Fox News veteran Eric Shawn has revealed that he is battling cancer, a condition he believes stems from toxic exposure while covering the aftermath of 9/11 at Ground Zero. During the 24th anniversary broadcast, the 68-year-old journalist reflected on the countless lives lost to 9/11-related illnesses and shared his own deeply personal struggle

Fox News Veteran Eric Shawn Reveals Cancer Diagnosis Linked to 9/11 Toxins
On the 24th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, Fox News reporter Eric Shawn stunned viewers by revealing that he has been diagnosed with cancer and continues to battle respiratory illnesses tied to his coverage at Ground Zero. At 68, the veteran journalist shared his deeply personal struggle during a live broadcast at the World Trade Center site in New York.

Shawn Marked the Anniversary With Both Remembrance and Revelation
Standing at Ground Zero, Shawn reflected on nearly a quarter-century since the terror attacks that killed 2,977 people. His voice carried the gravity of memory but also the weight of personal experience. “It is hard to believe that it has been nearly a quarter of a century since that day,” he said. “Today, again, we all gather here to remember what was lost.”

The Shadow of 9/11 Extends Well Beyond That Day
While honoring the lives lost in the attacks, Shawn reminded viewers of the thousands more who have since died from exposure to toxic dust, smoke, and debris in the aftermath. “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,” he explained, his words underscoring how the legacy of 9/11 extends far beyond the towers’ collapse.

The CDC Numbers Reveal a Staggering Toll
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 48,000 people have reported 9/11-related cancers. Nearly 10,000 new diagnoses were recorded in just the past year. More than 3,700 first responders have died since 9/11, including 2,300 whose deaths were linked directly to cancer. For many, those numbers tell a story as harrowing as the attacks themselves — a slow-moving tragedy unfolding in the years and decades that followed.

Shawn Revealed He Is Among the Thousands Impacted
The longtime Fox News anchor disclosed that he is now counted in those statistics. “I have two different diagnoses under the World Trade Center Health program,” he said, referring to the federal program established to provide care for responders and survivors exposed to toxins. His conditions include respiratory illnesses, such as bronchitis, as well as a recent cancer diagnosis.

Exposure at Ground Zero Changed His Life Forever
Shawn explained that he, like so many others, was exposed simply by being in lower Manhattan in the weeks after the towers fell. “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,” he said. His words painted a sobering picture of how widespread the danger was — not limited to first responders, but extending to anyone present during those toxic days.

He Considers Himself Fortunate Despite the Diagnosis
Despite his health struggles, Shawn stressed that he feels lucky compared to so many others who have endured worse. “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,” he admitted. His humility highlighted not only the personal burden he carries but also the immense suffering of the larger 9/11 community.

The Long Shadow of Illness Was Always Expected
Shawn recalled that even in the days immediately following the attacks, many suspected long-term illnesses would eventually follow. “Back then, I remember thinking, maybe in 20, 30 years I’ll get something. Well, here it is, 24 years,” he said. For him, the diagnosis confirmed what thousands had feared since those weeks of toxic exposure — that the real health consequences of 9/11 would unfold over a generation.

The Toll on First Responders Has Been Especially Severe
While Shawn’s story personalizes the tragedy for journalists and civilians, he emphasized the immense toll taken on first responders. The firefighters, police officers, and EMTs who rushed into danger are disproportionately represented among the dead and sick. Their exposure was not fleeting but constant, and thousands have since succumbed to cancers, respiratory conditions, and other illnesses born from that toxic cloud.

The World Trade Center Health Program Offers Lifelines of Care
The program that Shawn referenced was created to provide medical monitoring and treatment for survivors and responders. Covering illnesses from cancer to lung disease, it has become an essential resource for thousands like him. For many, it is the only way they can access specialized care and financial assistance for illnesses directly linked to 9/11 exposure.

Shawn’s Story Resonates Because It Mirrors Thousands of Others
The veteran reporter’s revelation struck a chord not simply because of his public platform, but because his experience echoes that of countless others. Ordinary New Yorkers, journalists, and bystanders share the same long-term fears and medical diagnoses as the firefighters and officers who dug through the rubble. His words lent visibility to a group whose suffering often feels invisible compared to the heroism remembered on 9/11 itself.

His Announcement Brings New Attention to Lingering Health Risks
By going public with his own cancer diagnosis, Shawn has amplified awareness of 9/11-related illnesses just as the country pauses to remember the attacks. His candor ensures that the discussion goes beyond ceremonies and speeches, reminding Americans that the tragedy is not confined to history books. For many survivors, it remains a present and daily reality.

The Human Cost of Bearing Witness
Journalists like Shawn were tasked with bringing the world the truth of what happened at Ground Zero. They breathed the same air as the responders, stood among the same toxic debris, and documented the suffering of others while unknowingly sacrificing their own health. His story reflects the unseen cost of bearing witness to history.

He Urges Unity in the Face of Shared Struggles
Even as he shared his diagnosis, Shawn’s message was not one of bitterness but of solidarity. “We’re all in this together. I mean, we are. We are all in it together,” he said. His words captured the sense of collective endurance that continues to bind survivors and their families nearly a quarter-century later.

A Reminder That 9/11’s Legacy Is Still Unfolding
Eric Shawn’s disclosure is both personal and universal. It underscores that the legacy of 9/11 is not frozen in the past but is unfolding in the bodies of thousands who breathed the dust and carried it in their lungs. His illness joins him to a community of survivors whose stories demand to be remembered alongside the victims of that day.

Two Decades On, the Cost Continues to Rise
As the nation marks yet another anniversary, Shawn’s announcement is a sobering reminder that the price of 9/11 continues to climb. For those who lived it — responders, survivors, and reporters — the tragedy remains a daily struggle. Their illnesses are the living proof that while the towers fell in 2001, the fallout still echoes through lives, families, and communities.