colonia high school brain tumors

It should also be noted that not all the reports of primary brain tumors are cancerous. Concerns were raised by Al Lupiano, a 1989 graduate of Colonia High School, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor along with his wife Michele and sister Angela DeCillis, both of whom had also attended the school. Lupianos wife was also diagnosed with a brain tumor, the NY Post reported. "And if we do find something, we're going to deal with the consequences.". Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Since . 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. Last year, his sister, also an alumna of Colonia High, was diagnosed with a primary brain tumor, a stage 4 glioblastoma, he told CBS New York. (RELATED: Video Shows Man Repeatedly Running Over Woman With SUV After Minor Incident). There's a lot of speculation running rampant about what could be causing this, but to date, there has been nothing found. Al Lupiano was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor in 1999. By Sean Adams, WCBS Newsradio 880. Our sister station WABC-TV has reached out to the EPA for comment. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli, Lawrence Township League of Women Voters announces 2022 leadership award winners, No criminal charges for Hillsborough police officer in 2021 fatal shooting, Vigil marks one-year anniversary of Ukrainian War. Listing for: Select Medical Corporation. The sample came back indicating PCBs at concentration of 4.3 ug/wipe (or 100 cm2), indicating that PCBs may be present in indoor air, according to a report compiled by Komorek and obtained by NJ Advance Media. Colonia High School was reportedly the common denominator among those suffering from the tumors Credit: CBS NEW YORK Al Lupiano, speaking to CBS2, said the rare brain tumors were discovered in people who attended Colonia High School. United States Department of Environmental Protection. Lupiano's sister passed away in February, 2022 at the young age of 44. Its not something done to us due to bad habits, Lupiano told CBS News. But I want to be careful to say that it's very early in the investigation. Janice's sister Chery Black also died from brain cancer in 2015. Additionally, T&M Associates has begun conducting historic site research to obtain any and all necessary records related to the construction of Colonia High School when it was built in 1967, through to the present. They were diagnosed on the same day last summer. McCormac, along with schools Superintendent Joseph Massimino; Shawn LaTourette, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection; and Judith Persichilli, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health, announced the results of the radiation testing during a press conference at CHS on May 26. In 1999, when he was just 27, Al. Most of them during the years of 1972 to 2000, said Matthew Stanmyre with NJ Advance Media, who broke the news. What would you do if you went to the doctor, you arent feeling well, asked Matthew DeCillis, whose wife, Angela, died from a brain tumor in February. He is presently working with local officials to address the situation. "It's alarming because there are just so many people with a tumor - malignant or benign, and it's serious. When he started digging and looking for a link, the common link was Colonia High School. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Primary brain tumors are tumors that originate in the brain, as opposed to secondary tumors which start somewhere else and then spread to the brain. But we'd love to be able to rule out the school.". Would they just end it at that?. This is definitely not normal.. Nearly 100 people attending a single high school in New Jersey have developed rare forms of brain cancer. Middlesex County's Colonia High School, located in Woodbridge, has made national headlines in recent weeks after over 100 former students and faculty were found to have been diagnosed with. For her part, Komorek said she took it upon herself to do the independent testing for my own peace of mind, to sleep at night, and for my girls to remain at the school., I was hoping it was going to come back negative, she added. It will take about two weeks. Whittington a board-certified MD in California claimed several of the brain tumors developed by ex-Colonia High staff and students are glioblastoma multiforme an aggressive cancer. She loves a good music pun and wakes up very very early. Theres no telling if they're going to find answers here. The municipal council in Woodbridge, which oversees Colonia High School, approved an emergency contract earlier this month to start radiological testing of the grounds at the high school. Both parents of children in school and current teachers and staff deserve answers. The reports he got back were startling, and he saw patterns emerging. "It's not something done to us due to bad habits, said Lupiano. When it didnt happen, Komorek who earned a joint degree in environmental science from Rutgers and New Jersey Institute of Technology and specializes in air, ground water and soil contamination took matters into her own hands. I just felt like there were a lot of unanswered questions regarding the school, Komorek told