This morning, I spoke with syndicated radio host Michael DelGiorno about the long-term health consequences of the September 11 attacks. Twenty-five years later, cancer cases among survivors and first responders have reportedly tripled over the past five years, with survivors now outpacing first responders in new diagnoses and treatment needs.

We also discussed unusual and more aggressive cancer patterns, including earlier-onset breast cancer and increased rates of lung cancer among women who never smoked but were exposed to Ground Zero dust. Another growing concern is the thousands of children and students exposed to toxins in Lower Manhattan—many of whom are now entering their 30s and 40s and may need greater awareness, monitoring, and early screening.

#911attacks #groundzero #september11 #neverforget

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25 YEARS AFTER THE SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS: MAJOR HEALTH CONCERNS FOR RESPONDERS AND SURVIVORS REMAINS!

DR. JOE GALATI WILL DISCUSS THE HEALTH ISSUES RESPONDERS AND SURVIVORS ARE FACING.

1. The "Second Wave" of Illness is Accelerating

While respiratory issues and PTSD were the immediate health concerns after 9/11, we are now entering a "second wave" dominated by cancer. Because cancer has a long latency period (often 20 to 40 years), the number of survivors seeking cancer treatment has tripled in just the last five years. Experts warn that because of this delay, the peak of the health crisis may still be years away.

2. Survivors are Now Outpacing First Responders

For years, the medical focus was primarily on first responders (police, fire, and EMS). However, the data now shows that cancer claims among survivors—office workers, residents, and students—are rising faster than those of responders. As of 2026, about half of all survivors enrolled in the health program are receiving aid for cancer.

3. Atypical Cancer Patterns and Early Onset

Doctors are observing unusual trends that suggest the toxins had a specific, aggressive impact on health:

• Early Diagnosis: Breast cancer in 9/11 survivors is being diagnosed roughly four years earlier than the national average.
• Non-Smoker Lung Cancer: There is a high incidence of lung cancer among women who have never smoked but were exposed to the dust.
• Aggressive Strains: Many survivors are presenting with more aggressive forms of cancer that are harder to treat.
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4. The Long-Term Impact on "9/11 Kids"

There is growing concern for the 25,000 to 30,000 people who were children or students in Lower Manhattan during the attacks. These individuals were exposed to toxins during critical developmental years. As this demographic reaches their 30s and 40s, advocates are pushing for increased awareness and screenings, as they are now entering the age where these latent cancers typically begin to appear.

5. Proof of Environmental Negligence

The health crisis is compounded by the revelation that government officials downplayed the risks at the time. Recently released records confirm that the air remained toxic long after the public was told it was safe to return to work and school. Experts now point to the "alkaline dust" and benzene exposure as primary drivers for the current surge in illnesses, proving that the environmental impact was far more severe than officially reported in 2001.

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In this segment, we discussed the recent American Heart Association guidance on LDL cholesterol and the sobering estimate that only about one in three adults has their cholesterol adequately managed. For patients with risk factors for cardiovascular disease, the LDL target is now 55 mg/dL or lower — a number that is all too often overlooked when lab results are reviewed. The result is that many people are walking around with elevated LDL cholesterol, unaware that they are at meaningful risk for serious cardiovascular events including heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.

The call to action for listeners is straightforward: log into your hospital or clinic patient portal, pull up your most recent lipid panel, and confirm that your LDL cholesterol is in range. Diet and exercise absolutely play a role in improving LDL, but lifestyle change alone is frequently not enough — particularly for patients with diabetes, hypertension, obesity, or fatty liver disease. In these cases, statin therapy is often the necessary next step, and it should not be viewed as a failure of lifestyle effort but as appropriate risk reduction.

We also covered two additional recommendations. First, the AHA now advises a one-time measurement of lipoprotein(a). An elevated Lp(a) signals a substantially higher cardiovascular risk, and because the level is genetically determined, it typically will not improve with diet or exercise — making it essential information for guiding how aggressively other risk factors are treated. Second, a coronary calcium scan can bring your individual risk into sharp focus. A positive calcium score is a clear indication that aggressive intervention is warranted. Taken together, these three steps — knowing your LDL, checking your Lp(a) once, and considering a calcium score — give you and your clinician a far more complete picture of your true cardiovascular risk.

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