Fox News’ Eric Shawn Reveals 9/11-Related Cancer as Tens of Thousands Continue to Battle T0xic Dust Illnesses

Fox News correspondent Eric Shawn, long known for his extensive reporting on the September 11th attacks and their aftermath, revealed during a live broadcast that he is battling 9/11-related cancer and a respiratory illness connected to toxic dust exposure at Ground Zero. Shawn made the statement while reporting from Lower Manhattan on the 24th anniversary of the attacks, where survivors, families, first responders, and public officials gathered to honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost on that morning in 2001.

Standing near the 9/11 Memorial pools — the site where the Twin Towers once stood — Shawn spoke candidly during a “Fox & Friends” segment, sharing a diagnosis that he said he had kept largely private until now. “I have two different diagnoses under the World Trade Center Program,” Shawn revealed, referring to the federal health initiative that provides medical monitoring and treatment for responders, volunteers, survivors, and workers who were exposed to harmful toxins in New York, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Shawn explained that he developed both cancer and a respiratory condition linked to toxic particles released in the aftermath of the World Trade Center collapse. Like many journalists who spent prolonged periods in Lower Manhattan covering rescue and recovery efforts, Shawn was exposed to the dust cloud that lingered over the area for weeks. “It’s something many of us who were down here have lived with,” he said solemnly, adding that he considers himself “fortunate” to receive monitoring and treatment through the program.

A Vast and Growing Public Health Crisis

Shawn’s revelation comes amid new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showing that over 48,000 people have now reported 9/11-related cancers, a number that continues to rise year after year. Researchers warn that exposure to the dust — a toxic mixture of pulverized concrete, jet fuel, asbestos, glass fibers, heavy metals, and chemicals — can cause cancers and respiratory illnesses to emerge even decades later.

More than 400,000 people are believed to have been directly exposed to the toxic plume, including first responders, firefighters, police officers, construction workers, office employees, Lower Manhattan residents, and journalists covering the unfolding events. Medical experts say conditions such as lung disease, gastrointestinal cancers, thyroid cancer, lymphoma, and skin cancers have become increasingly common among survivors.

The World Trade Center Health Program, created under the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, now serves over 130,000 enrolled members nationwide. For many, Shawn’s announcement served as a powerful reminder that the toxic dust did not discriminate based on occupation or role — it affected anyone in proximity to Ground Zero.

A Reporter Long Connected to 9/11 Coverage

Eric Shawn, who joined Fox News at its founding in 1996, has spent much of his career covering terrorism, national security, and the long-term impact of the Sept. 11 attacks. He reported live from New York on the day of the attacks and spent weeks covering the rescue operations, recovery work, and the evolving investigation.

Colleagues say his deep involvement in 9/11 reporting made his on-air revelation particularly meaningful. Many viewers expressed shock, noting that Shawn continued to work steadily for more than two decades without publicly discussing his diagnosis. Friends and coworkers described him as deeply committed to ensuring that the stories of 9/11 survivors and first responders remained in the public eye.

His disclosure, delivered on the anniversary itself, was received by many as both a personal testimony and a broader call to recognize the lasting health toll of the tragedy.

Honoring the Fallen — and the Living

The 24th anniversary ceremony included traditional moments of silence marking the exact times the planes struck the towers. Family members read the names of victims, while officials emphasized the importance of support for both survivors and first responders still grappling with long-term health effects.

Shawn’s story became one of the day’s most widely discussed moments, with many seeing it as emblematic of the hidden and ongoing costs of the attacks. Advocates for 9/11 survivors say such public acknowledgments are crucial in raising awareness about the need for continued funding for medical screening, treatment, and compensation programs.

A Message That Resonated Across the Country

Following the broadcast, viewers and colleagues expressed support for Shawn across social media. Many who worked at Ground Zero or lived in Lower Manhattan said his revelation mirrored their own experiences of late-emerging diagnoses and chronic respiratory problems. Others praised Shawn for speaking out, noting that journalists who spent weeks breathing the same toxic air have often been overlooked in discussions about post-9/11 health issues.

Shawn concluded his segment with a message of solidarity: “There are so many still suffering, and so many who don’t even realize their illnesses are connected,” he said. “The best thing we can do is make sure no one is forgotten — not those we lost, and not those still fighting because of that day.”