Surviving 9/11 But Confronted By Cancer Years Later
- A Massachusetts woman, who survived both the 9/11 attacks and dual cancer diagnoses (breast and colon), is now channeling her resilience into raising awareness and funding for cancer research—an urgent cause as thousands of 9/11 survivors face elevated cancer risks.
- People with Colon cancer are very treatable and curable if caught early. Colorectal screenings are recommended to begin around age 45. However, people at increased risk, such as those having a family history of the disease, may want to screen sooner. Discussing your screening options with your doctor is recommended.
- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends women begin screening for breast cancer at age 40. Women should talk with their doctor to learn about their cancer risk and assess when it is a good time to start annual mammograms.
- The September 11th attacks exposed roughly 490,000 people to toxic debris and cancer-linked pollutants, according to experts. Many survivors and first responders have developed serious illnesses after prolonged exposure to contaminated air around Ground Zero.
- Cancer ranks among the most prevalent health issues tied to 9/11 exposure—fifth among first responders and fourth among civilian survivors. Skin (non-melanoma), prostate, female breast, melanoma, and lymphoma are the most frequently diagnosed cancers in these groups.
- Individuals exposed to post-9/11 environmental toxins are encouraged to explore support options like the World Trade Center Health Program, which provides free medical monitoring and treatment for eligible responders and survivors.
“September 11th, two cancers, I will rise again,” Ball-Toncic told WBZ News.
Read MoreView this post on InstagramOn September 11, 2001, Ball-Toncic was in the lobby of the North Tower minutes before it was struck. Decades later, her body would endure a new kind of trauma—first breast cancer, and just weeks after overcoming it, colon cancer.
“We are all touched by this horrible thing called cancer,” she said.
Specific details surrounding Ball-Toncic’s breast cancer remain unclear, but her stage 2 colon cancer diagnosis brought with it tough treatment. Patients with stage two colon cancer have larger tumors than stage one patients; however, the tumor is still confined to the colon wall.
“Stage 1 through 3, all of those patients get surgical therapy if they’re healthy enough to tolerate it,” says Dr. Heather Yeo, Colorectal Surgeon and Surgical Oncologist at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian.
“It really depends on the depth of the tumor into the colon wall and the risk that it has to spread,” Dr. Yeo continued. She adds that stage 2 colon cancer patients might be able to take advantage of chemotherapy, although chemo comes with grueling side effects, which can range from nausea and vomiting to diarrhea and fatigue.
WATCH: Managing Chemo Side Effects.
“I’ll put all 11 of my marathons together, and running them back-to-back would be easier than what I just went through, seriously,” Ball-Toncic told Boston’s NBC news station.
Before her diagnosis, Ball-Toncic was an active competitor in the Boston Marathon; in fact, she began racing after surviving the September 11th attacks. She built her life around healthy lifestyle habits, but cancer pulled the rug out from under her—both physically and psychologically.
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“The chemo took everything out of me,” she said, recalling the toll of treatment.
“I remember lying on the couch thinking, I’m a business owner who’s not working. I’m a chef who can’t eat. And I’m an athlete who can’t make it up a flight of stairs—who am I?” Ball-Toncic said.
Her lingering questions haunted her, but they also became a turning point. Her identity, once rooted in strength, now included survival, vulnerability, and an unwavering will to be a fighter.
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Ball-Toncic’s cancer came years after her experience on 9/11. That day, she and others narrowly escaped when the second plane struck the tower overhead.
“We stopped and turned around just in time for the second plane to hit… I vividly remember when we turned around and the building was in flames… I pointed to it and said, ‘We were in there.’”
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Like many survivors, Ball-Toncic was engulfed in the massive debris cloud—exposed to toxic dust that blanketed Manhattan and lingered long after. An estimated 490,000 people breathed in cancer-causing toxins that day. Though the direct link between Ball-Toncic’s cancers and 9/11 remains unclear, statistics show cancer as one of the most common health conditions among first responders and survivors. Skin, prostate, breast (in females), melanoma, and lymphoma top the list.
WATCH: September 11 and Cancer Survivors
Now, Ball-Toncic is gearing up for the Pan-Mass Challenge—a bike-a-thon that raises funds for cancer research. It’s her way of honoring those who stood by her and a living testament to the survivor’s spirit that’s defined every chapter of her life.
Ball-Toncic is “cancer-free” but still receives regular checkups in case any signs of recurrence begin to emerge. Forever the adventurer, she trekked to Antarctica after beating colon cancer. She says her cancer journeys helped bolster her resilience.
“A new perspective emerged: post-traumatic growth. It’s both the process of enduring traumatic events and seeking the positive changes that occur as a result. Let me add quickly that I feel incredibly blessed to have the support around me that fosters this growth,” Ball-Toncic said to BoldJourney.com.
More Stories from September 11th Survivors
- 9/11 Cancers — New Warning Says 300,000 People at Risk Are Not Getting Help They Need
- As 9/11-Linked Cancers Continue to Climb, Jon Stewart Urges Congress to Fund First Responders’ Medical Costs
- ‘We Were Told The Air Was Safe’ — The People At Risk for 9/11 Cancers
- New 9/11 Memorial Honors Heroes Lost Or Still Suffering From Ground Zero-Linked Illness, Including Tragic Cancers
- 9/11 Raised Cancer Risk for Nearly 500,000 People; One Man Diagnosed With Breast Cancer Shares His Story
- Cancer After 57 Days at Ground Zero: A Retired Firefighter Shares His 9/11 Story
How Sept. 11th Continues to Plague Survivors
More than 71,000 people are enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Registry. This registry tracks the long-term physical and mental health effects of the September 11 attacks.
