I think it's absolutely absurd that we are having this conversation more than a decade after the September 11th attacks. So many have died from cancer, likely from working at the World Trade Center site, and were never given a chance under the Zadroga Act. John Feal, Founder of the FealGood Foundation, said tonight he would be happy if the federal government added just some cancers to the compensation list. I understand that argument. At the same time, it's difficult to say now which cancers are linked to work on the pile. If we knew exactly what caused cancer, we'd be able to prevent/cure it by now. Lawmakers are taking risks with people's lives...people who have already risked their lives for us.

After days of impassioned testimony from September 11th recovery workers, experts, and elected officials, a U.S. government panel agreed cancer should be included under the James Zadroga 9/11 Health & Compensation Act. Now the question is, which cancers? Some members of the committee are calling for a tailored list that only would include types of cancers where there is a plausible connection to World Trade Center site toxins. Others suggested leaving the decision up to federal administrators, or individual doctors, who would evaluate patients on a case-by-case basis.

Congress set aside billions of dollars to compensate and treat people sickened from World Trade Center site toxins, but cancer was not included as a 9/11-related condition because there wasn’t enough research to establish a conclusive link. Lawmakers limited the program to people suffering from a relatively short list of illnesses, including asthma, acid reflux, and certain chronic sinus problems. But, a study last fall found a 19 percent increased cancer rate among firefighters who worked here at the World Trade Center site. And a new, yet-to-be-released study from Mt. Sinai Medical Center found a 14 percent increased rate among all recovery workers.

The committee's recommendation is due by April 2. Its advice can then either be accepted or rejected by the program's administrator. Should the program’s administrator accept the recommendation to include cancer under the Zadroga Act? Should only certain cancers be included, or all cancers? Who should decide what illnesses or diseases warrant compensation?

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O Please just give it to them. As long as they have proof that they were at ground zero helping out
in whatever capacity they were involved in. Check on all the records for all of the civilians and uniformed
workers. etc.

PLEASE NO MORE CZARS.

HOW QUICKLY EVERYONE FORGOT.

HOW MANY OF THESE POLITICIANS KNEW THAT THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT SUBJECT TO TAKE CARE OF AND HOW MANY DUMB UNNECESSARY PROJECTS HAVE THEY SPENT MONEY ON SINCE 9/11.

I ALWAYS SAY THAT THEY ARE ALL BIG SPORTS WITH OUR MONEY.

SHAME ON ALL OF THEM.

THIS IS SUCH AN EMOTIONAL SUBJECT.

maxxiee
mp

OF COURSE CANCER SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE ZADROGA ACT. IN MY OPINION, IF THE FOLKS CAN ESTABLISH A CONCLUSIVE LINK IE: WORKING AT G/Z OR THE LANDFILL THAT SHOULD BE ENOUGH.

DO YOU REMEMBER A DECEASED FIRST RESPONDERS BODY WAS REMOVED FROM A FUNERAL HOME AND SEQUESTERED TO THE M.E'S OFFICE?

SHAMEFUL THE CITY DOES NOT LIKE TO PAY FOR THE SACRIFICES OF THE PEOPLE THAT PROTECT AND SERVE.

JOE, BAY TERRACE

Are we still denying proper and complete health care to those that worked after the towers fell on 2001?!? Anything less than full and complete coverage for the men and women who were there is an outrage.

Bill
Manhattan

Who is to say which cancer is or is not a consequence of working at the twin tower site? Why should anyone who worked there be denied treatment for ANYTHING? This is a no brainer. Once and for all YES, give them the respect and health coverage that they ALL deserve!

Peace, Nick
Hell's K.

All cancers should be covered for those who ran in with no thought to their own safety. God Bless them. We should also be looking into cancers and asthmas that can be related back to 9/11 that developed in people within a 5 mile radius of ground zero.

Jean
Boerum Hill Brooklyn

Why is this even a question?

It seems these types of questions come up only when it comes to doing something for the people.

Disgraceful and disgusting.

Esmerelda, East Village, NYC

As a First Responder, (NYPD) I find it despicable that politicians have any say in what cancers were caused by 9/11 toxins. What politicians will not admit is that they themselves were afraid to go anywhere the Trade Center for fear of illness. I know...I was there. On the Saturday, 9/15/2001, I was assigned to work the area of Vessey and Church Streets. The Hispanic officers skin was banana yellow; the white officers skin was apple red. I remember an EPA official running up to OEM officials (they were set up in a bldg. across from Stuyvesant High) saying "everyone is getting poisoned out there". Where is Christine Todd Whitman hiding...she "assured" us that the toxins wouldn't cause cancer. Thank you Dept. of Environmental Protection.

The Police, Fire and Sanitation workers are all covered by our medical plans. It is the thousands of construction workers, red cross workers, and Civilian volunteers who have no health coverage; they are suffering silently with awful, deadly cancers, if they are still alive.

The eleven police officers who were added to the Police Memorial Wall October 2011 are 9/11 cancer deaths. Politicians who will not acknowledge Trade Center Toxins = cancer are dishonest and pandering to the general public who seem to have forgotten that 9/11 even happened; and God forbid their tax money pay health coverage for brave men and women who knew they were risking their lives in the months after their attack.

