More than 100 graduates of a New Jersey high school have been diagnosed with brain tumors over the past 30 years, prompting concern that there might be a connection between the school and. A cluster of brain tumors and cancer in people associated with a single New Jersey high school is causing concern. One review of 576 cancer cluster investigations over 20 years published in Critical Reviews in Toxicology found only 72 actually had increased rates of cancer. Lupiano, who has a 30-year background in environmental science and safety engineering, never anticipatedthe list of cases growing so long. She graduated from Tulane Law School in 2004 and passed the bar in New York, New Jersey, and California. Doctors thought it was benign at first, but the pathology results indicated otherwise, Al Lupiano recalled. IE 11 is not supported. She believes that every childs home, school, and town should be safe to grow up in and that no one should suffer due to circumstances outside of their control. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The district is bounded on the north by the Orange / Los Angeles counties' line, on the east by San Bernardino and Riverside counties, on the west by Puente Avenue, and on the South by the City of Fullerton. We had three of us by that date knowing we had brain tumors.. "It might feel like it is more prevalent than it actually is.". I was feeling lost, and I had remembered this study that I had started, and I made a promise to her that I wasnt going to stop.. All three have been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Youll often find contaminants that are in the environment, Dr. Peter Shields, the deputy director of the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, told TODAY. Medical experts are urging caution but also advising that there is no need for residents to panic. 100 PEOPLE WITH RARE TUMORS WHO ATTENDED SAME NEW JERSEY HIGH SCHOOL DEMAND ANSWERS The 110 people that Lupiano has counted on his list of former Colonia High School graduates have been. On March 7, he posted a page on social media looking for others from Colonia High School with brain tumors. 2023 www.mycentraljersey.com. Former Colonia High School student Al Lupiano first decided to investigate when both his wife and his sister were diagnosed with brain tumors, two decades after he himself had suffered. As DeCillis health declined, Al Lupiano started wondering why the three of them had brain tumors. Higher Education In an update on his Facebook page, Lupiano said the radiological team hired by the township to look for both radiation and radon has concluded. Drill March Parent Meeting, 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM Pre-Schools & Private Schools. "It's alarming because there are just so many people with a tumor - malignant or benign, and it's serious. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Ms. Vercoski has also contributed to legal publications as an author and values continuing education for attorneys. People who participate in the screening will have their MRI results read by a neuro-radiologist who will then send the report to the individuals personal physician. All rights reserved. Those wishing to make an appointment should call 844-283-7226 (844-BTF-SCAN) or visit www.btfscanwoodbridge.com. All three have been diagnosed with a brain tumor. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Facebook Colonia High School. Track SoCal rain with LIVE Megadoppler 7000 HD. MLG is a national Environmental and Class Action law firm serving the victims of environmental and corporate negligence across the country. 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Hiswife Michele, a 1991 Colonia High School graduate, had a large acoustic neuroma on her left side, which is life-threatening if left untreated. In 1999, Al Lupiano says he was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma, a type of benign brain tumor that grows on a nerve that runs from the brain to the inner ear. Jason Wisinksi lost his wife Janice 10 years ago to an inoperable brain tumor called Anaplastic Astrocytoma. We tailor each patient's treatment using the latest approaches, including new advancements such as: In addition, our partnership with some of the nations top research consortiums allows us to offer patients some of the most promising clinical trials. Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive malignant primary brain tumor with an incidence rate of 3.19 per 100,000 persons in the United States, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH). While we are waiting for the results of the radiological survey to be finalized, precious time is being wasted. