It only gets worse.
More than 5,400 Ground Zero Firefighters, EMT’s, Police Officers and others near the fallen Twin Towers have come down with 9/11-linked cancers, a grim tally that has tripled in the past 2¹/₂ years. As of June 30, 5,441 people enrolled in the WTC Health Program have been diagnosed with 6,378 separate cancers, with some struck by more than one type, officials said. That’s up from 1,822 victims in January 2014, according to an article (below) in this mornings NY Post.
“You see an alarming increase,” said Dr. Michael Crane, medical director of the WTC Health Program at Mount Sinai Hospital.
“It’s been steady for at least the last year and a half — we’re seeing new people here being certified for cancer 10 to 15 times week. That’s every week. ” Crane told The Post.
The program now monitors more than 48,000 cops, hardhats, volunteer firefighters, utility workers and others who toiled at Ground Zero. The FDNY has its own 9/11 health program with 16,000 members. In all, at least 1,140 have died, officials said.
The feds have listed more than 50 types of cancer believed to be related to the toxic smoke and dust of 9/11. Those afflicted may seek payments from the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.
Veteran FDNY Firefighter Ray Pfeifer, 58, has advanced kidney cancer that has spread through his body. Pfeifer told The Post. “I’ve had 15 years with my kids after 9/11, and I’m still here with Stage 4 cancer.”
Ray has undergone 11 surgeries, including a kidney removal, hip, femur and knee replacement and radiation for a brain tumor.
On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, Ray had the day off and was golfing with buddies when the planes hit. He rushed downtown to join the frantic dig for survivors and stayed nine days straight, sleeping on a rig. All 12 of his fellow Bravest assigned to Engine 40/Ladder 35 on the Upper West Side were among the 343 firefighters killed when the towers collapsed. Pfeifer stayed eight months to search for remains.
HERE is the entire article:
http://nypost.com/2016/08/14/diagnoses-of-911-linked-cancers-have-tripled-in-less-than-3-years/?mpweb=755-1613148-711684318