Hansen & Rosasco, LLP

June is National Cancer Survivor Month, a time to recognize and celebrate individuals, families, and caregivers who have fought hard in their battles against cancer. If you are a cancer survivor, you know the strength it takes to rise above the many obstacles that come with diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. You also know how a cancer diagnosis can affect every aspect of your life. Fortunately, for those who have been impacted by the fallout from the September 11th terrorist attacks, there are legal options and medical and compensation resources available to help. 

People who have been diagnosed with 9/11-related cancers and illnesses may be eligible for financial compensation through the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), and for no-cost medical treatment and monitoring through the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP). A VCF attorney can help guide you through the process of filing a claim and ensuring you receive the maximum amount of compensation for your situation.

You can receive Social Security Disability and an award from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. Many people affected by the post-9/11 toxic air were caused to be disabled – due to cancer or severe breathing condition – and qualified for Social Security Disability Benefits or a Disability Pension based on their  9/11-related conditions. These same people may also qualify for an award from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF). Yes, you can receive both.

The 9/11 dust and fumes caused pancreatic cancer in downtown residents, workers, students, and first responders. In 2014, the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) formally recognized the definitive link between pancreatic cancer and exposure to the toxic fallout from the 9/11 attacks. At first, the WTCHP did not recognize the link between exposure to the 9/11 toxins and pancreatic cancer. Then in 2014, the WTCHP recognized the findings of the WTCHP Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee that 9/11 exposure is found substantially likely to be a significant factor in aggravating, contributing to, or causing the individual's pancreatic cancer. This finding made, for the first time, pancreatic cancer eligible to be certified for WTCHP treatment services as well as compensation from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) for the cancer victim or, if the person passed, to their family. 

Breast cancer is the third most common cancer caused by the 9/11 dust and fumes. The World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) reports over 2,625 cases of 9/11 caused breast cancer since that program opened in 2011. Of this total, 480 responders and 2,145 survivors – people who lived, worked, or were students in lower Manhattan between 9/11 and May 30, 2002 – were diagnosed with 9/11-related breast cancer. There are likely thousands more women (and men) who have been diagnosed with breast cancer since 2001 and do not know of the link between their presence in lower Manhattan in 2001-2002 and a diagnosed case of breast cancer, often a decade or more later. 

Early detection is key to successful treatment and a better prognosis for the thousands of  breast cancer cases that are diagnosed each year. As such, researchers have been looking for ways to improve the speed and accuracy of breast cancer screening programs, which has led to the development of artificial intelligence (AI) for breast cancer detection. Also called computer-assisted detection, this AI-driven technology has the potential to revolutionize the way breast cancer is detected and treated, leading to higher breast cancer detection rates, earlier diagnosis and improved outcomes for breast cancer patients. 

September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) payouts can range between tens of thousands of dollars and $250,000 or more. With such a substantial award, planning for the future with your VCF award money is essential to ensure you protect your future quality of life and maximize the value of your award. Dissipation risks, future medical expenses, and income replacement should all be taken into consideration when planning for your VCF award money. 

Approximately 25,000 children were living or going to school in lower Manhattan on the day of the 9/11 attacks. The lasting health effects of this exposure on New York City’s (NYC) students – from physical illnesses to mental health issues – are still being felt by students of all ages who were present in or around the World Trade Center (WTC). This includes the area of Manhattan that is south of Houston Street and a large part of Brooklyn Heights. 

Over 500,000 individuals were exposed to toxic air in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC) on September 11th, 2001. Many have gotten sick and have received lifetime healthcare through the World Trade Center Health Program and also compensation from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF). The majority of those who were exposed to the 9/11 dust – by living, working, or going to school in lower Manhattan on 9/11 and the many months afterward – are, thankfully, not sick. 

One of the many concerning effects of the 9/11 terrorist attacks is its impact on the gastrointestinal system. Inhaling or ingesting the substances found in the 9/11 dust can cause a variety of gastrointestinal issues ranging from cancer of the digestive system (including colon and rectum), mouth, tongue, esophageal, and stomach cancer to serious non-cancer conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), Barrett’s esophagus and similar conditions. 

The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) takes at least 17 months to decide a claim and make an award. This 17-month wait for a decision is after a fully completed claim is submitted, including the certification letter issued by the World Trade Center Health Program. In addition, if a claim is not fully submitted correctly, the VCF will likely either simply deny the claim and award no compensation or there will be lengthy delays (in some cases, many years) before a claim is decided.