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The St. Jude Sleep Centerbrings unusual expertise to the most common and undiagnosed sleep problem in America today: sleep apnea. While that may sound like a high number, determining if a group of cases constitute a cancer cluster can be difficult. Our neurosurgical smart suite the first of its kind in California combines intraoperative MRI and a revolutionary neuro-navigation system that function together like a highly precise GPS system inside the brain, giving patients the best potential for successful outcomes. Our sister station WABC-TV has reached out to the EPA for comment. The screenings are part of the foundations ongoing early detection program and research initiative, with the goal of helping people in the area discover if they have an undiagnosed brain tumor. Both sisters graduated from Colonia High School, just like Al Lupiano in 1989, his wife Michelle in 1991, and his sister, Angela Decillis in 1995. Angela DeCellis and her husband, Matt, and their friend Andrea Hoffman. The outside testing may need some minor follow-up work. Boys & Girls V/FS Track & Field Freeway League Tri-Meet, Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). We bring together more than a dozen specialties, life-saving research and a relentless commitment to advancing patient outcomes, giving our patients the very best opportunity to recover and heal. Theres some statistical analysis that has to get done, Karen Knudsen, CEO of the American Cancer Society, told TODAY. If you are a Colonia High School graduate, student, or staff member who has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, contact MLG today to participate in the investigation. The environmental scientist and industrial engineer picked up on a potential pattern. The environmental engineering firm T+M Associates was contracted by Woodbridge Township after growing concerns about a possible link between the Central New Jersey school and brain cancer. All three were diagnosed with a brain tumor. Lupiano, however,maintains more testing is needed to definitively prove there is nothing at the school linked to brain cancer. A scientist and mother is demanding answers after tests she conducted found cancer-causing toxins and materials were present at the school where more than 100 former students have since been. As tens of thousands of students and hundreds of staff have attended and worked at Colonia High School, and 1,300 students currently attend school there, it is urgent to understand the cause of this elevated occurrence of brain tumors. In addition to Ms. Vercoskis medical and legal expertise in environmental areas, MLG has an in-house team of lawyers and public health professionals, including two PhDs in public health, who are ready to lead the investigation to protect current and former students and staff of Colonia High School against the fallout from this rare brain tumor. "My wife fought like crazy. When childrens health and lives are at stake, we have a right to demand your full attention and transparency.". The township dedicated funds to hire an environmental engineering firm to start various tests at Colonia High School for possible contaminants in and around the school. WOODBRIDGE TWP., New Jersey -- Al Lupiano graduated from Colonia High School in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey in 1989. Earlier this year, Al Lupiano, an environmental scientist and Colonia High School graduate, discovered more than 115 people who spent time at the school had a rare brain tumor. This is only one of many, many tests that can be performed. If we catch a tumor before the patient becomes symptomatic, the health outcome is almost always better, saidDr. Michael Schulder, president of BTF and vice chair of neurosurgery at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. When Al Lupiano then revealed that his sister had glioblastoma, the doctor began peppering him with questions about what the three had in common, he recalled. Earlier:'It can't be a coincidence': Colonia High School community probes mysterious cancer cases. All rights reserved. Radon canisters were placed throughout the building to collect radon measurements and additional testing was scheduled for last week while the school, built in 1967, was closed for spring break. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Phil Murphy told NJ.com the possible brain tumor cluster was disturbing but stressed it was too soon to make definitive conclusions about the cause. The environmental testing is expected to last a month. Ms. Vercoski takes a special interest in the connection between health problems and exposure to environmental issues affecting New Jersey, the state where she grew up and where her family and friends continue to live. Colonia High School . A single New Jersey man has uncovered a medical mystery apparently linking 100 people diagnosed with rare cancers or tumors to a Woodbridge high school. Ive always had a gut feeling that there was something wrong at that high school, he said. At the time, the medium lifespan for her type of tumor was 18 months. Every inch of Colonia High School, part of the Woodbridge Township School District, from buildings to fields, is being tested for radiation to determine if there is a link between the school and the number of cancer cases diagnosed amongst former students and staff. 844-933-0296. I dont know if I have ever had another husband and wife who have an acoustic neuroma. McCune Law Group, (MLG) Partner Michele Vercoski is leading the investigation into the link between the diagnoses of a rare brain tumor and former Colonia High School students and staff. "That started setting off bells and whistles in my head.". Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary (714-256-1311) has a campus located at 251 South Randolph Street in Brea. Soon after, Janice Wisinski delivered their daughter Haylee, now 15, and a few weeks later had her surgery to try to remove her tumor but not until after experiencing 29 localized seizures. Academic Achievement Awards, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM He was successfully treated for it, though he has lingering side effects, including slight deafness, fatigue and dizziness. