Recently, a story was highlighted in innumerous newsprints drawing attention to a sensitive issue that dates back eight years.  Within a span of five days two New York City police officers and an FDNY firefighter died of cancer in the first week of October.  Police officers Robert Grossman, 44, and Cory Diaz, 37, and FDNY firefighter Richard Manetta, 44, all reportedly worked on and around Ground Zero for an extenuating period of time. 

Richard Manetta died October 10, a day after Robert Grossman died from a brain tumor he had long suffered from after dedicating a surmountable amount of time at Ground Zero.  The preceding Wednesday, Police officer Cory Diaz died of a similarly bizarre cancer at the age of 37.

Their family members and a plethora of advocates blame their deaths on the conditions they worked under at Ground Zero, namely the toxins that were released into the air when the planes hit the twin towers and when they crashed.  “Everybody is denying that this stuff is connected to 9/11, but it is…[and] Unfortunately, it’s just going to happen more and more. I just hope next week there isn’t four”, said Stephen Grossman father of deceased police officer Robert Grossman. 

Advocate and firefighter 9/11 recovery and rescue worker Kenny Specht, 40, who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer three years ago is quoted in an article from the New York Daily News as saying that “The facts are indisputable…this week alone proves what we’ve been saying is absolutely occurring”.  (Cite: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/10/12/2009-10-12_3_heroes_of_911_die_of_cancer_in_5_days.html) 

The deaths of these three brave citizens have not only revisited and drawn attention to an extremely sensitive issue but their deaths have also reignited anger over the lack of support from the country that many believe they deserve.  Much of the anger is fueled by Congress’s delay and overall lack of concern in passing the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, otherwise known as the James Zadroga Act, which would greatly assist with the medical care for rescue and recovery workers. 

Please view the attached links for further information on the recently deceased 9/11 rescue workers, Richard Manetta and Robert Grossman.

Richard Manetta:

http://www.fdnypipesanddrums.net/index.php?q=gallery&g2_itemId=4477

Robert Grossman:

http://www.newsday.com/news/police-officer-who-worked-at-ground-zero-dies-of-a-brain-tumor-1.1518822

I will soon touch upon the details of the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act in a subsequent blog; however, I would really like to hear opinions on the reported cases of cancer that many 9/11 Rescue and Recovery workers are suffering from.  How do we begin to address the complex issues and questions surrounding cancer clusters?