Health
Fox News' Eric Shawn reveals cancer and respiratory illness from 9/11 toxic dust
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
On the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11th attacks, Fox News correspondent Eric Shawn reported live on Fox & Friends from Lower Manhattan, where survivors, families, first responders and public officials gathered to honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost.
During the segment, Shawn revealed he himself suffers from 9/11-related cancer.
“I have two different diagnoses under the World Trade Center Program,” he revealed, referencing the federal program that provides monitoring and treatment for survivors, responders and others directly affected in New York, at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
TUNNEL TO TOWERS COMMEMORATES 9/11 WITH MORTGAGES FOR HEROES, NATIONAL STEEL JOURNEY
“It is hard to believe that it has been nearly a quarter of a century since that day, when radical Islamic terrorism attacked the very heart of our city and our country,” Shawn said.
“It is a philosophy that basically hates our principles, our freedoms, what our nation stands for. That has not diminished — and today, again, we all gather here to remember what was lost.”
Fox News’ Eric Shawn disclosed his cancer diagnosis and bronchitis issues related to 9/11 toxic dust exposure. (David Surowiecki/Getty Images; Fox News)
The tragedy extends far beyond that day, he emphasized.
“While 2,977 people were murdered here that day, the number who have died from 9/11-related illnesses has increased from the toxic dust that was released,” Shawn said.
“We’re all in this together.”
According to CDC data, 48,000 people have now reported 9/11-related cancers, with nearly 10,000 diagnoses in just the past year.
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, US EXPERIENCES THE WORST TERRORIST ATTACK IN AMERICAN HISTORY
More than 3,700 first responders have died since 9/11, including 2,300 who had cancer. The Fire Department of the City of New York has been hit especially hard, with 409 of its members lost to post-9/11 illnesses.
“While 2,977 people were murdered here that day, the number who have died from 9/11 related illnesses has increased from the toxic dust that was released,” Shawn said. (Robert Giroux/Getty Images)
For Shawn, the statistics are deeply personal, as he suffers from both respiratory issues and cancer directly related to the attacks. But, he says, he is one of the lucky ones.
“I think of all those who were killed that day and those who continue to suffer because of that philosophy — that is not diminished. We have to condemn it. We have to despise it. You will never forget.”
“If you were below Canal Street, basically, you were exposed to the dust,” Shawn said. (iStock)
The health impact reaches far beyond first responders, Shawn said.
“If you were below Canal Street, basically, you were exposed to the dust. I was here reporting on it. That’s what happened with me. I mean, I’m very, very lucky. I think of all those who are suffering much greater … I’ve lost a few friends from this, of course.”
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Shawn’s own diagnosis came decades later, in the form of a bronchitis-related respiratory issue and then a cancer diagnosis just this year.
“Back then, I remember thinking, maybe in 20, 30 years later I’ll get something. Well, here it is, 24 years.”
MORE IN HEALTH NEWS
Shawn emphasized the importance of coming together as a nation: “We’re all in this together. I mean, we are. We are all in it together.”
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
For many, surviving cancer comes with an automatic new lease on life but other survivors continue to experience physical and emotional challenges long after treatment ends.
Yoga may significantly reduce the insomnia, fatigue and mood disturbances many survivors endure after remission, a recent clinical trial found.
Mood disturbance and insomnia are “two of the most pervasive and troubling side effects experienced by cancer survivors for years after completing adjuvant treatments,” the researchers reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
SIMPLE DAILY HABIT MAY HELP EASE DEPRESSION MORE THAN MEDICATION, RESEARCHERS SAY
They noted that both symptoms can substantially inhibit survivors’ ability to perform everyday activities.
The study, funded by the National Cancer Institute, compared 204 cancer survivors receiving standard survivorship care alone with 206 survivors who paired standard care with the Yoga for Cancer Survivors (YOCAS) program. Most of the participants were female breast-cancer survivors.
