The reported number of Ground Zero responders with cancer has doubled to over 2,500 since last year, the New York Post writes.
In its latest tally, the World Trade Center Health Program at Mount Sinai Hospital counts 1,655 responders with cancer among the 37,000 cops, hard hats, sanitation workers, other city employees and volunteers it monitors, officials told The Post.
The tragic sum rises to 2,518 when firefighters and EMTs are added. The FDNY, which has its own WTC health program, said Friday it counts 863 members with cancers certified for 9/11-related treatment.
The paper reports that, per epidemiologists, “9/11 workers have gotten certain cancers at a significantly higher rate than expected in the normal population — prostate, thyroid, leukemia and multiple myeloma.” Affected individuals are eligible to receive cash benefits and health treatment from the federal September 11th Victims Compensation Fund and World Trade Center Health Program.
