25 Years After 9/11: Cancer Cases Among Survivors Triple as New Study Launches

Twenty-five years after the September 11 attacks, cancer has become the leading health issue among survivors. The number receiving aid for cancer treatment through the World Trade Center Health Program has jumped from 8,870 in 2011 to 27,300 in 2026, according to Washington Post analysis. The federal government is now launching its first major health study of children who were in lower Manhattan during the attacks, with $50 million in funding and a start date of July 1, 2027.

Cancer cases surge among first responders and residents

First responders and residents exposed to toxic dust at Ground Zero now face a threefold higher risk of lung cancer, according to Stony Brook University. Over 100 Ground Zero first responders were diagnosed with lung cancer between 2012 and 2023, with more expected as time passes. The World Trade Center Health Program now provides care to roughly 54,000 survivors, with about half receiving assistance for cancer-related expenses, up from 35% in 2021.

City officials admit they misled residents about air safety

On September 8, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the city released documents showing officials misled residents about air quality after the attacks. “Close to 25 years later, more people have died from 9/11-related illnesses than were killed on the day itself,” Mamdani said. The toxic cloud from the collapsed Twin Towers contained asbestos, silica, metals, concrete, and glass. More than 15,000 people, including firefighters, EMS providers, and civilian personnel, were exposed to these contaminants in the months after the attacks.

Federal government launches first study of exposed children

Roughly 25,000 children were living or attending school in lower Manhattan on September 11, 2001, yet very few were enrolled in government health studies that focused mainly on first responders and adults. The Youth Research Cohort, overseen by the World Trade Center Health Program and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is projected to receive $50 million in funding and is expected to begin July 1, 2027. Dr. Matt Karwowski, chief of research at the WTC Health Program, noted that children experience environmental exposures differently than adults and could fall ill in different ways.

Long-term health effects extend beyond cancer

Survivors report a range of conditions beyond cancer, including respiratory illnesses, gastroesophageal reflux disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, dementia, and autoimmune diseases. The World Trade Center Health Registry, which tracks 71,000 enrollees, has identified that many affected individuals have developed multiple conditions simultaneously. The registry was created in 2002 and remains one of the longest-running post-disaster health registries in the world. New York City’s 2027 budget has allocated tens of millions of dollars to create an online portal allowing residents to search city documents about what officials knew at the time.

Final Thoughts

The surge in cancer cases and the delayed launch of a children’s health study underscore how 9/11’s health toll continues to grow 25 years later. Survivors and their families face both medical challenges and the reality that government agencies withheld critical information about toxic exposure.

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