Hansen & Rosasco, LLP

The attacks on September 11th caused 70+ different cancers, including a growing number of cases of esophageal cancer.  Scientific evidence supports the connection that even decades later, 9/11 exposure is associated with increased risks of esophageal cancer compared with the general population. It’s important to understand that the Victim Compensation Fund does not require you to prove that 9/11 exposure resulted in your cancer, but that there is a “presumed link” so long as you prove you were present at a qualifying exposure site during the eligible time period and have a certified 9/11-related condition, such as esophageal cancer. 

For anyone who lived, worked, attended school, childcare, or adult care, or participated in rescue and recovery efforts in Lower Manhattan and the vicinity, a diagnosis of esophageal cancer raises the question: Was my 9/11 exposure the cause?  Now, nearly 25 years after September 11th, we know the link between esophageal cancer and the toxic air in lower Manhattan from 9/11 until mid-2002.  If you lived, worked, or went to school in lower Manhattan and were diagnosed with cancer since 9/11, you may qualify for lifetime health coverage and care from the World Trade Center Health Program and a cash award from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF).

For the 9/11 downtown workers and residents, National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month serves as a reminder of the lifetime health benefits offered by the World Trade Center Health Program. Enrolling in the Health Program allows you to receive ongoing monitoring and stay proactive about your health. In the event you are diagnosed with a 9/11-related cancer, certification of this cancer by the Health Program provides access to specialized monitoring and treatment, and is the first step in seeking financial compensation for related losses.

If you lived, worked, or attended school, or were a first or general responder, anywhere within 1.5 miles of the WTC site, enrolling in the WTC Health Program is a key step to protecting both your health and your legal rights.  The 9/11 exposure zone may be bigger than you think, including the Financial District, Tribeca, Battery Park, Chinatown, South Street Seaport, One Liberty Plaza, the Deutsche Bank Building at 130 Liberty Street, 55 Water Street, and 1 Police Plaza, the Federal Buildings including 26 Federal Plaza and 290 Broadway, Borough Hall and other NYC building, all the downtown courts (state and federal) and the schools including Stuyvesant High School, PS 234, PS 89, and Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), and Pace University.

The 9/11 community has an increased risk of developing cancer, even 25 years later. Advancements in early cancer detection are offering new hope for those who were exposed to the toxic 9/11 dust, making it possible to identify cancers sooner, improve treatment outcomes, and expand access to critical health care and compensation benefits. With most 9/11-related cancers taking a long time to develop, cancer detection has become one of the most important tools for protecting long-term health. 

New clients often ask the same question: how long do you need to be in lower Manhattan on or after 9/11 to qualify for 9/11 health benefits and compensation? The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), the federal program that pays 9/11 victim compensation, does NOT have a minimum duration of time period requirement. The World Trade Center Health Program (WTC Health Program), the corresponding federal program that certifies if a cancer or other condition is 9/11-related and provides healthcare for the related condition, has a list of specific rules regarding duration of exposure to the 9/11 toxins. Most importantly, to be eligible for 9/11 VCF compensation, a claimant must first satisfy the requirements of the WTC Health Program and have their cancer or other condition certified as 9/11-related. So while the VCF does not have its own duration of exposure requirement, the WTC Health Program does, and the duration of exposure rules must be met to later file a claim with the VCF. 

This naturally leads to a second question: What are the duration of exposure requirements? The WTC Health Program rules provide charts that depend on the extent of exposure to the 9/11 dust, how long (the duration) you were exposed, and when (which date(s)) you were exposed. We have summarized these rules in the chart below:

Support is available for first responders and recovery workers who rushed to help when the Twin Towers fell on September 11, 2001. Firefighters, police officers, EMTs, construction workers, volunteers, and military service members who stepped forward during rescue and recovery efforts know how the sacrifices they made can affect their families as well as themselves. To honor their service, a number of organizations offer scholarships for children of 9/11 first responders, providing financial aid to help children of first responders pursue higher education at an accredited college or university, community college, or trade school.

If you were a 9/11 first responder or are a child of a 9/11 first responder, exploring scholarship opportunities, understanding eligibility requirements, and application steps can help you get started on your journey to higher education.

More than 20 years after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the full effect of the health impacts is still being understood. As time passed, a health crisis began to emerge involving chronic illness, cancer, respiratory disease, digestive disorders, and long-term mental health conditions among 9/11 responders, victims, and others present in the aftermath of the attacks. 

What began as short-term emergency response research has evolved into one of the most comprehensive public health monitoring efforts in the history of the United States. From early studies focused on dust exposure to ongoing cancer surveillance, 9/11 health research has informed the support available to the 9/11 community and has reshaped how the nation responds to environmental disaster and mass trauma.

Among the most serious conditions linked to toxic exposure in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC) is multiple myeloma, a rare but aggressive blood cancer that affects plasma cells.

For many first responders, volunteers, office workers, residents, students, and others who were present in lower Manhattan on or after the attacks, a diagnosis of multiple myeloma is directly tied to exposure to the toxic dust that blanketed lower Manhattan and the surrounding areas released when the towers fell. 

Could 9/11 exposure be the cause? What scientific evidence supports the connection? And what health care and compensation options are available? This guide explores what we know about the direct link between 9/11 exposure and multiple myeloma, who is at risk, and what medical treatment, support, and compensation are available.

The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) is currently taking about 15 months to decide and make an award on a claim. On May 5, 2026, the VCF issued the guidance on the timeline of decisions on claims, as follows:

When financial hardships hit, we understand the wait for help can be excruciating. While the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) monetary award was designed to provide vital support to those affected by the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC), the time it takes to process a claim can be lengthy. Given the weight of physical, emotional, and financial burdens that come with a 9/11-related condition, many 9/11 survivors seek to accelerate the 9/11 VCF payout to find prompt financial relief. While the VCF claims process is designed to be thorough and equitable, there are provisions for expedited claims under certain dire circumstances. Your VCF claim may be expedited if you are experiencing a terminal illness or significant financial hardship.

Decades after September 11, 2001, thousands of individuals who lived, worked, or attended school in Lower Manhattan, and those who participated in rescue, recovery, and cleanup efforts, continue to face an increased risk of cancer and other illnesses due to toxic exposures from the collapse of the World Trade Center (WTC). Many of these cancers develop silently and slowly, with symptoms appearing years or even decades later. That delay in the appearance of symptoms makes regular cancer screenings not just important, but essential for those exposed to the toxic dust cloud released in the attacks.