A Report From CDC Claims World Trade Center Attack Survivors Are At A Higher Risk Of Cancer And Other Medical Issues

A new report that has been done by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has shown that in the last eight years, cases of cancer and other medical issues have shot up massively among 9/11 survivors and first responders, who have breathed in lethal debris during the terrorist attacks. The federal officials have enrolled nearly 104223 survivors and first responders of the 9/11 attacks in the government benefit plan, which is known as the World Trade Center Health Program. The latest Morbidity And Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) from the CDC has noted that last year, nearly 58 percent of program members have been diagnosed with at least one disease that has been caused by the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The new study has found that cancer cases among program members have shot up by 1000 percent. There have been around 1870 confirmed cases of cancer among first responders and survivors of the 9/11 attacks in 2013. In 2020, experts have recorded 20612 confirmed cancer incidents among program members. The authors of the report have said that constant research on the world trade center attack has offered a better understanding of the toxic exposures of the 9/11 attacks and its physical and mental implications on program members. The authors of the MMWR have not compared their outcomes on cancerous and non-cancerous surroundings to the general population.

A study that has been done in 2018 has shown that firefighters who have been on ground zero duty during the attacks are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer as compared to what is expected from the demographically same population. The authors of the 2018 study have said that a group of 12374 white male firefighters has been at a greater risk of prostate cancer, melanoma, and thyroid cancer. The CDC report has noted that non-cancerous health issues of program members have shot up from 28126 certified health conditions in 2012 to 50611 in 2020. Experts have said that there has been an increase of 80 percent in the last eight years. The program has estimated an average of 2.7 health issues linked to the attacks per member. The WTCH program has noted that nearly 400000 people have been exposed to lethal toxins after the 9/11 attacks that have shot up their risk of severe health issues. The World Trade Center Health Program has been founded in 2011 with the help of funds from the Zadroga Act. The program offers medical treatment, testing, and monitoring to people who are dealing with health issues linked to the 9/11 attacks. A certified clinician or program staff needs to evaluate their health condition and triggers. As per the latest report, nearly 25553 people have been getting medical care and assistance under this program in 2012. In 2020, nearly 41387 people have been provided with medical assistance under this program. Experts have said that there has been an increase of 62 percent in the number of patients who have been receiving health benefits under the plan. There has been a rise of 68 percent in the number of people who have been enrolled in the program.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said that nearly 31 percent of patients enrolled in the program have been diagnosed with skin cancer. More than 23 percent of patients of the program have been detected with cancer that has been affecting their male genital system. While about 12 percent of them have been diagnosed with in situ neoplasms. Experts have said that in situ neoplasm is a type of cancer that has not started spreading in the body. Experts from the CDC have said that nearly 8 percent of patients who have been enrolled in the program have been diagnosed with breast and digestive system cancer. The report has noted that nearly 46072 patients out of 50611 patients dealing with non-cancerous issues have been diagnosed with respiratory and digestive issues. About 18450 patients have been dealing with mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), drug abuse, anxiety, and depression. Health experts have said that as program members will grow in age, the use and cost of services as well will shoot up. The CDC report has said that severe diseases and underlying health issues that are more common in older people will make treatment of 9/11 linked health issues even harder. The authors of the study have said that the findings of the study show that there is a need for further research on 9/11 linked health issues. Health issues that are linked to the 9/11 attacks are quite frequent in older people and they keep emerging with time.