09/11/2025
On September 11, 2001, Nick was a vice president at a bank in Lower Manhattan. He was in his office when the unthinkable happened and two planes crashed into the World Trade Center towers, just blocks away from his office.
Because of his senior position, Nick stayed longer than many of his coworkers. When he was finally told he could leave, he was handed a paper towel to hold over his face as he left the city.
"We weren't offered much guidance, just told to find our way home," he says. "There was dust and debris all over. We just walked through it. It didn't dawn on us that this was a health problem."
Nick retired not long after 9/11, after a long and successful career. He filled his days with golf, family and community service, remaining healthy and active. But then a simple accident changed everything.
He was playing with his beloved golden doodle, Roxie, last winter when he was knocked over and developed rib pain. When it didn't go away, his granddaughter urged him to get checked out at Southern Ocean Medical Center.
It was there that an X-ray found a collapsed lung, and suspicious fluid around it. Thoracic surgical oncologist Dr. Rachel NeMoyer performed a surgical biopsy that led to a shock diagnosis: spindle cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressive cancer often linked to airborne toxins.
“I never felt sick or weak – it was a complete shock,” Nick says. “It hit me like a ton of bricks, and had I not fallen and thought I broke something, I probably would have shrugged it off.”
“For Nick, he had unfortunately been down at Ground Zero on 9/11, and we found that a lot of people who had been exposed to the toxins in the air, asbestos or other carcinogens from the buildings and fires, can lead to an increased risk for mesothelioma,” or cancer in the lining of the lungs, says Dr. NeMoyer.
“It was reported that anybody within a one-and-a-half-mile radius was exposed to asbestos at that time, and Nick was working only one block away,” explains hematologist oncologist Dr. Hameem Kawsar.
While the news was shocking, Nick felt secure and cared for by his doctors. “I was very happy and comfortable with my oncologist, Dr. Kawsar. He explained everything from day one, how sick I was and how rare this is,” Nick says. “He gives me strength, and I think I was treated terrifically; the hospital has done a good job.”
Preventative screenings can catch cancer earlier, and high-risk patients who get screened have a 20% lower risk of death.
Nick’s medical team created a personalized plan to manage his cancer, combining immunotherapy with cardiology oversight to protect his heart.
“The perception is that cancer is deadly, but with advancements in science, we can detect it early and cure it,” says Dr. Kawsar.
Married to the love of his life, Barbara, for 64 years, Nick credits his positive outlook to his trust in his doctors and his faith. “None of us know what God has in store for any of us, but I'm hoping He keeps me around a while,” he adds. “I’d like to see my grandchildren get married and have families of their own. We try to keep our faith, and we try to stay positive.”
While Nick’s diagnosis was unexpected, his story shines a light on an important reality: the health effects of 9/11 are still unfolding. If you or a loved one were near Ground Zero on or after September 11, regular check-ups and honest conversations with your doctor are important.
