If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with colon cancer due to the events of 9/11, you may be eligible to receive compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Seeking Compensation for 9/11-Related Colon Cancer
It has been many years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but survivors, responders, and the lower Manhattan community live with an ever-present risk of developing colon cancer. Following the collapse of the WTC (World Trade Center) twin towers, carcinogen-laden dust enveloped the entire Lower Manhattan, New York, and remained in the air for days.
No one would have imagined the level of the impurities the air contained, leave alone the devastating damage it would have on their health.
After lying latent for years, colon cancer and rectal cancer is now manifesting in individuals present in the exposure zone during and after the attack. Not only is the disease life-altering, but managing it can be financially draining. However, if you get a positive 9/11-related colon cancer diagnosis, relief is available. The government has set up a fund, the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), to compensate for various 9/11-related conditions, including colon cancer.
The experienced 9/11 lawyers at Cannata, Hendele & Cannata can help you recover compensation to alleviate the financial burden you or your family may be going through following your illness.
For over two decades, our VCF attorneys have helped more than two thousand responders and survivors recover over $300 Million in compensation, including 9/11-related colon cancer payouts from the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.
Don't wait until the deadlines for file your bowel cancer claim has passed. Our lawyers are standing by, ready to file your claim.
Call 1-888-982-8428 or complete the claim evaluation form to discuss your claim with an experienced VCF lawyer today.
The connection between Ground Zero and colon cancer in 9/11 responders & survivors
Little did the Ground Zero community know overexposure to the toxins and irritants that hang in the area for days increased their risk of cancer, plus a host of other health conditions. Neither could survivors and first responders. Due to the long latency of colon cancer, most of those who have developed the disease couldn't link it to exposure.
Right now, the World Trade Center health program ranks cancer among the Top 10 certified conditions. In the same report, colon cancer ranks tenth in the Top 15 certified cancers, and more incidences continue being reported. While the agency has established the minimum latency period for 9/11-related colon cancer, there's no maximum latency duration. This provides a wider window for those affected to seek cancer treatment and qualify for compensation.
Like with many other cancers, colon cancer can be effectively treated with early detection. For this reason, WTC encourages those exposed to the 9/11 toxicants and carcinogens to get screened. Usually, colon cancer starts developing as polyps (small growths that form inside the colon). Although polyps are not necessarily carcinogenic, they grow over time and become malignant.
Common symptoms & warning signs of colon cancer
Colon cancer affects the large intestine. While it's more common in older people (according to the American Cancer Society and individuals with a family history of colon cancer, inhaling the toxic 9/11 air increased risk factors in the survivors, responders, and the exposure zone community, irrespective of their age or genetics.
Usually, the disease is not symptomatic at its earliest stages. Mainly, it incubates as non-malignant polyps inside your colon's linings for years before manifesting symptoms. That's why doctors recommend regular colon cancer screening for higher-risk individuals. Screening usually involves colonoscopy, a procedure done by inserting a long pipe (of a finger's width) through the anal opening to check for polyps.
Regular colorectal cancer screening is essential to determine whether you have non-malignant polyps, other gastrointestinal disorders, or colon cancer. This way, doctors can put you on early medical treatment to prevent the condition from deteriorating.
According to health professionals at the Mayo Clinic if you skip regular screening and the polyps advance, becoming carcinogenic, you may experience symptoms such as;
- Rectal bleeding (may manifest as blood in stool)
- Change in bowel movements
- Persistent abdominal discomfort
- Unexplained weight loss
- Feeling as if your bowel hasn't emptied completely
Note that manifesting these symptoms does not necessarily mean you have malignant cancer cells. Other gastrointestinal diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), may manifest similar signs. Though not as life-threatening as cancer, left untreated, they can predispose you to colon cancer.
Get 9/11-related colon cancer compensation from the VCF
To qualify for compensation under the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), we will need to prove your presence in the exposure zone during the terrorist attack, rescue, or exposure duration. Organizing and completing the proper documentation and paperwork can be very challenging. Our VCF lawyers have helped more than two thousand victims avoid delays or denials due to incomplete or incorrect documentation.
For instance, if you were a survivor, you may be required to provide evidence such as a medical report, an affidavit from a friend, etc. Workers may be required to provide IDs, employment contracts, a letter from the employer, or similar, while students may be required to provide documents such as student ID, enrollment letter, etc., in addition to affidavits of people confirming your experience.
The attorneys at Cannata, Hendele & Cannata will help compile all the necessary documents required for processing your colon cancer claim. VCF claims involving cancer may payout up to $250,000 (which is the standard maximum amount), however there 9/11-related colon cancer claims over $1 million have been awarded in a few special cases. Besides this amount, the fund can also award you economic damages (loss of earnings) if you can't work anymore. The recognizable age limit is 65, meaning if you become incapacitated at age 50, the fund should compensate you for the remaining 15 years. The amount you receive will be your annual income multiplied by the remaining years.
For instance, if your annual income was $150,000, you will get $2,250,000. However, the fund caps compensation for lost earnings at $200,000 annual income, meaning if you were earning $220,000, you only receive $3,000,000, i.e., $200,000 x 15.
In case you succumb to cancer, the fund will also award a death benefit of $250,000 to your dependents plus $100,000 for each one of them. For instance, if you were married with one child, your family will receive the cancer benefit of $250,000, death benefit of $250,000, plus $200,000.
When you speak with a 9/11 attorney at our firm, we will review your diagnosis and help you understand what compensation may be available to you through the fund.
How our 9/11 lawyers can help with your colon cancer claim
If you have developed colon cancer as a result of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, such an illness can be debilitating to both your physical and emotional wellbeing. The process of seeking compensation can be complex, no matter the nature of the claim. Hiring a skilled lawyer, especially one experienced in 9/11 claims, is crucial to recovering fair compensation and avoiding common mistakes.
From compiling evidence that proves eligibility to filing the claim and representing you, an attorney plays a key role. Whether you're filing the claim on your behalf or that of a deceased loved one who has succumbed to the colon cancer, a WTC VCF lawyer can help you receive the maximum possible compensation.
Discuss your 9/11-related colon cancer claim with a VCF lawyer today
The effects of the 9/11 WTC terrorist attack continue to impact the survivors, responders, and the Lower Manhattan community. But thanks to efforts by the WTC health program and VCF, those affected by colon cancer, rectal cancer, or other covered conditions can access compensation to lighten the financial burden.
At the law firm of Cannata, Hendele & Cannata, we have helped more than two thousand clients file successful claims with the VCF, earning more than $300 million in awards. With years of experience working with the fund, we are familiar with all aspects of the claim process and have lobbied for renewal legislation in Washington. If you are reaching out to us now, be assured that being with the right firm can help pave the way for a successful recovery.
Call 1-888-982-8428 or complete the online claim evaluation form today to discuss your 9/11 colon cancer compensation claim with an experienced lawyer at our firm.
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