New Cancers Added to World Trade Center Health Conditions

In February of this year, four cancers were proposed for addition to conditions treated by the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program. 

In the past, the administrator of the WTC Health Program has added to the list of health conditions known to be associated with the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. On February 18, 2014, an additional amendment to the WTC-related health conditions list was proposed to include the following cancers: 

• Brain
• Pancreatic
• Invasive cervical
• Testicular 

The amendment also proposes other changes, including the following: 

• Change the language concerning coding of cancer types.
• Create a new definition for childhood cancers diagnosed in victims under the age of 20.
• Revise the numeric thresholds by which a cancer is defined as rare. 

Sixty-one cancers are currently covered by the WTC Health Program. This amendment expands that list to provide medical monitoring and care for victims environmentally exposed to cancer-causing agents during and after the terrorist attacks. 

Although no announcement has yet been made, it is anticipated that Sheila Birnbaum, the Special Master of the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), plans to add these cancers to those compensable by that fund. 

Other conditions and cancers may yet be discovered and added to the list of health conditions suffered by those on and after 9/11. When you have questions about a claim for compensation or injury because of your presence on a WTC site, speak with an experienced 9/11 attorney in New York City.