Uterine Cancer Now Included in World Trade Center-Related Conditions List
The final rule took effect on January 18.
- By Alex Saurman
- Jan 20, 2023
A final rule issued this week will help certain people with uterine cancer stemming from exposure during 9/11 access treatment.
According to a news release, on January 17, 2023, the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program announced that uterine cancer had been added to the WTC-Related Conditions List.
The final rule also includes endometrial cancer.
Those whose conditions are “certified as WTC-related health conditions” may receive treatment without paying out of pocket. They may also be eligible for additional benefits.
“This rule is significant as it not only provides access to life-saving care and treatment, but also recognition for the women who sacrificed so much on and after 9/11 that their diagnosed uterine cancer is a WTC-related health condition,” said WTC Health Program Administrator John Howard, M.D., in the news release.
“With the publication of this rule, a critical gap in coverage for women in the Program has been eliminated. All types of cancer, if determined to be related to 9/11 exposures, are now covered by the World Trade Center Health Program, providing women equal access to the treatment they deserve,” Howard continued.
The effective date was January 18, 2023.
Per the CDC, as of September 2022, 66,029 general responders and 17,044 Fire Department of the City of New York responders were enrolled in the WTC Health Program, which started in 2011. More than 15,000 living members had cancer that was certified under the program.
Cancers are the third top certified condition for first responders but are the first for survivors, which the CDC defines as “those who were present on the day of the attacks or who worked, lived, or went to school in the New York City disaster area on September 11th or the months that followed.” The top certified cancers for responders include non-melanoma skin (6,410), prostate (4,013) and melanoma of skin (1,333). For survivors, the rankings vary slightly, with prostate (2,758), female breast cancer (1,988) and non-melanoma skin (1,887) ranking in the top three.
In May 2022, the WTC Health Program published a notice of proposed rulemaking to consider adding uterine cancer to the WTC-Related Conditions list.
About the Author
Alex Saurman is a former Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety,who has since joined OH&S’s client services team. She continues to work closely with OH&S’s editorial team and contributes to the magazine.