Northwell sees a 75% jump in 9/11-linked cancer cases as the health system reports a sharp rise in diagnoses among survivors and responders marking the attack’s 25th anniversary.
Surge in Diagnoses at Northwell
Northwell Health treats patients enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Program, a federal initiative created in 2011 to provide free monitoring and treatment for those who lived, worked or studied near Ground Zero. The program now covers roughly 145,000 people nationwide.
At the Long Island Jewish Medical Center, cancer certifications rose from 177 in 2023 to 235 in 2025, a 75% increase over three years. An additional 132 cases were added in the first half of 2026, bringing the total to 811 new cases in 42 months.
For context, the program recorded 1,634 cancer cases during its first decade (2013‑2022) and 2,445 all‑time cases among 1,489 individuals as of June.
About two‑thirds of Northwell’s enrollees have at least one WTC‑related health condition, and 30% of those have battled cancer, a share the system expects to keep climbing over the next decade.
Types of Cancer and Patient Stories
Prostate and skin cancers are the most common among Northwell’s patients, followed by breast and urinary‑tract cancers. Rare cancers are also appearing more frequently, according to program officials.
One example is Frank Kotnik, a former NYC Department of Transportation blacksmith who worked 20‑hour shifts near Ground Zero and was diagnosed with bladder cancer 23 years later. He received treatment at the R.J. Zuckerberg Cancer Hospital at LIJ Medical Center and is now in remission.
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Another case is Felicia Ivey‑Toure, a mental‑health counselor who provided crisis counseling to responders after the attacks. She later developed thyroid cancer, also treated at the same facility, and is currently cancer‑free.
The rise in cases reflects the lingering impact of the dust cloud and the arduous recovery work at sites such as Fresh Kills, which created a persistent environmental hazard, according to Craig Devoe, system head of gastrointestinal medical oncology at the Northwell Cancer Institute.
Screening and Outcomes
Screening rates among program members are notably high. Lung‑cancer screening reached 54% in 2024, far above the 18% national average that year, as reported by the CDC’s recent review of the program’s 25th anniversary.
Enrolled members diagnosed with cancer showed mortality rates 26% to 64% lower than other New York residents for several cancer types, including prostate, lung, kidney and colorectal cancers. This suggests that the no‑cost monitoring may be catching disease earlier and extending lives even as diagnoses climb.
While the numbers are stark, the broader picture shows a health system adapting to a long‑term crisis. The emphasis on full screening and specialized treatment centers appears to be making a measurable difference for those affected.
“9/11 is not over,” Kotnik said. “I’m proof of that.”