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Sinceearly March, Lupiano, a 1989 Colonia High School graduate, has identified 117 students, teachers and staff members with primary brain tumors, as well as 78 students and staff with rare or curious cancers. More say the information flow is sorely lacking. The National Cancer Institute defines a cancer cluster as "the occurrence of a greater than expected number of cancer cases among a group of people in a defined geographic area over a specific time period.". Other than that, we dont have any experience to link us together.. Copyright 2023 WABC-TV. Lupiano, his wife Michele, and his sister were all Colonia High School graduates and all developed brain tumors, although Lupiano's and his wife's are benign. "The federal and the state governments all know what the facts are to date and have not expressed any immediate concern. I was highly motivated to keep moving forward.. WOODBRIDGE The Brain Tumor Foundation (BTF) is offeringfree early brain tumor detection, with MRI screenings, in response to concerns surrounding more than 125 former Colonia High School students, teachers and employees who have apparently developed brain tumors. Al Lupiano has found 107 people with primary brain tumors who all attended or worked at Colonia High School. All rights reserved. See How All 50 Wards Voted in the 2023 Chicago Mayoral Election. Of those, only three were linked to possible exposures; of those, only one had a clear cause identified. Lupiano has been leading efforts for attention to the potential link ofbrain tumors in the community. Our fellowship-trained neurosurgeons and neurointerventional radiologists utilize these and other leading-edge technologies to provide expert care for the full range of neurosurgical conditions, from brain injuries and complex brain tumors to nerve compression and herniated disks. A Warner Bros. Reports claim that more than 60 former students and staff of Colonia High School have been diagnosed with a rare brain tumor called glioblastoma. Screenings will utilize Swoop, HyperFines new portable MRI machine, BTF said. Pain profoundly affects every area of your life which is why weve created one of the countrys most successful chronic pain programs. Learn how to access Aeries, Chromebook support, and much more! They didnt think for a second that it had anything to do with a brain tumor. (The doctor) just looked at me and said, Ive been doing this a long time. I dont have any data that says anybody should be concerned right now, and if we had that, we would certainly take action immediately," McCormac said. "Theyve tested the interior of the school to tile to the concrete, you name it, McCormac added. RECEIVE CITY NEWSGet the Brea Line Newsletter, City of Brea1 Civic Center CircleBrea, CA 92821Phone: 714-990-7600, 57/Lambert Interchange Improvement Project, Join the Energy Coalition With Smart Habits. Lupiano said, adding his doctor encouraged him to investigate the concentration of tumors in the town where he grew up. He found a total of 104 former students and faculty - about half are cancerous. What is graupel? His wife. His sister Angela DeCillis had a stage 4 glioblastoma that took her life in February 2022 at age 44, just six months after she was diagnosed. Sonora High School is a diverse community dedicated to the academic, personal, and social growth of all student learners within a student-centered environment. Lupiano, an environmental scientist, said he has confirmed 65 cases of people with rare brain tumors, adding the common denominator is they were all Colonia High School graduates or had. And with the list that grew by two people in just the last week, the results of recentradiation and radon testing at the school on East Street can't come soon enough. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Learn more about our pain treatment services. Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. Optune: this nonsurgical, electrical-frequency therapy disrupts glioblastoma cancer cell growth, representing the first advancement in outcomes for this cancer in over a decade. The city of Woodbridge has been taking the lead on that front, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars for testing at a school that graduated roughly 15,000 people over the last 30 years. Learn more about personalized stroke services, treatments and services. A total of 104 former students and faculty with brain tumors responded to a Facebook post. 3 min read. Its just like both of you being struck by lightning, Al Lupiano recalled. CNN's Ana Cabrera speaks to Al Lupiano, a former student. Jason Wisinski, who lost his wife and sister-in-law, both Colonia High alumnae, to primary malignant brain tumors at the age of 38, became one of many convinced that a cluster a. They made sure she was OK, made sure the babys OK. Sonora High School encourages students to become life-long learners and contributing members of an ever-changing world. Sonora HS Promotion. Lupiano started researching. Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. You have to find out whats doing this. Since 2007, Michele M. 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