP considers prostate cancer linked to exposure to the 9/11 toxins. If you lived, worked, volunteered, or went to school in the Exposure Zone and received a diagnosis of prostate cancer since 2001 (even if treatment has been completed), you can qualify. You do not need to establish the link or prove that 9/11 caused your cancer — leave that to our law firm of 9/11 attorneys and professional support staff.
At Hansen & Rosasco, LLP, our 9/11 lawyers will do the legal work for you. We know the paperwork and evidence the WTCHP and VCF need to see. Our lawyers will navigate through the federal regulations and help you establish proof of presence in the Exposure Zone. We work quickly to get your WTCHP application approved and your prostate cancer certified.
After you receive WTCHP benefits, we can then see monetary compensation through the VCF. VCF cancer payouts are quickly becoming the most common 9/11 claims now that the VCF is fully funded.
Expansion of Prostate Cancer Treatment Options
While prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, it can often be treated successfully. Research indicates that first responders have a significantly greater risk of getting prostate cancer than the regular population. A recent study from Mount Sinai School of Medicine confirms the strong link between the dust and fumes at the World Trade Center and the diagnosis of prostate cancer. More than two million men in the U.S. are prostate cancer survivors.
The good news is that there are many effective treatments for prostate cancer, including surgical techniques (such as da Vinci robotic assisted surgery), proton beam radiation, high intensity-focused ultrasound (HIFU), hormone therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy (used to boost the body’s immune system to help fight off or destroy cancer cells), and drugs called angiogenesis inhibitors.
Most recently, the first line of the type 2 diabetes drug, Metformin, has been shown to increase survival rates among men with prostate cancer, among other cancers. While it does not seem to stop the initial diagnosis of prostate cancer, it may be an additional treatment to consider after diagnosis.
Prostate cancer often grows very slowly, so 9/11 first responders and survivors (especially men who are older or have other serious medical conditions) may never need any medical treatment. Instead, their doctors may recommend conservative approaches known as watchful waiting or active surveillance.
Treating Your Prostate Cancer is Costly Without Free 9/11 Benefits and Compensation
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men exposed to the 9/11 dust. Research indicates that first responders and survivors have a significantly greater risk of getting prostate cancer than the regular population. More than two million men in the U.S. are prostate cancer survivors.
The good news is that there are many effective treatments for prostate cancer, including surgical techniques (such as da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery), proton beam radiation, high intensity-focused ultrasound (HIFU), hormone therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy (used to boost the body’s immune system to help fight off or destroy cancer cells), and drugs called angiogenesis inhibitors. Most recently, studies show that the type 2 diabetes drug, Metformin, may increase survival rates among men with prostate cancer, among other cancers.
The bad news is that these techniques and treatments for prostate cancer are not cheap. According to the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the typical cost of therapy to a prostate cancer patient is $2,800/month after diagnosis. This includes surgeries, office visits, medications, and treatments. This can put struggling 9/11 survivors and their families in serious financial jeopardy. If you have out-of-pocket medical expenses, in many cases we can apply to the VCF to get you 100% reimbursed for all past medical bills, plus get all future care 100% paid, including all prescription costs for life.
Fortunately, if you are a 9/11 survivor or responder with prostate cancer, you can qualify for WTCHP free medical treatment and healthcare. You can receive this treatment at any of the qualifying seven Clinical Centers of Excellence (CCEs) located throughout New York and New Jersey. If you live outside of the area, you can still receive medical monitoring and free treatment at any clinic in the National Provider Network located throughout the United States.
In addition, studies show that the WTC attacks affected the overall health of first responders and survivors, resulting in early retirements and a decrease in overall future wages and earnings. Survivors and responders who develop prostate cancer may find that they are unable to provide for themselves and their families. This causes families to lose earnings, throwing them into dire financial hardships.
For this reason, the VCF is now fully funded. This means that 9/11 prostate cancer victims have the ability to file a claim and receive monetary compensation for their pain and suffering and any economic losses they endured. However, the sooner you file a 9/11 claim, the easier it will be to obtain the award you deserve.
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