Barasch & McGarry Honors National Cancer Prevention Month

February is National Cancer Prevention Month.

Barasch & McGarry will host a free event – the Cancer Prevention in the 9/11 Community Webinar – on Wednesday, February 15, at 5:00 p.m.

Register here for the free webinar, which will feature information from advocates and medical professionals on accessing the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program and the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF).

The more than half a million first responders and survivors who were exposed to Ground Zero toxins after 9/11 have a higher risk of developing many respiratory illnesses and 69 different types of cancer.

In the days after 9/11, government officials claimed the air in Lower Manhattan was safe to breathe.

But 9/11 didn’t end on 9/11.

Later medical research found the air at Ground Zero wasn’t safe – it contained cement dust and glass particles, asbestos, and chemicals called persistent organic pollutants, many of them known carcinogens.

We urge anyone who was working, living, or attending school in Lower Manhattan on or after 9/11 to speak with a primary health care provider about their unique risk as a member of the 9/11 community. Early detection can save your life. 

Treatment available through the WTC Health Program has been invaluable in providing the 9/11 community with access to medical experts who specialize in 9/11-related illnesses, saving lives.

Recent advances in cancer screening and treatment programs have substantially improved quality of life and health for cancer survivors, especially when detected early.

For example, 9/11 first responders and survivors are disproportionately susceptible to skin cancers, which are among the most treatable cancers if discovered at an early stage. 

Here are several tips for reducing your risk of cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic:

• Eat a healthy diet
• Maintain a healthy weight and active lifestyle
• Avoid smoking and all other tobacco products
• Protect yourself from the sun – wear sunscreen anytime you are outside
• Get vaccinated for Hepatitis B and Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Get regular medical care

If you are diagnosed with any of the 69 cancers or the respiratory illnesses impacting the 9/11 community, we are here to guide you through the registration process with the WTC Health Program and the 9/11 VCF. 

Visit 911victims.com or call 212-385-8000 today.