The Most Common 9/11-Related Cancers

If you responded to Ground Zero, lived or worked or went to school nearby, or did any work related to the cleanup, your health risks didn't end when the recovery effort ended. More than two decades later, thousands of survivors and responders are still being diagnosed with cancers tied to that exposure, and researchers expect that trend to continue for years to come because of the latency of hazardous material in the body. Anticipating this, Congress has authorized the Victim Compensation Fund incredibly to the year 2090. 

Below is a list of common 9/11-related cancers and why you may still be in danger today. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer in the wake of your 9/11-related exposure, our VCF attorneys at Cannata, Hendele & Cannata can help you file a claim for compensation. 

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The Link Between 9/11 and Cancer

On September 11, 2001, the collapse of the Twin Towers released an enormous cloud of toxic dust and debris across Lower Manhattan. That dust contained asbestos, benzene, heavy metals, and dozens of other known and suspected carcinogens. Anyone who worked, lived, volunteered, or attended school in the area during the response and cleanup and even up to ten months later, was potentially exposed, often without adequate respiratory protection. Remember, you did not have to be present on 9/11 to be eligible. 

Researchers with the WTC Health Program have tracked cancer outcomes in this population for years. A meta-analysis covering more than 69,000 responders found the highest cancer risks relative to the general population were for melanoma, thyroid cancer, and prostate cancer, with other research pointing to increased blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma as well.

If you were exposed to Ground Zero dust and later developed cancer, your diagnosis may qualify for certification and program benefits, regardless of how long ago your exposure occurred.

Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer

Non-melanoma skin cancer is one of the most frequently certified cancers among 9/11 responders and survivors. In a recent analysis of patients enrolled at the WTC Environmental Health Center, 686 of the 7,274 total cancer patients identified had a non-melanoma skin cancer diagnosis, making it one of the largest single categories tracked in that cohort. It includes basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, which typically develop in sun-exposed areas but have also been linked to direct contact with chemical irritants in the dust.

While generally less aggressive than other cancers, non-melanoma skin cancer can still spread if left untreated. Some forms of this cancer, such as Squamous cell carcinoma, can be very aggressive. Regular skin checks matter for anyone with a 9/11 exposure history. 

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is among the most commonly certified cancers in the WTC Health Program. A large meta-analysis of WTC responder cohorts found a 19 percent higher risk of prostate cancer in WTC responders compared with the general population. Among survivors enrolled directly in the program, prostate cancer was the single most commonly certified cancer among men, accounting for 14.6 percent of certifications. Within the WTC Environmental Health Center cohort, prostate cancer made up 39 percent of all solid cancer diagnoses among men.

Because prostate cancer often develops silently, routine PSA screening matters for anyone with a documented exposure history, no matter your age. Age and family history can also contribute to your risk, which is why your exposure record matters so much during certification. 

Breast Cancer (Female)

Breast cancer is the most frequently certified cancer among women enrolled in the WTC Health Program, accounting for 12.6 percent of certifications as of the end of 2022. In the WTC Environmental Health Center cohort, the pattern is even more pronounced: breast cancer accounted for half of all solid cancer diagnoses among women, far ahead of lung cancer at 11 percent and thyroid cancer at 9 percent.

Female survivors and responders have also been diagnosed at younger ages, on average, than women in the general population. If you were in the exposure zone as a resident, worker, or responder and later developed breast cancer, your case may be eligible for certification. 

Melanoma of the Skin

Melanoma is one of the cancers most consistently linked to 9/11 exposure across multiple research cohorts. The same large meta-analysis that identified elevated prostate cancer risk also found melanoma among the cancers with the highest risk relative to the general population, alongside thyroid and prostate cancer. A more recent update from the WTC Environmental Health Center similarly reported elevated frequencies of melanoma of the skin among survivors as their cohort has grown.

9/11 exposure raised melanoma risk largely through prolonged, direct skin contact with the alkaline dust cloud, which contained polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and other compounds known to trigger DNA damage and oxidative stress in skin cells, compounding the effects of ordinary UV exposure during the outdoor, protracted recovery work.

Lymphoma

Lymphoma affects the lymphatic system and includes both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin subtypes. Within the WTC Environmental Health Center's blood and lymphoid cancer cases, lymphomas made up the largest share at 48 percent, followed by leukemias at 22 percent and myelomas at 21 percent. Among those lymphoma cases specifically, non-Hodgkin lymphoma accounted for 86 percent of diagnoses.

9/11 exposure can cause lymphoma because the dust cloud contained benzene, dioxins, and other petrochemical byproducts known to damage the DNA of lymphocytes, the white blood cells that make up the lymphatic system. This genetic damage can trigger uncontrolled cell division, and because lymphocytes circulate throughout the bloodstream and lymph nodes, disruption in one area can seed abnormal growth in lymphoid tissue elsewhere in the body.

Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer shows one of the strongest statistical associations with 9/11 exposure of any cancer type studied. A JNCI meta-analysis of WTC responder cohorts found an 81 percent increased risk of thyroid cancer among responders, and multiple independent CDC-sponsored studies have confirmed elevated incidence across separate cohorts and follow-up periods.

Researchers note that some of this elevation may be influenced by increased medical surveillance in this population, since responders and survivors are screened more often than the general public. Even so, thyroid cancer remains one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in this community, and it's generally one of the more treatable when caught early. 

Kidney Cancer

Kidney cancer has been associated with heavy metal exposure, which was present throughout the WTC dust and debris in significant quantities. In the WTC cancer tissue biobank, which has tracked over 500 confirmed WTC-related cancers among responders, kidney cancer accounted for 6.5 percent of all cancers documented, roughly on par with bladder cancer at 6.0 percent.

