Over 2,500 Ground Zeros responders have developed cancer and are seeking compensation as a result. This is a major leap from the 1,140 related cancer cases reported only last year.
The World Trade Center Health Program at Mount Sinai Hospital determined of the 37,000 workers who responded to the September 11 2001 attack, 1,655 have cancer, The New York Post reported. When firefighters and EMTs are included in the data the number of cancer cases rises to 2,518.
As of June 30 the VCF had received 1,145 claims reporting cancer and other various ailments. Eight-hundred-and-eighty one of these claims have been ruled eligible for compensation, while many others are under review. As of now 115 cancer claimants have been given $50.5 million, The Post reported. Many more sufferers are expected to make claims by the Oct. 12 deadline. Workers who responded on 9/11 have most frequently developed cancer such as: "prostate, thyroid, leukemia and multiple myeloma."
A retired FDNY captain, 63, spent months at the Ground Zero site received $1.5 million from the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. He suffers from lung disease and inoperable pancreatic cancer. VCF recipients get 10 percent of what they are owed immediately, the patient will get the rest in 2016.
"I'm hoping they rush more cases like mine, where we're not expected to last long," he told The Post.
He retired in 2008 after the lung damage he sustained at the site caused him to wheeze after fighting fires. Last year he discovered he had a large tumor entwined in his arteries.
"They couldn't take it out without killing me," he said.
The retiree weighed 240 pounds on 9/11, chemotherapy has brought his weight down to 160. He often feels too weak to play with his three toddler-aged grandchildren.
"I was a very active guy. Now there's not much I can do," he said.
