Stanmyre: Right now, the number this week is up to 117 people who have been found to have a primary brain tumor of some sorts, according to data from Al Lupiano, who is the Colonia graduate who has kind of spearheaded all of this. "Given the ongoing environmental investigation and testing, it is premature to comment on any link and/or causation of cancer diagnosis that may or may not be related to Colonia High School," said Woodbridge town spokesman Hagerty. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Youre 98.6, youre fine, go home. Topics you care about, straight to your inbox. Both parents of children in school and current teachers and staff deserve answers. Robert Miller The investigation was jumpstarted after it was discovered more 122 people once connected to. "I started doing some research and the three became five, the five became seven, the seven became 15," Lupiano said. 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. "That started setting off bells and whistles in my head.". It's not contaminated water. His wife. Jason Wisinski lost his wife, Janice, 10 years ago to an inoperable brain tumor called Anaplastic Astrocytoma. The environmental assessment study at Colonia High School was recently completed, in response to allegations that suggested the school had radiological hazards that contributed to diagnoses. Lupiano, an environmental scientist and industrial engineer, picked up on a trend. 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. National Cancer Institutes list of 27 common afflictions. Asking them to be patient for several more weeks is unacceptable. It will take about two weeks. Through his posts, Lupiano, CHS Class of 1989, wanted to find out if CHS is the cause of primary brain tumors that have affected more than 100 former students and staff. That is the conclusion federal, state, county and township officials concluded after weeks of radiological testing inside and outside of school grounds in April and May. Our sister station WABC-TV has reached out to the EPA for comment. Colonia is not a mega high school. Stanmyre joined WNYC's Morning Edition host Michael Hill to explain the latest on these cases and what the investigation could entail. The statewide graduation rate fell slightly, from 91% in 2019-20 to 90.6%. Brain cancer is relatively rare but very dangerous. Friday, April 22, 2022. An investigation into the possible link between Colonia High School and cancer found no radiological hazards that warranted further investigation. 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. 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. The sudden death of his sister led Lupiano on a research mission about the rare brain tumors. Correction 04/26/2022 9.51 a.m. Her sister, Cheryl Black also died from brain cancer in 2015. I just felt like there were a lot of unanswered questions regarding the school, Komorek told NJ Advance Media. This all began last year when Al Lupiano made a startling discovery. 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 Media she has found evidence of highly toxic chemicals at Colonia through her own independent testing. Colonia High School is now the. Both sisters were graduates of Colonia High School. Lupiano was diagnosed with glioblastoma (brain cancer) when he was 27 years old, about 25 years ago. "I had told my sister from the very beginning that there was too much of a coincidence that me, my wife and her all have the same tumor," Lupiano said. "I went on Facebook on March 7, and I asked for the people on Facebook to help me find others. I had stage 4 cancer. A stock photo shows medical workers looking at a brain scan or brain scans. 2023 New York Public Radio. The ground and air testing will begin on Saturday. Komorek presented her findings Monday to Woodbridge superintendent Joseph Massimino, Colonia principal Kenneth Pace and Woodbridge Education Association president Brian Geoffroy. Woodbridge Township Mayor John McCormac told WABC that the situation was "alarming because there are just so many people with a tumormalignant or benign, and it's serious.". His wife Michelle graduated in 1991. Its not contaminated water. BSN or must obtain within 3 years. What treatments are available for the afflicted? Its not something in soil. And there are many different forms of these cancers. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The investigation started earlier this year after a stunning number of cancer cases in people who had a connection to the school. Qualifications: Current and valid New Jersey Registered Nurse license is required. Are you a Colonia High School graduate that has been diagnosed with a brain tumor? Two hours later, we received information that my wife also had a primary brain tumor, Lupiano said. 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. $4 Million Settlement Mass Torts $203 Million Class Action Financial Services $75 Million Class Action Mass Torts $200 Million Class Action 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. No one knows why. Sneak Peek At Woodbridge Mayor's Mailer Urging 'Yes' Vote On March 14, Woodbridge Woman Writes Her 2nd Fiction Novel, Critically Praised, Perth Amboy Outerbridge Crossing Crash Blocks Lane Tuesday: DOT, NJ Camp Fairs at Menlo Park Mall Mar 4, 2023 - FREE to Attend (12-3PM), 2023 Spring Garden Tea Party Gift Auction, Raisin, The Tony-Winning Best Musical - Second Incredible Week, Johns Crazy Socks Enters the Wholesale Channel so Retail Stores Can Sell Our Socks, Protect Your Home from Ticks with Yard Guard from Viking Pest, The Doobie Brothers Play In New Brunswick July 8,9, Highest NJ Property Taxes: See Where Your Town Ranks On New List, Person Shot During Police Encounter At South Jersey Rest Stop: AG. His wife was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma, which is a benign brain tumor and is the exact same brain tumor that Al Lupiano himself was diagnosed with 22 years ago. ", "Just the sheer numbers of cases he's found is staggering," McCormac continued. The lists, which are sorted by county and include a separate list for charter schools, also include a second graduation rate, which excludes students whose special education IEPs allow them to qualify for diplomas despite not meeting typical coursework and attendance requirements. Al Lupiano, a Colonia High School graduate is on a mission to answer that question after discovering more than 80 fe. My best friend had a cancerous brain tumor. 