"100as of midnight Sunday 4/10, I recorded the 100th case of someone having a primary brain tumor," Lupiano wrote on Facebook last Monday, April 11. The reports he got back were startling, and he saw patterns emerging. On the National Cancer Institutes list of 27 common afflictions, tumors in the brain and nervous system rank 19th in terms of case rate but 5th-lowest in terms of the chances of survival. Im optimistic that when all is said and done, we will have a definitive link of what caused this to happen to all of us and Im hopeful that we can take that knowledge and prevent it from ever happening again.. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. State health officials are now conducting an investigation into the cluster of 117 people. Earlier this year, Lupianos sister lost her battle with a very rare and highly aggressive malignant glioma brain tumor, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) at age 44. Angela has four daughters who have or will go to Colonia High School. A cluster of over 100 rare brain tumors in the past 30 years sparks a health inspection at Colonia High School in New Jersey. "I had recalled two family friends, the Black sisters, had also passed of these brain tumors," Lupiano said. Brain cancer is relatively rare but very dangerous. 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. 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Lupiano is still looking for any and all Colonia High School alumni to come forward. Earlier this year, Colonia graduate Al Lupiano, also an environmental scientist, discovered more than 100 teachers and alums of the school who reported having brain tumors, drawing international attention to the community and sparking state and local investigations. Advocates for an official investigation into fears of a "cancer cluster" at the Middlesex County high school say there are parallels to the notorious water system contamination in the Ocean County town that was blamed for more than 130 cases of childhood cancer in the 1990s. Would they just end it at that?. How did this incident come to light in the first place? Image: Unsplash. 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. Obviously, everyone's praying and hoping for the best," said Colonia High School junior Julia Pagnozzi. Lupiano's sister, Angela, died on February 17 from Glioblastoma Multiforme or GBM. Al Lupiano has found 107 people with primary brain tumors who all attended or worked at Colonia High School. $4 Million Settlement Mass Torts $203 Million Class Action Financial Services $75 Million Class Action Mass Torts $200 Million Class Action The statewide graduation rate fell slightly, from 91% in 2019-20 to 90.6%. Gothamist is a website about New York City news, arts, events and food, brought to you by New York Public Radio. After discovering 94 former students and staff from Colonia High School which was built in 1967 had been diagnosed with rare brain tumors, Dr. Joseph Massimino, superintendent of . Listed on 2023-03-02. His wife Michelle graduated in 1991. ", ALSO READ | Onlookers urged police to charge into TX school: 'Go in there! The conversation is available below. Phil Murphy was asked by reporters for his thoughts on the possible brain cancer cluster at Colonia High. Several types of primary brain tumors, including cancerous forms like glioblastoma and noncancerous yet debilitating masses such as acoustic neuromas, haemangioblastomas and meningiomas, have been diagnosed, according to the outlet. ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News Stream, Onlookers urged police to charge into TX school: 'Go in there! In a Facebook post, Lupiano said the battle over whats affecting hundreds of CHS alumni, teachers and staff is not over with the help of renowned doctors and scientists., He called the data presented at the press conference flawed.. Her sister, Cheryl Black also died from brain cancer in 2015. Woodbridge Township is paying T&M Associates $221,350 to do the radon testing. 100 former students, staff of Colonia High School in New Jersey say they have rare brain tumors. 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. His name is on it, along with his wife and late sister. Al Lupiano, a graduate of the high school, believes there's a link between Colonia High School and brain tumors diagnosed in 108 people over a period of three decades, ending in the early 2000s. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Part Time, Per diem position. 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. The environmental testing is expected to last a month. Hill: Brain tumors, relative to other types of cancer, are typically rare but can be very lethal. His wife. WOODBRIDGE Levels of radiation in and around Colonia High School were found to be consistent with typical background levels of radiation found in New Jersey and no further testing is warranted. And today we now stand at 117 individuals with primary brain tumors, and another 70 with very rare cancers.". 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. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. After nearly 100 people who attended the same New Jersey high school developed rare brain tumors, an alumnus and cancer survivor is demanding answers. A soil sample taken from near the northern wall of the school similarly indicated PCBs concentration of 575 mg/kg, exceeding the New Jersey Soil Remediation Standard. This is the preliminary step that they're taking to see if they can find anything. This all began last year when Al Lupiano made a startling discovery. Unfortunately, that didnt happen.. When he started digging and looking for a link, the common link was Colonia High School. She made it five years," said Jason Wisinski. Columns with an asterisk or 'N' indicate there was no data or it was suppressed to protect student privacy. Fortunately one of the survivors is an environmentalscientist Al Lupiano, who is bringing attention to this and he is relentlessly looking for answers. Advocates, for months, implored state and local