Hansen & Rosasco, LLP

The 9/11 attacks covered all of lower Manhattan with cancer-causing dust that was breathed in by 500,000 downtown workers, residents, students, responders, and others during the months after the attacks. In the years since, tens of thousands of those exposed to this dust have gotten sick with any number of 9/11-linked cancers, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer, blood cancer, cancer of the digestive system, and more.

Since the terrorist attacks 23 years ago, every day I represent people with claims before the federal 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. Not one has told me they have been asked about plea deals.

The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) was established to provide financial compensation to individuals who suffered physical harm or lost loved ones as a result of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. While many people are aware that the VCF exists, there are some little-known facts that can be essential knowledge for those who are eligible to file a VCF claim. Here are five unexpected facts about the VCF that all individuals affected by the 9/11 attacks should know.

Thousands of students in over 25 schools in Downtown Manhattan found themselves directly impacted by the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. The 9/11 attacks were particularly harrowing for students, leaving them in a state of confusion and uncertainty as a toxic cloud of dust and debris filled the air and exposed thousands of individuals to carcinogens and other harmful substances. If you were a student in Downtown Manhattan during the 2001-2002 school year, you are at an increased risk of developing a 9/11-related cancer or other health condition. Fortunately, the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) was created to provide financial compensation to support downtown students and others who were present during 9/11 and suffered as a result of the attacks.

September 11, 2001, is a time for reflection, remembrance, and continued commitment to supporting the community of individuals who have been affected by the violence of that day. At Hansen & Rosasco, LLP, we take a moment to honor our friends, neighbors, family members, community members, and all others who we lost that day. We remember and pray for the heroes who responded, and the countless individuals who continue to suffer from the long-term health effects. As we mark this somber milestone, we remain resolute in our devotion to continued advocacy and fighting for all those sickened or impacted by the attacks.

In the years since September 11th, an increased risk of developing various cancers, including childhood cancers has been linked to exposure to the aftermath of the World Trade Center (WTC) attacks, as has been highlighted by various studies and medical research. The attacks on September 11, 2001, created a cloud of toxic dust and debris that left a lingering impact on the health of thousands of people who were present during the attacks and in the weeks and months that followed. This is true not only for the first responders and recovery workers who responded to Ground Zero but also for others who were exposed to the aftermath, including children.

Sinusitis has emerged as a significant concern among those who were present in downtown Manhattan after the 9/11 attacks. The link between the 9/11 attacks and the prevalence of sinusitis is clear, as chronic rhinosinusitis remains the top 9/11 condition certified by the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP). Sinusitis is a condition that continues to affect the quality of life for many individuals involved in the recovery efforts. Fortunately, help is available. Those who have developed sinusitis as a result of 9/11 exposure may be eligible for no-cost medical monitoring and treatment through the WTCHP, as well as financial compensation for their economic and noneconomic loss through the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF).

Uterine cancer is strongly linked to exposure to the 9/11 toxins in women who were in lower Manhattan on or during the year after 9/11, including civilians, residents, downtown office and other workers, area students, and clean-up workers/responders, The recent addition of uterine cancer to the list of World Trade Center (WTC)-related health conditions marks an important and long overdue recognition of the ongoing struggles of thousands. This was important because it finally gives women with uterine cancer – including women who were diagnosed many years ago – lifetime healthcare and significant compensation that ranges from $250,000 to over $1,000,000. 

Over two decades since the terrorist attacks, 9/11-related liver cancer has been prevalent in the survivors, civilians, responders, and others who were exposed to the toxic environment in lower Manhattan from 2001 through 2002. The complexity of liver tumors and their tendency to be diagnosed at advanced stages have historically made effective treatment difficult. However, recent advancements in liver cancer research are offering new hope. From gene therapy to targeted therapy and beyond, these innovations are shaping a brighter future for liver cancer patients, including those exposed in the aftermath of 9/11.