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. Then making matters even worse, the same day that Michelle Lupiano (Al's wife) was diagnosed with her brain tumor, Al's sister Angela DeCillis was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor. They are also both graduates of Colonia High School. "In addition, DEP's further review does not indicate sources of environmental exposures of concern to public health. Hill: Brain tumors, relative to other types of cancer, are typically rare but can be very lethal. The sample was collected using a laboratory-prepared hexane wipe and placed in a pre-cleaned, laboratory-provided jar, with a screw-on lid. He added that the Environmental Protection Agency has gotten involved in the investigation. 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. "It is also important to note that the data compiled and posted to social media by Mr. Lupiano has yet to be evaluated and verified by any federal, state, county or municipal agency with competent jurisdiction to fully vet and verify his research. "In conclusion, the results of the radiological investigation at the high school and grounds are within the normal variation of background radiation levels in New Jersey and are therefore not indicative of concern over radiological exposure to individuals at the site," state DEP Commisioner Shawn LaTourette wrote in a letter to the township. His sister succumbed to brain cancer. It's not something in soil," Lupiano said to CBS News. Janice was pregnant with her and Jason's only child. Is it a cancer cluster or just a coincidence? Lupiano grew up in Woodbridge Township and he now works as an environmental scientist; he no longer lives in Woodbridge. 3 min read. (RELATED: Video Shows Man Repeatedly Running Over Woman With SUV After Minor Incident). All three family members attended Colonia High, the NY Post noted. Komorek said the results of her testing indicate state environmental officials should conduct further tests of the air, soil and building compounds at Colonia. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. (Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media). It's not air. It motivated Lupiano to create a Facebook group to determine if there were more Colonia High School alumni had developed brain tumors or other conditions. He has contacted: Mayor McCormac confirmed these details yesterday to PEOPLE Magazine. CHS is the one link of all three of them. All of the cases have ties to Colonia High School, either as students or employees. 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. 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. 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. Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. Exterior shots of Colonia High School in Colonia, NJ on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Lupiano also says people who did not attend the school but live nearby have gotten in touch with him to express their concerns. Ninety-four former staff members and students from Colonia High School in Woodbridge, New Jersey, have developed an "extremely" rare form of malignant brain tumor, leading local officials to approve an emergency probe of the school Tuesday. Doctor/Physician. I made a promise to my sister while she was dying that if something did this to us, I will find out what did it, Lupiano says. Unfortunately, it turned out to be stage 4 glioblastoma. Federal Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry. The township announced results of an investigation. An investigation has been launched after more than 100 people who attended a high. Woodbridge Township has contracted environmental engineering firm T&M Associates to carry out radiation tests at Colonia High School to investigate a possible link between the school and the reported brain tumors, according to New York news outlet WABC. . In April, the township entered an emergency agreement with T&M Associates, of Middletown, for professional environmental engineering services for a radiological assessment of Colonia High in an amount not to exceed $221,350. Early testing at the Woodbridge school by a consultant for the . I didnt feel that my kids were safe there until actual soil, groundwater and air samples were collected and nobody wanted to do it.. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. A total of 104 former students and faculty with brain tumors responded to a Facebook post. He found a total of 104 former students and faculty, and about half were cancerous. ", First Patch report: Brain Tumor Link To Colonia High School 'Credible,' Town's Mayor Says, Get great local news about YOUR town and state. 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.. WOODBRIDGE TWP., New Jersey -- Al Lupiano graduated from Colonia High School in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey in 1989. He was diagnosed 20 years ago. Lupiano's sister passed away in February, 2022 at the young age of 44. Listed on 2023-03-02. All three were diagnosed with a brain tumor. After some digging, a man who attended Colonia High School in Woodbridge, New Jersey, discovered more than 100 former students and staff members had been diagnosed with the same sort of brain tumor diagnosed in his wife, his sister and himself. A video posted on TikTok video by Dr. Joe Whittington, a board-certified doctor in California gave this issue much needed public attention. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Lupiano was diagnosed with a rare and abnormally large brain tumour Acoustic Neuroma (AN) in 1999 when he was just 27 years old. He said, What are the odds of this? It's exceeding one in a billion that three people this closely tied together would all have brain tumors. Follow him on Twitter @MattStanmyre. Again too early to tell yet, I think, to draw any definitive conclusions.". "When I started looking into it, I quickly amassed 15 of our classmates with these rare brain tumors," he told NewsNation. 100 former NJ high school students . Mystery as 100 people. Some are the most awful worst kinds of brain cancer. 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. But I want to be careful to say that it's very early in the investigation. Lupianoknew that something was very wrong here. 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. 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. I will not rest until I have answers. Nearly 100 people attending a single high school in New Jersey have developed rare forms of brain cancer. All Rights Reserved. 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. WOODBRIDGE, NJ Air quality testing is being done at Colonia High School this week, while the Woodbridge school district is closed for spring break. It's just that rare. If you were affected or have a tumor or rare cancer, I need your assistance," his Facebook post read. "My wife was awesome, and I think about her every day - I talk to her all the time," Wisinski said. 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