Within modern history there is an event that to date is remembered for its impact. It is about the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 (also known as 9/11) against the Twin Towers in New York. It is a fact that forever marked the history not only of one country but of the entire world. Although at that time there were no social networks, it was televised in real time. Precisely today on its twentieth anniversary, it is worth analyzing what has happened to the teams of doctors and firefighters who immediately provided help to the victims.
As with any tragedy, the support of healthcare professionals is essential. In this case, there were hundreds and even thousands who immediately went to the scene of the accident to offer their help. In these types of situations, people are not only required to help remove the bodies of the injured, but also to offer first aid care.
Although the central objective of doctors and nurses is to take care of the health of their patients, that implies many risks. Sometimes they even put their integrity at risk in order to protect others and that is something that is rarely talked about.
While in this particular case there were many challenges they faced. The first and most obvious was that at any moment fragments of the structure of the buildings could fall and that would be deadly. But another aspect that must be taken into account was the cloud with toxic gases that formed at the scene of the accident and which lasted for weeks.
Increased incidence of thyroid cancer
Twenty years after that tragic event, the Federal University of São Paulo and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine conducted a international study. The end result has surprised everyone. What it showed is that the incidence of thyroid cancer it is three times higher in the doctors, nurses and firefighters who treated 9/11 than in the general population.
“We were concerned about the high incidence of thyroid cancer, fearing that it could be due to an overdiagnosis or false positive results, but we proved that this is not the case. Annual screening and monitoring can actually detect thyroid cancer at an early stage, increasing the likelihood of a favorable prognosis. “
The reason for this relationship is not yet clear, but it is believed that the dust from the debris they inhaled to care for the victims could be responsible. Possibly there is the relationship with this specific type of tumor.
Mental health vulnerability
On the other hand, an increase in cancer cases in general has also been observed among the inhabitants of the World Trade Center area of New York. It is estimated that more than 10,000 cases of various neoplasms have been confirmed since the terrorist attacks.
On the other hand, the damage has not only been in the physical health but also in the mental part. The study titled World Trade Center Health Program: First Decade of Research shows that the damage has been long-term and can even last for life in the affected people. In this sense, stress, nervousness and severe depression have persisted both in doctors and in the inhabitants of the city.