officials to undertake more testing. So that has already begun. Lupiano has spearheaded a public push for answers after he started a Facebook group focused on former Colonia students and the rare brain cancer, the outlet noted. I will not rest until I have answers. An investigation has been launched after more than 100 people who attended a high. Lupiano says that most of the people on his list were at the high school prior to 1997. Most of them during the years of 1972 to 2000, said Matthew Stanmyre with NJ Advance Media, who broke the news. "It's certainly concerning because the rate of primary brain tumors is certainly higher than what we would expect in the general population," said Dr. Arif Kamal, Chief Patient Officer at the American Cancer Society. As a concerned uncle and community member, I pray we find nothing, Lupiano says. The soil also tested positive for excessive levels of chlordane, heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide all pesticides, the report said. "I went on Facebook on March 7, and I asked for the people on Facebook to help me find others. Its not something done to us due to bad habits, Lupiano told CBS News. He started researching and made a public plea on Facebook to anyone from the school who was diagnosed with primary brain tumors. An investigation into the possible link between Colonia High School and cancer found no radiological hazards that warranted further investigation. We contacted the author of the post, former student and former resident Al Lupiano, and offered to help, McCormac said. Thats what makes the numbers staggering, says Lupiano. A Colonia High School alum said he found 107 people with brain tumors who went to or worked at the school. It has been lightly edited for clarity. The 50-year-old claims the diseases could be traced. The mother of two Colonia High students who believed not enough environmental testing was done in the aftermath of reports of a possible brain tumor cluster connected to the school told NJ Advance . Massimino said in the memo the district has contacted our environmental consultants, the Health Department of the Township of Woodbridge, and Township Officials to review the information. He also said the township shared the information with the State Department of Environmental Protection and the State Department of Health.. He is keeping a list. Luciano has reported his findings to Colonia High School. In 1999, when he was just 27, Al. CNN's Ana Cabrera speaks to Al Lupiano, a former student. DeCillis died in February from glioblastoma multiforme, a form of brain cancer. That is what Al Lupiano, Colonia High School (CHS) Class of 1989, wants to find out after . While Lupianos wife Michele is still undergoing treatment, his sister Angela died in February, just months after her diagnosis. In presenting her findings, Komorek urged the district to share her findings with the state Department of Environmental Protection and the federal Environmental Protection Agency. ', Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts. Environmental scientist Al Lupiano is among 94 former students and staff from Colonia High School in Woodbridge, New Jersey, who have been diagnosed with rare brain tumors. The results indicated PCBs at concentration of 50,500 mg/kg, exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulatory level of 50 mg/kg, according to the report. He said he is specifically looking for anyone who graduated from or attend Colonia High School from approximately 1975 to 1995. National Cancer Institutes list of 27 common afflictions. 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. I could go on. Pictured, a stock image of a brain scan. We have to really take a look at it," said Woodbridge Township Mayor John McCormac. I will uncover the truth," Lupiano said to NJ.com. Courtesy Al Lupiano. Lupiano has been able to confirm that 94 former students and staff of Colonia High School had developed brain tumors, as per coverage in New York Post. Unfortunately, it turned out to be stage 4 glioblastoma. 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 approximately 1975-99. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. McCormac says last Saturday, environmentalists placed random canisters inside the school to collect air samples. Kamal added that there needs to be a full investigation to understand if these cancers are linked, and if there's a specific cause. Over 122 people connected to Colonia High School were found to have brain tumors. Environmental scientist Al Lupiano is among 94 former students and staff from Colonia High School in Woodbridge, New Jersey, who have been diagnosed with rare brain tumors. 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. He received his . I didnt feel that my kids were safe there until actual soil, groundwater and air samples were collected and nobody wanted to do it.. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Doctor/Physician. His sister succumbed to brain cancer. A man investigating his former high school in New Jersey says he has counted 115 people who attended or worked there have had a rare brain tumor. In May, the district and state announced an environmental assessment of all 28 acres in and around Colonia found no traces of radiological contaminants and the school was deemed safe for students and staff. I know so many people who have ailments and cancer specifically who lived near there. Unfortunately, hers was terminal, and she died in February. Jupiter and Venus appear to 'kiss' in the sky, Belvidere Jeep assembly plant shut down indefinitely, Chicago Weather: Cloudy and much cooler Thursday. I don't trust anyone who says that nuclear plant was safe. "We're just going to wait to find out. I had stage 4 cancer. Three weeks later, Komorek collected a caulk sample from a northern exterior wall of the school and sent it to another state-certified lab in Fairfield. He said in 40 years of neurology, he had never heard of a married couple that both had the same type of primary brain tumor. Mar 30, 2022 The Wanted's Tom Parker