A clinical trial showed that yoga may help ease symptoms cancer survivors experience after treatments. (iStock)
YOCAS is a four-week intervention that incorporates two types of yoga – hatha, which is traditional and more active, and restorative, which is more passive. Both forms involve slow, gentle movements, breathing exercises and mindfulness, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), which published a news release on the study’s findings.
Participants in the YOCAS group practiced yoga, on average, for 180 minutes each week over the course of three sessions.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
At the end of the trial, the YOCAS participants reported overall improvements to mood, anxiety and fatigue, while the standard care group did not.
“Additionally, improvements in insomnia stemming from YOCAS yoga may be mediated by changes in overall [mood disturbance] and fatigue,” the researchers wrote.
“[The study is] an important advance because it offers survivors, who are likely already managing multiple medications, a non-pharmaceutical solution for reducing four different side effects at once,” Fumiko Chino, MD, a cancer researcher and associate professor in breast radiation oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center, told ASCO.
Cancer survivors often continue to struggle with physical and mental-health challenges after the disease has been successfully treated. (iStock)
Timothy Pearman, Ph.D., director of supportive oncology at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, told Fox News Digital he was not surprised by the results of the study.
“Yoga is one of the most widely studied and validated interventions for managing cancer-related fatigue, mood disturbance and overall physical health,” Pearman said.
Pearman said his wife, Jenny Finkel, is a yoga teacher and received her continuing education at Duke University’s integrative medicine program, which focuses on yoga for cancer patients.
“There are now a number of cancer-specific yoga teacher training programs nationwide,” Pearman said. “Yoga is a wonderful thing because it is very modifiable, meaning that even for people who have significant physical impairment, the exercises can be modified so that anyone can participate.”
He added that yoga is affordable, too, because “all you need is a mat and someone to show you how to do it.”
Osteoporosis, an increased risk of cardiac problems and issues with balance and stamina are other physical symptoms related to cancer treatment that yoga can help mitigate, Pearman said.
Cancer survivors who took part in an average of three yoga classes a week for four weeks reported reduced anxiety and fatigue, according to a recent study. (iStock)
Shari Botwin, a licensed clinical social worker based in Pennsylvania, is a thyroid-cancer survivor who specializes in working with victims of trauma, including cancer. She turned to yoga months after her diagnosis and told Fox News Digital the practice has been “transformative.”
According to Botwin, cancer survivors she’s worked with have dealt with emotional challenges that affect their healing process, including depression and survivor’s guilt. In addition to the physical relief yoga can provide, she said it can also offer “a supportive environment of peers, some of which are cancer thrivers.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES
Botwin added that yoga can help survivors who have lost parts of their body reframe their thinking.
“It supports us into moving into a place of self-compassion rather than shame and self-hatred,” she said.
Yoga can help cancer survivors who struggle with guilt or shame to find a community of understanding peers, according to some experts. (iStock)
Almost any type of exercise can be beneficial for cancer survivors, Pearman said. He advises his patients to stick to the type of exercise they enjoyed prior to cancer.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
He also noted that free yoga classes geared toward cancer survivors are widely available through various non-profit organizations.
Jill Biden says Joe’s debate performance made her wonder if he had a stroke
Former first lady Jill Biden revises her account of former President Joe Biden’s disastrous 2024 debate, now alleging she feared he was suffering a stroke. This new statement from the first lady contrasts sharply with her earlier public affirmations of his performance. Contributor Ben Domenech scrutinizes the timing and motivations behind this sudden shift.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Former first lady Jill Biden has expressed her concerns about former President Joe Biden’s health status, noting that she feared he was having a stroke during a 2024 debate against President Donald Trump.
Biden struggled his way through the performance, with long periods of silence, confused facial expressions and stammered speech. In a recent interview with CBS, Jill Biden commented that she was “frightened.”
“I don’t know what happened,” she said. “I mean, when I watched it, I thought, ‘Oh my God, he’s having a stroke,’ and it scared me to death.”
