Fox News correspondent Eric Shawn revealed on Thursday that he has been diagnosed with cancer linked to the events of September 11. This comes as nearly 48,000 individuals have reported health issues due to exposure to toxic dust from the World Trade Center attack.
During a live broadcast from Lower Manhattan on the 24th anniversary of 9/11, Shawn shared that he has received “two different diagnoses” through the World Trade Center Program, which aims to provide health care for survivors and first responders.
Veteran journalists, including Shawn, are facing various health challenges linked directly to their work at Ground Zero. It has been over 20 years since the attack, yet his cancer diagnosis is a stark reminder of its lasting effects.
Reflecting on the timeline, Shawn commented, “I remember thinking back then. I got something in 20 or 30 years later.” Time seems to stretch, and now he acknowledges it has actually been 24 years.
The health crisis extends beyond the initial death toll of 2,977 from the attack. Data from health authorities indicate a significant increase in cancer diagnoses among those who were exposed to the debris, with nearly 10,000 new cases in just the past year.
Since 9/11, more than 3,700 first responders have succumbed to illnesses related to their service, with about 2,300 of those deaths attributed to cancer. The New York Fire Department experienced particularly severe losses, with 409 members dying from such health issues post-attack.
Shawn emphasized that the dangers aren’t limited to paramedics; anyone south of Canal Street during and after the attack was at risk of exposure to toxic dust. “If you were under Canal Street, you were basically exposed to dust,” he stated, sharing his own experience of reporting during that critical time.
He also mentioned the loss of a friend to a 9/11-related illness, contrasting that with his ongoing struggles. His respiratory conditions escalated to bronchitis before his cancer diagnosis emerged.
The World Trade Center Health Program is now monitoring and assisting thousands across multiple states, including survivors from New York as well as those affected in the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Despite his condition, Shawn continues to fulfill his reporting responsibilities, using occasions like Memorial Day broadcasts to denounce the radical ideologies behind the attack. “It’s basically a philosophy that hates our principles, our freedom, what our nation represents,” he said, underscoring the persistent relevance of these issues as a unified remembrance.
The high rates of health issues reflect the ongoing tragedy stemming from the September 11 attacks. Shawn noted that the toxic legacy continues to affect everyone who lived and worked in Lower Manhattan during that time.
Medical experts have linked dust from the site to multiple cancer types, with exposure to a mixture of concrete, asbestos, and other carcinogens released when the twin towers fell.
Shawn’s diagnosis sheds light on how serious health implications can manifest slowly, often revealing themselves only years, or even decades, after initial exposure. “We’re all together,” he concluded, highlighting the sense of national unity amid the ongoing health struggles faced by many affected by that tragic day.