Dies at 33 After Brain Tumor Battle Al Lupiano, a graduate of the high school, believes there's a link between Colonia High School and brain. Al Lupiano was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor in 1999. This all came to fruition in August of last year, and it just startled Lupiano. Donate today, Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations. CHS is the one link of all three of them. A comprehensive investigation of soil, indoor air, and groundwater shall be conducted to determine if children and staff are exposed to unhealthy levels of toxins other than already identified PCBs and pesticides., In his letter to the parents in the school district, Massimino wrote: Nothing in the newly reported information has any bearing on the prior studies which determined last spring that no radiation was found inside or outside of Colonia High School. Its not air. . If you are an alumni or staff member of Colonia High School and have developed a brain tumor, contact MLG today! Lupiano, his wife Michele (CHS Class of 1991) and his sister Angela (CHS Class of 1995) were all diagnosed with rare, similar sized brain tumors on the left side. WOODBRIDGE - Work is underway to create a portal for people with ties to Colonia High School who have developed brain tumors to share information with the New Jersey Department of Health. ", "Just the sheer numbers of cases he's found is staggering," McCormac continued. The action (should) be undertaken immediately, due to high exceedances of the State and Federal regulatory standards for PCBs and pesticides, as well as the fact that PCBs and chlordane inhalation may be occurring by students and staff, Komorek stated in a letter to district officials. The township announced results of an investigation. His wife and sister found out on the same day last August - two hours apart. Dr. Marc Siegel discusses brain tumors that emerged among former Colonia High School students on 'Tucker Carlson Tonight.' Local and federal environmental agencies say they are assisting. 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. But I want to be careful to say that it's very early in the investigation. Is Colonia High School the cause of primary brain tumors in former students and staff from 1975 to 1995? There's a lot of speculation running rampant about what could be causing this, but to date, there has been nothing found. These tumors are even more rare occurring in 10 out of 1,000,000 individuals.. "It's alarming because there are just so many people with a tumor - malignant or benign, and it's serious. He has contacted: Mayor McCormac confirmed these details yesterday to PEOPLE Magazine. They are also both graduates of Colonia High School. Both parents of children in school and current teachers and staff deserve answers. "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.". "Colonia is not a mega high school. Colonia High School is now the. Lupiano has confirmed that he will not stop until he finds out what has happened here over the years at Colonia High School. What steps are investigators taking to try to figure this out? Youre 98.6, youre fine, go home. Lupianos quest for information took him to Facebook last month, and that list of people who went to or worked at Colonia High School - and have a primary brain tumor - is now closing in on 100 cases. However, I still think we need to expedite the next phase of testing including water, soil, and air, to determine if more than one contaminant is present, he said. Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily. Social media has played a big role in shining the light of truth on this situation. "I need your help Facebook. Dr. Joseph Massimino, superintendent of Woodbridge Township School District has commented that they are waiting for more details and formulating next steps, in coordination with New Jersey environmental agencies. There's a vast array of treatments, but again, we're dealing with so many different types of primary brain tumors here that they're all treated very differently. Again too early to tell yet, I think, to draw any definitive conclusions.". All rights reserved (About Us). They were diagnosed on the same day last summer. Jason Wisinski is another person affected by the spate of tumor cases. When a former student at Colonia High School in Woodbridge, New Jersey, realized that he, his wife and his sister all had brain tumors, he wondered if something about their high. Almost 100 people from the very same New Jersey high school have all developed brain tumors. Al Lupiano revealed he had a brain tumor 20 years ago, before his wife had one and so did his sister - who died in February aged just 44. Alumni links 65 rare brain tumor cases to NJ high school, investigation launched. "My wife fought like crazy. Lupiano, his wife and his sister all Colonia High grads were all diagnosed with rare brain tumors. 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. The pool is getting a new liner, gutter and deck, along with new filtration systems. Hill: Brain tumors, relative to other types of cancer, are typically rare but can be very lethal. 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. Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. My list quickly started multiplyingit all seemed to be linked back to the high school. Colonia High School graduateAl Lupiano talks to @KatyTurNBC about gathering names of over 80 individuals with rare brain tumors who attended the school. 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. Lupiano, an environmental scientist and industrial engineer, picked up on a trend. Environmental scientists are investigating reports of increased instances of brain tumors at Colonia High School in New Jersey. And there are many different forms of these cancers. Colonia High School A cluster of brain tumors and cancer in people associated with a single New Jersey high school is causing concern. Immediate action from our State and Federal agencies is warranted, Lupiano said. 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