It has been estimated that almost 10,000 people affected by a 9/11 related illness, due to suffering exposure from the debris left by the terrorist attack.

One of the most recent cases of 9/11 related illness comes from a marathon runner and triathlete who allegedly developed breast cancer after begin exposed to toxic substances that were present at Ground Zero. Before being diagnosed with a 9/11 related illness, John Mormando had been training for an Ironman competition and noticed a lump on his chest.

He was diagnosed with breast cancer soon after, which is significantly rarer in men than women. It is estimated that less than 1% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed in men, with Mormando having no prior family history.

Mormando made the connection to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack when his colleagues pointed out that he worked close to the Ground Zero site. Morondo is currently undergoing chemotherapy and is one of at least 15 men who have been diagnosed with breast cancer after being near the Ground Zero site.

Overview of 9/11 Related Illness Epidemic

Approximately 2,753 people were killed in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attack, when the two planes crashed into the World Trade Center.

However, 9/11 continues to actively haunt the United States as numerous people are continuing to be diagnosed with illnesses allegedly related to the attack. There have been over 70 different cancers linked to the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attack.

This is because there were numerous toxic substances released in the wake of the terrorist attack including aluminum, asbestos, glass, and burned jet fuel to name a few. During the eight-month cleaning period following the September 11 attack, over one million people were exposed to these toxins. Many of these 9/11 related illness cases have been first responders and out of state volunteers, but they are far from the only people diagnosed, with others including:

• First Responders
• Firefighters, Police Officers, and EMTs
• Sanitation Workers
• Construction Workers
• City Workers
• Utility Workers
• Cleaners
• 9/11 Volunteers
• Out-of-State Responders
• Employees who worked below Canal Street
• Residents who lived below Canal Street
• Students who attend school below Canal Street

Tens of thousands of residents who lived or worked near Ground Zero may have inadvertently inhaled toxic substances and may become sick at some point.

Overall, over 43,000 people have been certified with a 9/11 related illness with approximately 9,375 of these patients receiving help from the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program, which was established to help patients contend with the long-lasting health costs related to the September 11 incident.

The WTC program recently estimated that an additional 420 of their members have succumbed to 9/11 related health problems.  In addition, the federal government established the September 11th Victims Compensation Fund to help victims who suffered severe physical damages from the terrorist attack aftermath.

This compensation fund not only helps victims directly impacted by 9/11 related illness, but also provide cash benefits to loved ones for death benefits, funeral expenses, and other forms of compensation for surviving spouses or children.