New York cops’ cancer rate soaring in wake of 9/11
Before the World Trade Center attacks, the NYPD had five recorded thyroid cancer sufferers in its ranks. Since 2001, it’s had about 50. Some 57 cops have died of Ground Zero cancers and about 500 have been diagnosed with some form of the disease since the towers fell.
Comments (8)By Rocco Parascandola / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Monday, September 30, 2013, 9:57 PM
Keivom, James/New York Daily News
From far right, the NYPD's chief surgeon Dr. Eli Kleinman and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly both warn that it's important for cops to carefully watch their health, since cancers that have been afflicting more of them have no symptoms until it's too late.
The cancer rate for cops has jumped fivefold in the decade since the World Trade Center’s twin towers collapsed, an NYPD study shows.
And there’s been a tenfold increase in cops diagnosed with thyroid cancer, while the number falling ill with non-Hodgkins lymphoma has gone up by a factor of 3 1/2.
An NYPD surgeon is sounding the alarm over the increased cancer rates, noting that most members of the department did rescue and recovery work at toxic sites post-9/11.
RELATED: PROSTATE CANCER ADDED TO WTC-RELATED HEALTH CONDITIONS
Early awareness is particularly important for these two cancers because they’re often symptomless until it’s too late, said Dr. Eli Kleinman, chief surgeon for the NYPD.
Kleinman and Cornell Weill Medical Center gathered the cancer information as part of an NYPD study that analyzed cancer rates among cops from 1995 to 2011.
The full results won’t be out for another few months, but Kleinman says it’s important information for cops to have sooner rather than later.
RELATED: 1,140 WTC 9/11 RESPONDERS HAVE CANCER — SO FAR
These cancers “only show up late in terms of symptoms,” he said. And they aren’t easily found during self-exams, he added.
His data included cops who toiled at Ground Zero as well as those at other dangerous sites, like Staten Island’s Fresh Kills landfill.
“It’s an advisory. I don’t want to be alarmist, but it’s important for them to know that even if you don’t have any symptoms or any signs you need to be monitored,” he said. “It’s important to be checked out.”
And there’s been a tenfold increase in cops diagnosed with thyroid cancer, while the number falling ill with non-Hodgkins lymphoma has gone up by a factor of 3 1/2.
An NYPD surgeon is sounding the alarm over the increased cancer rates, noting that most members of the department did rescue and recovery work at toxic sites post-9/11.
RELATED: PROSTATE CANCER ADDED TO WTC-RELATED HEALTH CONDITIONS
Early awareness is particularly important for these two cancers because they’re often symptomless until it’s too late, said Dr. Eli Kleinman, chief surgeon for the NYPD.
Kleinman and Cornell Weill Medical Center gathered the cancer information as part of an NYPD study that analyzed cancer rates among cops from 1995 to 2011.
The full results won’t be out for another few months, but Kleinman says it’s important information for cops to have sooner rather than later.
These cancers “only show up late in terms of symptoms,” he said. And they aren’t easily found during self-exams, he added.
David Handschuh/New York Daily News
'I don’t want to be alarmist, but it’s important for them to know that even if you don’t have any symptoms or any signs you need to be monitored,' says Dr. Eli Kleinman, the NYPD's chief surgeon, right. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, left, was more blunt: 'Get yourself checked out.'
“It’s an advisory. I don’t want to be alarmist, but it’s important for them to know that even if you don’t have any symptoms or any signs you need to be monitored,” he said. “It’s important to be checked out.”
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nypd-cops-cancer-rate-soars-post-9-11-article-1.1472184#ixzz2gWlMsvxY
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