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More than two decades after the attacks, the health story of 9/11 is still being written. Among firefighters, police officers, construction crews, volunteers, and downtown residents who breathed toxic dust and worked long days in the aftermath, cancer is a lasting chapter. That story includes men with a disease many never thought applied to them at all. Male breast cancer remains rare, but for those who experienced exposure, vigilance matters.

Why This Matters Now

The World Trade Center Health Program continues to document rising certifications for 9/11-related conditions as the responder and survivor populations age and more people enroll. Cancer is one of the most frequently certified categories, and breast cancer is included among covered conditions when a physician determines it is related to 9/11 exposure. If you lived, worked, or volunteered in the exposure zones and you notice changes in your chest or breast tissue, do not wait. Speak with a clinician who knows your 9/11 history.

How Common is Breast Cancer in Men?

Across the United States, it is estimated that about 2,800 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2025 and about 510 men will die from the disease. Male breast cancer makes up less than one percent of all breast cancers, which is exactly why awareness and fast action are so important in higher-risk groups like the 9/11 community.

Male Breast Cancer: What to Look For

Knowing your normal is the first step. Men should pay attention to the area behind and around the nipple and along the chest wall. See a healthcare provider promptly if you notice any of the following:

• A new lump or swelling in the breast or underarm
  
• Changes to the skin of the chest such as dimpling, puckering, thickening, scaling, or redness
  
• Nipple changes including inversion, pain, crusting, or changes in color
  
• Nipple discharge that is bloody or clear
  

These symptoms can have noncancer causes, but they are never something to ignore. Early evaluation and detection leads to earlier answers and more treatment options.

What Makes 9/11 Exposure Different?

Dust and smoke from the World Trade Center collapse contained a complex mix of carcinogens. Long shifts in the debris field and persistent neighborhood exposure increased the likelihood of inhalation and skin contact. Research from Mount Sinai and partner institutions continues to show that combined exposures from 9/11 are linked with higher cancer risks in responders and survivors. While prostate, thyroid, melanoma, leukemias, and lymphomas are prominent in the data, breast cancer is a recognized covered condition in the WTC Health Program when a clinician certifies a link to exposure.

If You Notice a Change…

1. Do not delay care.
   Call your primary care provider or a breast specialist and share both your symptom history and your 9/11 exposure history. Ask directly for an evaluation plan. That may include a clinical exam, diagnostic mammogram, ultrasound, and possibly a biopsy.
   
2. Tell your clinician about 9/11 exposure.
   Document where you worked or lived, your role after the attacks, how long you were present, and any personal protective equipment you used. This information can help determine risk and guide referrals.
   
3. Enroll in the World Trade Center Health Program if eligible.
   The Program provides monitoring and medically necessary treatment for certified 9/11-related conditions, including cancer. Enrollment has expanded over time, with regularly updated statistics and a quarterly public dashboard. If you are eligible but not yet enrolled, start the application process and ask how to coordinate diagnostic care.
   
4. Understand coverage and certification.
   Coverage requires certification that your condition is related to 9/11 exposure and care must be provided through Program-affiliated clinics. The Program’s member handbook explains benefits, covered conditions, and how certification works.
   

How ABCF Can Help

If cost is a barrier to getting evaluated, ABCF’s Breast Cancer Assistance Program can help connect you with screening and diagnostic services. Our goal is simple. No one should delay care because of gender, money, distance, or confusion about where to start. 

In many firehouses, precincts, and work crews, health conversations start peer to peer. If you notice a colleague or loved one mentioning a lump, soreness, or nipple changes, encourage them to get it checked. Share this message widely each September as we honor those we lost and support those still living with the health effects of 9/11.