NYPress.com - New York's essential guide to culture, arts, politics, news and more » dr. JOhn Howard

Zadroga Bill to Cover 50 Types of Cancer

NYPress — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 15:39:44 +0000

by Adel Manoukian

50 types of cancer have joined the list of covered conditions for the World Trade Center Health Program linked to the Zadroga Bill that was passed in early 2011. This comes after Dr. John Howard, Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, reviewed the link between exposure to the toxins at the World Trade Center site and developing cancer affecting the digestive and respiratory systems. He recently issued a proposed rule to accept all of the Science/Technical Advisory Committees recommendations.

The Zadroga Bill expands death benefits to workers assumed to have died due to the exposure of toxins at Ground Zero following the 9/11 attacks.

Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand released a statement Friday following the decision: “We thank Dr. Howard and the Science/Technical Advisory Committee for their hard work and diligence which will get more of our 9-11 heroes suffering from cancer the treatment they deserve,” they said.

Two more peer-reviewed scientific studies will also be done to determine if any additional cancers should be included in the list.

“We are confident that with the benefit of new peer-reviewed studies to come, we will be successful in ensuring that first responders and community survivors suffering from other cancers will also get the access to the program they so desperately need,” said Schumer and Gillibrand.

Neighborhood Chatter: Cancer Care Added for 9/11 First Responders

Our Town Downtown — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:43:14 +0000

After several heated hours, on Wednesday, March 28, the 15-member World Trade Center Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) decided that the federal government should cover treatment of thyroid cancer, melanoma, cancer of the respiratory and digestive systems, breast cancer, soft tissue sarcomas, eye cancer, oral cavity cancer, ovarian cancer, urinary tract cancer, leukemia, lymphoma and all childhood and rare cancers. Other types of cancer—prostate, brain and pancreatic—were excluded from the list because of a lack of correlating evidence in victims.
Whether cancer would be recommended for inclusion in the Zadroga Act saw renewed attention when the likes of State Sen. Daniel Squadron and City Council Member Margaret Chin advocated alongside 9/11 first responders for the addition on the steps of City Hall in February.
The federal government’s WTC health program administrator, Dr. John Howard, has 60 days to weigh in on the committee’s decision and decide which cancers will be included in the bill. According to a press release sent on behalf of Winuk Communications by spokesperson Cindy Miller, “The STAC Committee’s recommendation is now in the hands of Dr. John Howard, director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, who will decide whether to accept, in whole or in part, the recommendations.”