NJ Advance Media. Part Time, Per diem position. Just simple math in my head having a husband and wife with this tumor, which arent related and then to have my sister with a blastoma, I knew something was wrong, Lupiano says. Township officials have posted the radiological reports on the township website at www.twp.woodbridge.nj.us. Kamal added that there needs to be a full investigation to understand if these cancers are linked, and if there's a specific cause. COLONIA, New Jersey (WABC) -- An investigation into the possible link between a Central New Jersey school and cases of brain cancer found no radiological hazards that warranted further investigation, the district superintendent said Thursday. Lupiano has confirmed that he will not stop until he finds out what has happened here over the years at Colonia High School. All three were diagnosed with a brain tumor. The sudden death of his sister led Lupiano on a research mission about the rare brain tumors. T&M Associates subcontracted Cabrera Services Inc., a radiological environmental and remediation company, of East Hartford, Connecticut. They all attended or worked at Colonia High School most of them during the years of 1972 to 2000. Exterior shots of Colonia High School in Colonia, NJ on Thursday, April 7, 2022. "There's lots and lots of people calling me, saying, 'Look, I didn't go to the high school, but I live a mile away, and we call our block cancer alley,'" he told Fox News. ', Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts. 100 former NJ high school students . Last year, Lupianos wife and sister also developed brain tumors, as first reported byCBS New York. ", ALSO READ | Onlookers urged police to charge into TX school: 'Go in there! So, would . ", "Just the sheer numbers of cases he's found is staggering," McCormac continued. "Woodbridge Township contacted the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the CDC, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) (which is part of CDC), and the state Department of Health last week, and we've begun initial discussions with them.". Our journalism needs your support. ", "We are taking this incredibly seriously," Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac told Patch earlier this April, saying that he finds Lupiano's theory "quite credible and legitimate. CHS is the one link of all three of them. "My wife was awesome, and I think about her every day, I talk to her all the time," Wisinski said. Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac immediately and responsibly got engaged. Three of the victims are Al Lupiano, his wife Michelle, and his sister Angele Decillis. The governor wont be embracing the bill despised by landlords and supported by tenant advocates. At the time of the CBS interview in late March, Lupiano claimed to have confirmed 65 cases of rare brain tumors, all affecting people who either attended or worked at Colonia High School. No one knows why. I could go on. Its not air. "In addition, DEP's further review does not indicate sources of environmental exposures of concern to public health. Environmental scientist Al Lupiano tells NBC4 New . They learned of their tumors eight days apart. As the Senior Producer for Morning Edition on WNYC, Alec works hard to get listeners all the latest news and delightful stories from New York City, northern New Jersey and beyond. $4 Million Settlement Mass Torts $203 Million Class Action Financial Services $75 Million Class Action Mass Torts $200 Million Class Action Lupiano was diagnosed with a rare and abnormally large brain tumour Acoustic Neuroma (AN) in 1999 when he was just 27 years old. Since March . The same day my sister was diagnosed (August 2021), I received the devastating news my wife Michele (nee Zawada) also has a very large (3.0 cm), very rare brain tumor called an Acoustic Neuroma (aka Vestibular Schwannoma) on her left side. Nsikan was previously at National Geographic where he worked as a science editor, overseeing its COVID-19 coverage in addition to other topics in science, health and technology. Colonia High School: Environmentalists determining possible link between New Jersey school and brain tumors - ABC7 Chicago tumor Former students wonder if their brain tumors are. There have been some outlier cases. There may need to be other steps taken. He emphasized that there's no need for residents in the community to go get emergency cancer imaging scans immediately. So, would you take us through what is known so far about this cluster? They said they took your temperature. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Almost 100 people from the very same New Jersey high school have all developed brain tumors. But even more rare was the fact that his wife and sister later found out that they had similar medical conditions. Jason Wisinski lost his wife, Janice, 10 years ago to an inoperable brain tumor called Anaplastic Astrocytoma. 