What Types of Cancer Are Covered Under the Zadroga Act?

There are currently more than 60 types of cancer covered under the health care fund for first responders of the terrorist attacks of September 11. This is thanks to a 2012 decision by the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety, which added 50 types of cancer to the language of the Zadroga Act.

As time passed after the 9/11 attacks, more people were beginning to be diagnosed with a wider variety of cancers, all caused by exposure to the toxins floating in the air amidst the dust from the collapsed buildings. In many cases, the symptoms of these cancers in victims took years to show themselves, so the initial list of cancers covered under the Zadroga Act was far from exhaustive.

Experts believe respiratory cancers and pulmonary diseases will show themselves in large numbers within the next decade. Some of the types of cancers covered under the Zadroga Act include:

• Respiratory system
• Digestive system
• Skin
• Ovarian
• Urinary tract
• Breast
• Thyroid
• Blood cancers
• Soft tissue sarcomas
• Oral cavity

At the time the new cancers were added to the Zadroga Act, there was some concern there would not be enough money for victims in need. Since then, we have been working with labor unions and health professionals to convince Congress to extend and re-fund the legislation.  Volunteers and first responders came from all over the country to help in the rescue and recovery efforts.  They now live in 320 of the 336 congressional districts.  Over 70,000 people are registered with the WTC Health Program.   

You should know that the deadline to register a cancer claim with the Victim Compensation Fund is 2 years after the date of diagnosis.  The deadline to register for compensation for Prostate cancer diagnosed between 9/11/05 and 9/11 2013 is this coming October. Please spread the word.

Do you suffer from an injury or illness that has its roots in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001? If so, contact the team of skilled New York attorneys at Barasch, McGarry, Salzman & Penson to learn more about filing a claim for compensation through the Zadroga Act.