JILL BIDEN SAYS SHE THOUGHT JOE WAS HAVING A STROKE DURING HIS DISASTROUS 2024 DEBATE PERFORMANCE
A stroke occurs when there is bleeding in the brain or when blood flow to the brain is blocked, according to Mayo Clinic.
Identifying a stroke may be difficult, as symptoms can vary.
Stroke symptoms can include balance loss, weakness, slurred speech, face drooping, confusion and severe headaches. (iStock)
The American Stroke Association (ASA) identifies the following key warning signs, using the acronym “B.E. F.A.S.T.”
- B – Balance loss
- E – Eye (vision) changes
- F – Face drooping
- A – Arm weakness
- S – Speech difficulty
- T – Time to call 911
In a situation in which someone could be having a stroke, “the only” thing to do is to call 911, Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel told Fox News Digital.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
The doctor emphasized other symptoms to watch for, including weakness on one side, slurred speech, difficulty processing information and confusion.
The ASA also warns that severe headaches can also be a sign of stroke.
At the first sign of stroke, 911 should be contacted immediately, as 1.9 million brain cells die every minute that a stroke goes untreated. (iStock)
Siegel advised against giving the person an aspirin, as it could worsen bleeding in the brain if that is the cause of stroke.
With an ischemic stroke, that type of medication could be helpful.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
The ASA says 1.9 million brain cells die every minute that a stroke goes untreated, which means earlier treatment leads to higher survival rates and lower risk of disability.
“In medicine, we use the term ‘time is brain,’” Siegel said. “This means that the faster you bring the patient to the emergency room, the faster they can receive emergency treatment if indicated to reopen the blocked artery in the brain, if there is one.”
Brain imaging should be done within the first several hours after seeking medical attention for a stroke, according to a top physician. (iStock)
Brain imaging can also be done on arrival at the ER, which should occur within the first several hours, Siegel said.
Anyone who is experiencing a stroke should not drive themselves to the hospital, according to the CDC. Instead, the person should get a ride or call 911 — as treatment begins inside the ambulance.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
About 80% of strokes are preventable, the American Heart Association states.
Prevention includes managing high blood pressure, diabetes, atrial fibrillation and other risk factors.
One in four survivors have another stroke within the next five years, per CDC data, so those at higher risk should prepare a prevention and treatment plan.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Fox News Digital’s Alexander Hall contributed to this report.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Top stories
→ Single infusion of controversial drug changed severe depression symptoms within hours
→ What to know about thyroid cancer prognosis following Pam Bondi’s diagnosis
→ Tick bite ER visits are spiking as doctors warn of disease surge
Approximately 71 per 100,000 ER visits were tick-related in April, more than double the historical average. (iStock)
Health in the kitchen
→ Popular fruit may help protect your skin from the sun, new study suggests
→ Diet change tied to ‘younger’ biological age in older adults
→ Filtered water at specific ages could add months to lifespan decades later
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
“The changes in gene expression [from eating grapes] indicated improvements in skin health,” one researcher said. (iStock)
Conversation starters
→ Finding sleep ‘sweet spot’ could help you live longer, study suggests
→ ‘Wild West’ peptide craze surges beyond GLP-1s, FDA to consider easing access
→ One type of sitting may pose greater dementia risk
-
Lifestyle19 minutes agoThe ‘Hacks’ finale ties a melodramatic bow onto a beloved series
-
Technology31 minutes agoWelcome to Night Vale host Cecil Baldwin shares his tech pet peeves
-
World34 minutes agoMoscow, Taliban forge military alliance in power grab after US Afghanistan exit: reports
-
Politics39 minutes agoTrump floats replacing 250th anniversary concert with massive MAGA rally after artists pull out
-
Health46 minutes agoCancer survivors may see surprising benefits from one specific exercise, study says
-
Sports49 minutes agoPSG Champions League victory causes chaos in Paris, with 45 arrested and fires set across city
-
Technology54 minutes agoWill this high-tech lounge change how you wait at airports?
-
Business1 hour agoStruggling Carls Jr. franchisee plans to close 10 and sell 49 California locations