100 former students, staff of Colonia High School in New Jersey say they have rare brain tumors. It has been lightly edited for clarity. Unfortunately, hers was terminal, and she died in February. Lupiano said he started searching for instances of Colonia High graduates having brain tumors and was stunned to discover 15 people in total, with two newly discovered cases pending further . Hill: Brain tumors, relative to other types of cancer, are typically rare but can be very lethal. State health officials are now conducting an investigation into the cluster of 117 people. As per this resolution approved at their April 5 meeting, the Woodbridge town Council hired T & M Associates and Cabrera Services, Inc. to do the radon testing (officially called "environmental engineering services for radiological assessment") at the high school. It's not something in soil," Lupiano said to CBS News. DeCillis died in February from glioblastoma multiforme, a form of brain cancer. Social media has played a big role in shining the light of truth on this situation. He has contacted: Mayor McCormac confirmed these details yesterday to PEOPLE Magazine. He said he is specifically looking for anyone who graduated from or attend Colonia High School from approximately 1975 to 1995. He holds a doctorate in pathobiology from Columbia University and is an alum of the science communication program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. He is keeping a list. 94 people from Colonia High School in Woodbridge, New Jersey are part of a cancer cluster of still unknown origin. Copyright 2023 WABC-TV. The testing was prompted after township officials learned of various social media posts related to several instances of brain tumors and brain cancer among students and faculty of CHS from . "I went on Facebook on March 7, and I asked for the people on Facebook to help me find others. Matthew Stanmyre | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, found no traces of radiological contaminants. All rights reserved (About Us). ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News Stream, Onlookers urged police to charge into TX school: 'Go in there! She said she collected a dust sample from the top of the stall in a womens bathroom inside Colonia on Aug. 30, then sent it to a state-certified laboratory in Mountainside for testing. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. How did this incident come to light in the first place? All three have been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Massimino sent the same statement to NJ Advance Media Monday. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Is Colonia High School the cause of primary brain tumors in former students and staff from 1975 to 1995? ', * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts, AccuWeather: AM showers before a mild afternoon, Extra Time: Breaking down massive NYC, NYPD settlement, Teammate facing charges in crash that killed local UGA player. Two hours later, we received information that my wife also had a primary brain tumor, Lupiano said. 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. She made it five years," said Jason Wisinski. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Komorek, Lupiano and several other parents criticized the assessment which did not include taking soil or water samples for not being thorough enough to put their minds at ease, despite assurances from state Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette. He received his . How many people do we mean here? Environmental engineering firm T+M Associates has been contracted by the township to test for radiation on the grounds of the high school, which was built in 1967. Advocates, for months, implored state and local officials to undertake more testing. One former student, Al Lupiano, 50, was diagnosed with brain tumors in the 1990s but subsequently recovered, according to NJ.com. He says that the evidence that Lupiano has collected is a cause for concern, which is why the city will pay for emergency testing at the school this weekend. Youre 98.6, youre fine, go home. The results will then be reviewed by federal agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Environmental Protection Agency, plus the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Health. My best friend had a cancerous brain tumor. They are leaving radon canisters at the school for 14 days, which will test for elevated levels of radon. He added that the Environmental Protection Agency has gotten involved in the investigation. COLONIA, N.J. - Radiation tests are being done at Colonia High School in New Jersey after more than 100 people were diagnosed with rare brain tumors. Al Lupiano, an environmental scientist and a 1989 graduate of the N.J. high school began investigating Colonia High School in Woodbridge when he realized many others with ties to the school suffered the rare brain tumors, just like he did, 20 years ago. National Cancer Institutes list of 27 common afflictions. Lupiano, an environmental scientist and industrial engineer, picked up on a trend. On Feb. 17, Angela died from Glioblastoma Multiforme or GBM. The 50-year-old claims the diseases could be traced. Both had graduated from Colonia High School, the news outlet reported. Both sisters were graduates of Colonia High School. 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. Lupiano told CBS News New York that"Fast forward to August of last year My sister received the news she had a primary brain tumor, herself. 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