9/11 First Responders Need Cancer Treatment Coverage!
- by: Care2.com
- recipient: Dr. John Howard, head of the U.S. Government's World Trade Center Heath Program
9/11 rescue workers and other first responders showed America what it means to be hero. Now, ten years later, they shouldn't have to be worried about their healthcare, but they are.
These heroes suffered intense exposure to known carcinogens in the days after the attacks. There are countless reports of young responders developing cancers only seen in individuals 40 years their senior.
When the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act was passed, it was supposed to protect first responders from the aftereffects of working at Ground Zero, except that it doesn't include cancer under its coverage.
Support 9/11 first responders in their struggle. Demand that the Zadroga Act cover cancer as part of its protections.
Many of the 9/11 first responders have developed serious health conditions in the years after the attack. This includes extremely rare early onset of various types of cancer, and they need help overcoming their sickness.
These individuals were exposed to intense levels of carcinogens, and it makes sense that there must be a link to their subsequent sickness.
These men and women braved unfathomable conditions that threatened their health and safety in the aftermath of tragedy. To strip them of aid in any way is unconscionable, and to do so when there are so many rare cancer cases is incomprehensible.
Honor the efforts of the men and women who helped after 9/11. Do not deprive 9/11 responders of aid in fighting cancer.