I think we should let politicians respond to the next terror attack (which unfortunately is inevitable) and let the rest of us get out of town and protect our own families and children. (with the exception of Congresswoman Maloney who has fought ten long years for First Responders)

On a personal note my own sister, NYPD Sergeant, First Responder, NON SMOKER, was diagnosed January 17, 2012 with a rare throat cancer (particulary rare in women). WTC. The gift that keeps on giving.

John, thank you for reading my emails in the past. You are the best.

Kate
retired NYC Police Officer
NYC Resident 27 Years

I do not agree they should yes, they do put their lives on the line and they get a great pay and amenaies for doing so with a great Pension plan -401- as well as medical benefits and then social security these are he upper class today all home owners and what most people's children aspire to be - No I do not think they should have any more of the twin towers funds monies - As they are better prepared if anything should happen then the everyday joe thank you

colleen
Rockaway Park

Without any doubt, the rescue workers that helped the city should be given compensation if they have developed cancer as a result of their good deeds. Nobody stopped & questioned this ahead of 9/11, these people all stepped up to help out & provided a great service to NY. It's the right thing to do, after all these people have done for us.

Eileen from Kew Gardens

I would love to include all cancers. But practically only 9/11 related cancers should be included since it would be too expensive to include all cancers. Who is going to pay for it?

Miller
Queens village

It is clear that we need a healthcare overhaul in this county. Should all types of cancer be covered? Of course! But not just because they were a 9/11 rescue worker, but because EVERYONE should have the right to be treated for cancer or any other illness. Other countries successfully provide healthcare for all citizens why can't the USA?

Brodie
Upper east side

I just wanted to voice my opinion regarding these brave people who dived into the inferno without a doubt or second thought, and struggled valiantly to save whoever they could, saved lives without any thought of themselves, tirelessly - then faced dire consequences.

If there are no rewards, open appreciation for such people who jump right into action to save others, it's too inhumane and disheartening to those coming up in the world, seeing the callous aftermaths in lack of support and feeling when the results of these heroic actions are so minimal and perfunctory.

Many people will begin to think twice before being so selfless in the future, realizing the questioning and cavalier attitudes that eventually come to the surface.

I'm sure nobody wants to ever see anything as horrific as what happened in 911, but should we need these super energies in the future, let's just hope they are still willing to do as they did for all of us before.

If they have severe effects they should be cared for in the highest manner possible, no holds barred.

There are many politicians who can perhaps forgo one extra limousine or yacht, private jet to help the people who saved us all from total collapse of morale and spirit. Just their presence on the scene was the saving grace, strength and unity we needed to heal our country's spirit and show strength and resourcefulness to the rest of the world.

These First Responders who worked in the 911 aftermath should be treated like gold and more!

Amanda

of course they should all have medical care!

in a civilized society, we wouldn't even be having this discussion.
MEDICARE FOR ALL!!!!

Melissa in Kew Gardens

As someone who worked with the World Trade Center medical response and treatment program, I found:

1.Many, many abuses of the program, similar to when workman's compensation first came into vogue. I worked in one of the clinics, who, ironically was being investigated for fraud. As in paying the medical director 250G for coming in late, leaving early, and giving little to the proper care, contributing to abuse of care, and noncontributory toward any participation in any research being held. I had patients, slam their fist down on my desk stating that their colleagues had obtained say 10G for their illness, and they wanted their share. So, despite being without symptoms, they demanded diagnositc tests to get a diagnosis, and the MD in charge complied. I was shocked. And, people told me, again demanding, even though they did not fit the critera, that money had to be spent in order to get more, and they were outside parameters set by Mt Sinai included, to prevent fraud. What is this?

I also noted a gross lack of physical, emotional care of the self, and reaching out for someone or somebody fix me when I am broken attitude.

2. Has anyone really looked at the Zadroga Act? The first NYC coroner that assessed the autoposy of Zadroga stated that Zadroga did not die of world trade center dust, but particulate matter from injection of drugs, plastics from pill fragments were found in the lung. Yet, a retired coroner from NJ found and attempted to disappove. And, that Zadrogas wife died from drug abuse, as in injections of drugs. Does anyone know or remember this? And, why was this not pursued? It just disappeared from the media.

3. I asked, and asked, why there were or are not autopsies done to rule what these people were dying of, we need specific autopsy reports, but there were or are none.

So, where are the ethics here. I do not say that many did not suffer from physical conditions; however, I learned that many many abuses are occurring and there are no grounds on limitations on what we are supposed to pay as American citizens.

For those people who simplistically feel that these people sufferred and we should respond, I say, wake up, and realize that empathy is unrealistic and lack of knowledge is not how we should address the issue at hand.

The answer is in the numbers. Why we did not collect data on comparison studies ,ramdomizing average citizens who lived in the world trade center site after the event, but there are no studies. There are no stats on particular types of cancers. Where are the statistics, beyond demanding cancers be covered, and if not becomes selfish or immoral. Outrageous! So, for someone to ask for or demand care for workers just because they were 9/11 workers, it is wrong, so wrong. We as a country need to come together and evaulate from every angle, beyond the stating that everything and everyone should be covered for anything. Shame on this country, and this city for not having better means of evaluating and speaking honestly to the public. So, people will be honestly, ethically and morally accepted and treated for conditions truly incurred by 9/11, versus conditions related to poor and other lifestyles.

If anyone would like more information from a true insider, please do not hesitate to contact.

From a Registered Nurse on the UES

Police horses and dogs did a lot of work at ground zero too; how are these animals doing? Are they also suffering from cancer?

Mike