9/11 Skin Cancer Claims

Someone gets a skin cancer diagnosis years after 9/11. They assume it came from the sun, nothing more. That assumption is common and often wrong.

Skin cancer is one of the most overlooked conditions in the entire 9/11 compensation system, even though non-melanoma skin cancer is the most commonly certified cancer in the WTC Health Program.

Weisfuse & Weisfuse, LLC, helps survivors get treatment for their condition and receive compensation by filing 9/11 skin cancer claims. Our experience with these claims can save time, effort, and resources. It also allows 9/11 victims to focus on the thing that matters most: their health.

Does Skin Cancer Qualify for 9/11 Compensation?

Skin cancer is included on the WTC Health Program’s List of WTC-Related Health Conditions. The program can certify melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancer, and certain carcinoma in situ when its certification requirements are met. That can make it easier to get certified when claiming compensation.

Federal health officials say skin cancer, prostate cancer, and breast cancer are the most common cancers certified through the program. 9/11 skin cancer is far more common among survivors and responders than most people realize. It is also far more likely to qualify for compensation than most people assume.

Why Do So Many People Overlook 9/11 Skin Cancer Claims?

Most people link skin cancer to sun exposure alone. That link is real. But it is not the whole story for people who were near Ground Zero.

The toxic dust released after the towers fell contained cadmium, a known carcinogen. Cadmium is well established as a link to 9/11-related melanoma. Government researchers have found a clear pattern in the data. The more someone was exposed to toxic dust, the higher their risk of melanoma became. 

Skin cancer is common in the general population. Because of that, many people have not connected their own case back to 9/11, especially years or decades after the fact.

Which Skin Cancers Qualify for Compensation?

Victims can claim compensation for both major types of skin cancer:

1. Non-melanoma skin cancer. This includes basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma. This is the most common form, and it usually grows slowly. 
2. Melanoma. This type is far less common but more dangerous. It carries the strongest documented link to 9/11 dust exposure of any branch of skin cancer.

Both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer are included among the WTC Health Program’s covered skin cancers, subject to the program’s certification requirements. Our lawyers help individuals confirm eligibility and meet the certification requirements to seek the support they’re eligible for.

Who Is Eligible for a 9/11 Skin Cancer Claim?

Eligibility rules cover a specific area and a set time window.

The area spans Manhattan south of Houston Street and any block in Brooklyn wholly or partially within a 1.5-mile radius of Ground Zero.

The time window broadly runs from September 11, 2001, through July 31, 2002. Anyone who lived, worked, went to school, or spent time in that area may qualify if they were present:

• For 4 days, with each day at least 4 hours, before January 10, 2002; or
• For 30 days, with each day at least 4 hours, before July 31, 2002.

This includes firefighters, police officers, and cleanup crews. It also includes office workers, students, and residents who were never part of the official response.

Where someone lives today does not matter. Someone could have left New York decades ago, moved several times since, and still qualify now. We can help with claims, regardless of where 9/11 skin cancer victims live currently.

How Do the WTC Health Program and VCF Work Together for Skin Cancer?

Getting compensation is a two-step process:

1. First, you must be certified through the WTC Health Program. A doctor has to review your medical information and confirm your diagnosis, and then the program will review your exposure history and other applicable requirements. 
2. Once certified, the case moves to the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. This is the program that actually pays out money, separate from the health program itself.

Free medical care and monitoring come through the WTC Health Program. This is separate from any financial award someone might later receive. Eligible victims can get free treatment for skin cancer even while a compensation claim is still in progress or under review.

What Compensation Is Available for Cancer Claims?

Two categories of compensation generally apply:

1. Economic loss covers real financial costs. This includes lost income, lost benefits, and out-of-pocket medical costs tied to treatment. 
2. Noneconomic loss covers pain, suffering, and related harm. No lost income is necessary to qualify for these losses.

For cancer claims in general, a $250,000 cap applies to noneconomic losses. The exact amount depends on how serious the case is.

Compensation also depends on whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. A case involving scarring, a recurrence of the cancer, or related conditions can also affect the final number. The impact can sometimes be significant.

Our lawyers can help 9/11 survivors recover full compensation by filing a claim with a complete set of supporting documents.

What Documentation Helps a Skin Cancer Claim?

When filing your claim, we will need to gather the following documentation:

• Medical records showing the diagnosis and treatment history;
• Pathology reports from any biopsy confirming the exact type of skin cancer involved;
• Proof of presence in the exposure zone, such as old pay stubs, school records, lease agreements, or utility bills tied to an address in the area; and
• Sworn statements (affidavits) from coworkers, neighbors, or family members.

The sworn statements can help fill in gaps when other paperwork was never kept or has since been lost.