Respiratory Cancers Experienced by 9/11 Survivors 

The World Trade Center attacks on 9/11 exposed responders and survivors to a hazardous dust cloud. Smoke, fire, fuel, and building debris of concrete, plastic, and other building chemicals filled the air. Even during clean-up and recovery efforts, particles of hazardous materials filled the air, further exposing responders and survivors to dangerous air conditions. Years after this tragedy, first responders and survivors are suffering from respiratory system cancers. The 9/11 attorneys at Pitta & Baione are available to discuss available benefits for survivors. 

Covered 9/11 Respiratory Cancers

The following respiratory cancers are covered conditions under the World Trade Center Health Program:

• Bronchus and lung: unspecified; main bronchus; upper, middle, and lower lobes; overlapping lesions
• Heart, mediastinum, and pleura: unspecified, anterior and posterior mediastinum; heart; overlapping lesion; pleura
• Other and ill-defined sites in the respiratory and intrathoracic organs, including trachea and upper respiratory tract

Most often you will hear about lung cancer, but these other respiratory system cancers are not to be ignored. 

Risk of Respiratory Cancers

Respiratory cancers are often associated with poor air quality or hazardous activities. Avoidance techniques include abstaining from activities that would introduce hazardous materials into the respiratory system, such as avoiding smoking, avoiding areas of poor air quality, and avoiding exposure to certain working conditions with dangerous materials. Of course, first responders and survivors of 9/11 did not have the opportunity to avoid the airborne hazards. 

Symptoms, Diagnosing, and Treating Respiratory Cancer

Respiratory cancer can grow without detection for some time. 

Common symptoms of lung cancer include: 

• Cough, often accompanied by blood 
• Chest pain
• Wheezing
• Weight loss

The pleura is a protective lining of the lungs. The pleura is susceptible to cancer, and often associated with inhaling asbestos. Common symptoms of pleural cancer include: 

• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue 
• Cough
• Chest pain

The trachea is commonly known as the windpipe. tumors can obstruct the airway and make it difficult to breathe. Cancer of the trachea also involves symptoms of wheezing and coughing. 

Since cough, pains and weight loss can be caused by other ailments, respiratory cancer can go unnoticed. By the time the cancer is identified, the cancer may be advanced. Respiratory cancers can be identified through x-ray, CT scans, and sampling tissues through biopsy.

Treatment for respiratory cancers includes surgery to remove the cancerous tissue and surrounding areas of the respiratory system to avoid further spread of the cancer. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy may also be used to treat respiratory cancers. 

Contact a 9/11 Respiratory Cancer Attorney to See if You are Eligible for Financial Help

If you or a loved one suffer from respiratory cancers related to exposure from 9/11, contact an attorney at Pitta & Baione by completing our 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