Kidney cancer's link to 9/11 exposure is thought to trace back to how the kidneys function as the body's filtration system, processing and concentrating everything absorbed into the bloodstream, including the heavy metals and industrial chemicals present in the dust cloud. As these substances pass repeatedly through kidney tissue, they can generate oxidative stress and free radicals that damage the DNA of renal cells, a process linked to several of the metals identified at Ground Zero. Because kidney tissue has a limited capacity to repair this kind of cumulative cellular damage, prolonged or high-intensity exposure may have left responders and survivors more vulnerable to malignant changes over time.

Lung and Bronchus Cancer

Lung and bronchus cancer is closely tied to inhalation exposure, particularly to asbestos, silica, and other airborne particles present at Ground Zero. The research picture is more nuanced than for some other cancers on this list: one large CDC-sponsored study confirmed a reduced risk of lung cancer in this occupational group, potentially due to lower smoking rates among these workers. Even so, lung cancer remains a meaningful share of diagnoses, accounting for 11 percent of solid cancer diagnoses among women and 7 percent among men in the WTC Environmental Health Center cohort.

Lung cancer's link to 9/11 exposure traces directly to inhalation: asbestos fibers, silica particles, and other fine debris in the dust cloud lodged deep in lung tissue, where they caused chronic inflammation and repeated micro-injury to the cells lining the airways and alveoli. Over years, this persistent irritation can trigger abnormal cell repair and division, allowing DNA mutations to accumulate in lung epithelial cells. Prolonged or high-intensity exposure at Ground Zero may have left responders with a lasting burden of embedded carcinogens, driving malignant changes over time, because these carcinogens are difficult to clear. 

Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer has a well-documented association with several chemicals identified in the WTC dust cloud, including aromatic amines and various combustion byproducts. These compounds are absorbed into the bloodstream, filtered by the kidneys, and then concentrated in urine, where they sit in prolonged contact with the bladder lining and can damage the DNA of the cells there over repeated exposure. In the WTC cancer tissue biobank, bladder cancer accounted for 6.0 percent of all documented WTC-related cancers, and the most recent WTC Environmental Health Center update specifically flagged urinary bladder cancer as one of the cancer types showing elevated frequency as the survivor cohort has expanded.

Leukemia

Leukemia is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow, and it's one of several cancers linked to solvent and chemical exposure in the WTC dust cloud, including benzene, a well-established cause of certain leukemia subtypes. The same large-scale meta-analysis referenced above found WTC responders were 41 percent more likely to develop leukemia than other individuals in their geographic area, making it one of the more strongly associated blood cancers in this population.

Unlike many solid tumors, leukemia can develop and progress relatively quickly. Symptoms can include persistent fatigue, easy bruising, frequent infections, or unexplained fevers. If you notice any of these signs, prompt evaluation matters. Of course, consulting with your doctor should any suspicious symptom appear is critical to early evaluation and treatment. 

Latency of 9/11-Related Cancers

Latency refers to the time that passes between an exposure and a cancer diagnosis, and it plays a central role in how 9/11-related cancers are evaluated and certified. This period varies widely depending on the type of cancer involved. Blood cancers like leukemia can sometimes appear within months of exposure, while solid tumors such as prostate, lung, or bladder cancer often take many years, or even decades, to develop and eventually be diagnosed. The World Trade Center Health Program has established the criteria as to the time period between date of exposure and diagnosis. Establishing same is critical to a successful claim. 

This variation is part of why new cancer diagnoses tied to 9/11 exposure continue to occur more than twenty years after the attacks, with some research cohorts reporting that the number of certified cancers among survivors has more than doubled in just the last several years alone. If you were exposed to hazardous substances in the wake of 9/11, even months later, you will remain at risk for the rest of your life. 

If you were exposed and are diagnosed with cancer today, your case can still potentially qualify, even after a long delay between your exposure and your diagnosis. Documenting your exposure history as thoroughly as possible, including where you were, how long you were there, and what kind of work or activity you were doing, helps support your case regardless of how much time has passed since September 11, 2001. A VCF lawyer at Cannata, Hendele & Cannata can help compile the necessary documentation for your case. 

The WTC Health Program and VCF May Pay a Cancer Claim

If you have a qualifying 9/11 exposure and a certified WTC-related cancer, you may be entitled to significant support through two separate but complementary federal programs after filing a claim. The WTC Health Program provides free medical monitoring and treatment for certified conditions, connecting members with specialists experienced in treating 9/11-related illnesses. As the mortality data above shows, staying enrolled in this monitoring can meaningfully improve outcomes after a diagnosis.

Separately, the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund offers financial compensation for economic losses and pain and suffering connected to a certified condition. These two programs work together but operate independently, meaning you can pursue both program enrollment for ongoing care and financial compensation for your losses at the same time.

Because certification depends on documented exposure history, detailed medical records, and specific minimum latency requirements, the process can be complicated to navigate on your own, particularly while managing a cancer diagnosis. That's where we can help, from gathering the right documentation to meeting every deadline along the way.

Contact Our VCF Attorneys to Discuss Your Case

At Cannata, Hendele & Cannata, our VCF lawyers have spent decades helping members of the 9/11 community pursue compensation and medical benefits to which they are entitlted.  If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with a cancer linked to 9/11 exposure, of if your loved one has passed away from their cancer,call us today at (888) 982-8428 or message us online for a free consultation to discuss your exposure history and your options. We have a track record of delivering results for our clients who have trusted us with their VCF claims.