NY Lawyers Handling Cases for nearly 70 WTC-Related Cancers Covered by the Zadroga Act

Medical and financial assistance for cancer victims

Medical research in the decade following the 9/11 terrorist attacks has shown a significantly higher-than-normal incidence of cancer in those exposed to toxins at the World Trade Center (WTC), Pentagon and Shanksville, PA sites. At Barasch McGarry Salzman & Penson in New York, we represent thousands of cancer victims who are frightened, frustrated and seeking help.

To keep up with the research and ensure that victims are compensated, the government has been adding different cancers to the list of illnesses covered by the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010. The Act established the World Trade Center Health Program. It provides medical monitoring and treatment to eligible rescue, recovery and cleanup workers, as well as to survivors who were exposed to he toxic dust in the air and debris after the attacks.

Cancer added to Zadroga Act coverage

Prior to 2012, cancer was not on the list of compensable diseases. Studies linking exposure at the sites convinced the government to update the list to include many different WTC-related cancers.

The Zadroga Act also established the Victim Compensation Fund. To be eligible for compensation, claimant’s must prove that they were exposed to the toxins, the time of exposure, and the date of their cancer diagnosis (generally the date of the pathology exam). Claimant’s must also demonstrate when they discovered the link between their exposure and the cancer diagnosis. There is a 2-year deadline to register with The Victim Compensation Fund once a claimant is certified by the WTC Health Program and told that his/her cancer was caused by the toxic exposure.

The following cancers are on the list of compensable post-9/11 illnesses:

Head & Neck

Malignant neoplasm of lip

Malignant neoplasm of base of tongue

Malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified parts of tongue

Malignant neoplasm of parotid gland

Malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified major salivary glands

Malignant neoplasm of floor of mouth

Malignant neoplasm of gum

Malignant neoplasm of palate

Malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified parts of mouth

Malignant neoplasm of tonsil

Malignant neoplasm of oropharynx

Malignant neoplasm of nasopharynx

Malignant neoplasm of piriform sinus

Malignant neoplasm of the hypopharynx

Malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined conditions in the lip, oral cavity and pharynx

Malignant neoplasms of nasal cavity

Malignant neoplasm of accessory sinuses

Malignant neoplasm of the larynx

Mesothelioma

Prostate Cancer

Soft Tissue

Malignant neoplasm of peripheral nerves and autonomic nervous system

Malignant neoplasm of other connective and soft tissue

Skin (Non Melanoma)

Other malignant neoplasms of skin

Scrotum

Melanoma

Malignant melanoma of skin

Digestive System

Malignant neoplasm of the esophagus

Malignant neoplasm of the stomach

Malignant neoplasm of the colon

Malignant neoplasm of rectosigmoid junction

Malignant neoplasm of the rectum

Malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined digestive organs

Malignant neoplasm of the liver and intrahepatic bile ducts

Malignant neoplasms of retroperitoneum and peritoneum

Respiratory System

Malignant neoplasms of the trachea

Malignant neoplasm of bronchus and lung

Malignant neoplasm of heart, mediastinum and pleura

Malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined sites in the respiratory system and intrathoracic organs

Rare Cancers—defined as “any type of cancer that occurs in less than 15 cases per 100,000 persons per year in the United States.” Some examples of cancer that meet the “rare cancer” definition include, but are not limited to, the following:

Malignant neoplasm of the testis

Neuroendocrine malignancies

Malignant neoplasm of the male breast

Malignant neoplasm of the gallbladder/biliary tract

Malignant neoplasm of the small intestine

Malignant neoplasm of the thymus

Malignant neoplasm of the central nervous system

Malignant neoplasm of the adrenal gland

Gastrointestinal stromal malignancies

Malignant neoplasm of the penis

Female Reproductive Organs

Malignant neoplasm of ovary

Urinary System

Malignant neoplasm of bladder

Malignant neoplasm of the kidney except renal pelvis

Malignant neoplasm of renal pelvis

Malignant neoplasm of ureter

Malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified urinary organs

Eye & Orbit

Malignant neoplasms of eye and adnexa

Thyroid

Malignant neoplasm of thyroid gland

Blood & Lymphoid Tissue

Hodgkin’s disease

Follicular (nodular) non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Diffuse non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Peripheral and cutaneous T-cell lymphomas

Other and unspecified types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Malignant immunoproliferative diseases

Multiple myeloma and malignant plasma cell neoplasms

Lymphoid leukemia

Myeloid leukemia

Monocytic leukemia

Other leukemias of specified cell type

Leukemia of unspecified cell type

Myeloid malignancies

Other and unspecified malignant neoplasms of lymphoid, hematopoietic and related tissue

Childhood Cancers—defined as “any type of cancer diagnosed in a person less than 20 years of age.”

Breast

Malignant neoplasm of breast

The list is continually examined and is subject to revision. If you suffer from a cancer you believe is related to the September 11 attacks but is not on the list, do not just assume you do not qualify for compensation. A lawyer who sees these kinds of cases every day can assess your options.

Let a knowledgeable attorney help you figure it out

A cancer diagnosis can be terrifying. You undoubtedly have questions about your disease and how you will pay for treatment. Lawyers at Barasch McGarry Salzman & Penson ensure you understand the complex requirements and help devise the best strategies for obtaining compensation and appropriate medical care under the Zadroga Act.

Contact our law firm online or call 888.351.9421. The initial consultation is free, so it costs you nothing to find out whether a lawyer can help.