Hansen & Rosasco, LLP

The risk of developing 9/11-related esophageal cancer is significantly higher due to exposure to the toxic dust and debris released after the collapse of the Twin Towers. Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month is a time to raise awareness about one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat cancers. Thousands of individuals breathed in the toxic air that lingered in the air for months after the attacks, and are now at greater risk for developing various types of cancer and other 9/11 related illnesses, including esophageal cancer.

[Update – April 7, 2025] Dr. John Howard has been reinstated as Administrator of the World Trade Center Health Program - a positive and necessary step in the ongoing crisis facing the program. However, major challenges remain. Sixteen of the program’s remaining 86 staff have received notice of possible termination, and funding for critical operations remains uncertain. The WTCHP provides essential medical treatment and monitoring to over 137,000 responders and survivors across the country. Without full staffing and long-term funding, thousands of 9/11 victims could face delays or denials in health care. Lawmakers and 9/11 advocacy groups are urging immediate restoration of all staffing and full program support to ensure this life-saving care continues uninterrupted.

Thousands of cases of cancer involving the blood and lymphoid tissue have been certified by the WTC Health Program as linked to the 9/11 attacks, including lymphoma (2043 cases), leukemia (1290 cases), and myeloma (760 cases).  For the hundreds of  9/11 first responders and downtown area workers and residents dealing with  9/11-related multiple myeloma, it begins with spotting the symptoms of myeloma to ensure early diagnosis and treatment. 

March is Myeloma Action Month, so it's a meaningful time for us to explore the common signs of myeloma, the importance of early screening, and the support available through the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) and the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF). This is especially important given that many of the 500,000 people who lived and worked in lower Manhattan in 2001 through 2002 who were exposed to the 9/11 environmental fallout do not always link this acute toxic exposure to their current health conditions 20+ years later, including potential myeloma.

The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) is a federally funded program that was established to provide financial compensation for those affected by the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks or the debris removal efforts in their immediate aftermath. Those affected may be eligible for compensation for past and future lost wages, compensation for noneconomic loss (“pain and suffering”), and reimbursement for past out-of-pocket medical expenses. To be eligible to file a claim, you must register with the VCF and the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) by the applicable deadlines.

A sharp increase in male breast cancer from the 9/11 terrorist attacks has been found in people who lived, worked, or went to school in lower Manhattan between 9/11 and May 30, 2002. Even now, two decades later, cancers and other 9/11-related health conditions are being found in many responders, downtown workers and residents, and others. Anyone who lived or worked in lower Manhattan on or after 9/11 must be aware and look out for the symptoms and signs of male breast cancer – an awareness that is essential for early detection and effective treatment.

If you are disabled from work due to a 9/11 cancer or other serious condition, the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund will make an award of lost earnings, past and future, to compensate you for any loss of earnings and benefits. To make this award, the VCF typically requires a finding of disability, typically by another entity such as the Social Security Administration (e.g., Social Security Disability), the Police and Fire Retirement System (PFRS), NYSLRS or NYCERS, workers’ compensation, or a private disability insurer. 

Some individuals, however, become disabled but do not qualify and are unable to apply to any of these disability systems – a gap in benefits (and determination of disability) that is filled by the VCF disability evaluation process working in conjunction with the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP).  If you’re wondering whether you qualify for the WTC Disability Evaluation Process and how it can impact your VCF claim, this guide explains everything you need to know.

Update as of February 21st, 2025: Lawmakers from both parties condemned the cuts, emphasizing the program’s importance to those who risked their lives in response to the 9/11 attacks. Because of this, the administration has rescinded the reductions to staffing and funding for the World Trade Center Health Program, and has restored research grants that had been terminated.

February 18, 2025: The World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) is a critical lifeline for 137,000 9/11 responders and survivors across the country, many who are currently battling 9/11 cancers and serious breathing conditions. Unfortunately, recent cuts by the new administration have put the future of medical care for 9/11 victims at risk. According to a statement by Benjamin Chevat, Executive Director of the Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act, these changes could delay urgent medical care for 9/11 cancer patients, halt important 9/11 cancer research, and reduce the program's ability to assist the entire 9/11 community.

Relocating to a new state, like Florida, doesn’t mean you lose access to critical 9/11 healthcare or 9/11 VCF compensation. The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) provides support to survivors and responders no matter where they currently live. If you’ve moved to Florida but were present in the New York City Exposure Zone between September 11, 2001, and May 30, 2002, you are still eligible for compensation with the VCF, and you can also still access necessary medical treatment through the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP). Here's what you need to know about filing with the VCF and receiving medical care from the WTCHP while living in Florida.

While the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) has a set of rules for a victim to expedite (speed up) an award, a VCF claim and award can be delayed for several reasons. Understanding the potential factors that can delay your VCF claim can help you navigate the system more efficiently and ensure that you receive your VCF compensation in a timely manner.

Hansen & Rosasco, LLP, the 9/11 Victim Law Firm, is honored to share the remarkable story of Lynne V. Byrne, a lifelong educator, leader, and inspiration whose legacy will continue to make an impact for generations to come. Through the dedication of her family and the efforts of our law firm, Lynne’s life and contributions are being celebrated with the establishment of an Endowment Fund at Pace University’s Lubin School of Business. This initiative not only honors her life and her students but also brings attention to the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) and its potential to support others affected by the events of that tragic day.