Rare 9/11 Cancer Related Illness

The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund was created and extended to compensate victims of the attacks on the World Trade Center on 9/11. This fund helps victims of 9/11 and survivors exposed to Ground Zero during recovery efforts. If you or someone you love suffers from rare cancers, contact the 9/11 attorneys at Pitta & Baione to see if your illness is covered by the Victim Compensation Fund.

When is a Cancer Rare?

One of the categories of illness and injury that is covered by the Victim Compensation Fund is cancer, specifically rare cancers. A type of cancer is considered rare if the incidence rate of that cancer is low enough. The incidence rate for rare cancers is if that cancer occurs in less than 15 cases out of 100,000 persons per year. The timeframe this data is drawn from is 2005-2009 and includes data on cancer in North America.

What Rare Cancers are Covered Under VCF?

You do not need to research or calculate the incidence of cancer on your own. To help survivors of 9/11 determine if their cancer is in the rare cancer category, the World Trade Center Health Program prepared a guide of cancers already included and criteria for other qualifying cancers. This list is not exhaustive, but it is a good place to start. Cancers certified as rare for the cancers include:

• Malignant neoplasms, including:
  • Adrenal gland and other endocrine glands and related structures
  • Anus and anal canal
  • Bone and articular cartilage
  • Breast among men
  • Gallbladder and other parts of biliary tract
  • Meninges, brain, spinal cord, cranial nerves, and other parts of the central nervous system
  • Pancreas
  • Penis and testis
  • Placenta
  • Small intestine
  • Thymus
  • Vulva, vagina, and cervix uteri (invasive only)
• Malignant neuroendocrine neoplasm, including carcinoid tumors
• Myeloid neoplasmas, including myelodysplastic syndromes, myeloproliferative neoplasms, myelodysplastic/myeloproflierative neoplasms, and myeloid malignancies associated with eosinophilia and abnormalities of growth factor receptors derived from platelets or fibroblasts

Since rare cancers affect different parts of the body and have different effects on the body, it is difficult to identify symptoms. Also, since these are rare cancers, symptoms could be for any variety of other illnesses. 

Contact a September 11th Attorney to Discuss Your Eligibility for Benefits

If you or a loved one suffer from a rare cancer related to exposure from September 11th, contact a 9/11 attorney at Pitta & Baione by completing our online contact form or calling us at 844-982-2667.

Pitta & Baione LLP Successful Claims

BREAST CANCER

^$3+ Million

Secured an expedited award for a former Lower Manhattan corporate executive who developed 9/11 breast cancer.

BRAIN CANCER

^$1.95+ Million

Favorable result secured for an NYPD detective who responded to the attacks and later suffered from 9/11 brain cancer.

LUNG CANCER

^$1.76+ Million

Secured a wrongful death claim on behalf of a union carpenter who worked on the 9/11 cleanup efforts at Ground Zero and was later diagnosed with 9/11 lung cancer.

THYROID CANCER

^$1.65+ Million

Secured a favorable result for an area worker in Lower Manhattan who later developed 9/11 thyroid cancer.

BRAIN CANCER

^$1.7+ Million

Secured an expedited award for New York State Supreme Court employee who was disabled by 9/11 brain cancer.

LEUKEMIA

^$1.3+ Million

Secured a wrongful death award on behalf of a Lower Manhattan corporate executive who was diagnosed with 9/11 leukemia.

LUNG CANCER

^$1.1+ Million

Secured an expedited award for a union carpenter who worked in Lower Manhattan after 9/11 and was later found disabled by 9/11 lung cancer.

LUNG DISEASE

^$1.1+ Million

Secured an expedited award for a Local 94 operating engineer who worked in Lower Manhattan after 9/11 and was later found disabled by 9/11 lung disease.

NASAL CAVITY CANCER

^$1+ Million

Secured an xpedited award for a DSNY sanitation worker who assisted in the 9/11 cleanup efforts at Ground Zero and was later diagnosed with 9/11 nasal cavity cancer.

BRAIN CANCER

^$1+ Million

Secured an expedited award for a New York City Department of Corrections corrections officer who served as a volunteer responder on 9/11 and later developed a disabling and rare 9/11 brain cancer.

LUNG CANCER

^$960+ Thousand

Secured a favorable result for a wrongful death claim on behalf of a TWU Local 100 MTA worker who participated in the 9/11 recovery efforts and later developed 9/11 lung cancer.

COLON CANCER

^$770+ Thousand

Successfully represented an union carpenter who built temporary structures at Ground Zero as a 9/11 responder and later developed disabling 9/11 colon cancer.

View More Successful Claims