The World Trade Center Health Program has tracked the health of and provided medical care to more than 105,000 survivors and responders. They include responders and survivors of the World Trade Center attack, responders to the Pentagon attack, and the Pennsylvania plane crash. Among them, 19,150, that’s nearly 1 in 5, have had a 9/11-related cancer.
The immense debris rushing into the air during the terror attacks comprised explosive material from the airplane’s impact itself, including the building material of the World Trade Center.
The National Cancer Institute has identified several chemical substances known to be carcinogenic to humans. Some examples of carcinogenic chemicals include:
- Arsenic
- Asbestos
- Indoor emissions from household compounds
- Soot
- Secondhand tobacco smoke
- Wood dust
WATCH: Are toxins in the air making us sick?
“There has been no other disaster quite like this,” Dr. Michael Crane tells SurvivorNet.
Dr. Crane is the Medical Director of the World Trade Center Health Program at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York and an expert in the health consequences of large-scale disasters.
“We are looking at an exposure that was really frightening and whose total extent is unknown.”
Dealing With 9/11-Linked Disease
Hundreds of thousands of people may have been exposed to toxins and pollution in the air after the attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. There are resources available.
- Cancer After 57 Days at Ground Zero: A Retired Firefighter Shares His 9/11 Story
- Hundreds Pay Respect to 9/11 First Responder Luis Alvarez, Who Died of Cancer Linked to the Attacks
- New 9/11 Memorial Honors Heroes Lost Or Still Suffering From Ground Zero-Linked Illness, Including Tragic Cancers
- Everyone Who Was There, Get Screened: 9/11 Responder John Feal’s Story
- He Was a 9/11 Rescue Worker, He Got Cancer, And He Wouldn’t Change a Thing
- Helpful Resources if You’re Worried About 9/11-linked Cancer
Help Coping With a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
If you are facing a breast cancer diagnosis, your emotions are likely to run high, which is completely normal. Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik says emotions are often fluid when coping with a diagnosis.
“The patient or person going through the stressful event should accept that emotions will be fluid. You may feel fine one day and then feel a massive wave of stress the next. It’s also important for those you look to for support, whether that’s a therapist, friends, and family, or both, to understand the fluidity of stress-related emotions,” Dr. Plutchik said.
WATCH: How to cope with complex and changing emotions.
If a stressful event affects how you think and feel, it may be time to seek mental health treatment. This could mean traditional talk therapy, medication, changing lifestyle habits (like exercise and diet), seeking a support group, or many other approaches.
SurvivorNet experts suggest women needing a little extra help coping with a breast cancer diagnosis.
- Let your family and close friends know, and let them help. So many cancer survivors tell us they want and need support, but are often too preoccupied to make specific requests. Urge those close to you to jump in with whatever practical help they can offer.
- Keep a journal. It can be extremely cathartic to let those feelings loose on paper. Grab a pen and a nice journal and chronicle your thoughts throughout the day.
- Join a cancer support group. Groups in nearly every community offer opportunities to connect with others going through a similar journey. You’ll learn constructive insight from others who can tell you what to expect and how to stay strong on tough days.
- Consider seeing a therapist. Ask your doctor to refer you to a therapist so you can discuss your fears and concerns in a safe space. Often, vocalizing your thoughts and feelings rather than internalizing them can provide relief.
Breast Cancer Symptoms & Self-Exams
Women are encouraged to do regular self-exams to become familiar with how their breasts feel normally, so when something unusual, like a lump, does form, it can be easily detected. A self-exam includes pressing your fingertips along your breast in a circular motion.
For some women, that means going to their doctor and walking through what a self-breast exam looks like, so they know what normal breast tissue feels like, so if they do feel something abnormal, whether it’s a lump or discharge from the nipple, they know what to ask and what to look for.
Below are common symptoms to look out for:
- New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit)
- Any change in the size or shape of the breast
- Swelling of all or part of the breast
- Skin dimpling or peeling
- Breast or nipple pain
- Nipple turning inward
- Redness or scaliness of the breast or nipple skin
- Nipple discharge (not associated with breastfeeding)
Understanding a Colon Cancer Diagnosis
Colon cancer is very treatable and curable if caught early. Colon cancer screenings can involve at-home tests such as Cologuard, but a colonoscopy is more effective, according to SurvivorNet experts.
The cancer starts when abnormal lumps called polyps grow in the colon or rectum. It takes up to 10 years for a colon polyp to become full-blown cancer, according to SurvivorNet experts.
The American Gastrointestinal Association lowered the recommended initial age for colorectal screening from 50 to 45. However, experts recommend screening earlier for some people who may be at an increased risk of developing colon cancer, such as those with a family history of the disease.
WATCH: Debunking misconceptions about colon cancer.
The most poignant symptom of colon cancer is a change in bowel habits. This may include constipation or diarrhea due to changes in the size or shape of bowel movements. A change in stool color, particularly black or tarry stools, can indicate bleeding from a tumor that lies deep in the colon.
Other symptoms can be harder to pinpoint, such as abdominal pain and unintentional weight loss. Finally, some tumors bleed a small amount over a prolonged period, resulting in anemia (a low red blood cell count) that is detected through blood work.
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