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. More than 100 people who graduated from Colonia High School have developed brain cancer. There has been plenty of inventions and history made in New Jersey. Twentyyears earlier, he was also diagnosed with an aggressive 36-millimeter acoustic neuroma. Dating back decades, newly detailed reports of more than 100 cases of brain tumors among former students and staff at Colonia High School in Woodbridge have raised obvious concerns. READ MORE: Former Woodbridge, N.J. resident says 65 people who either attended or worked at Colonia High School have had rare brain tumors. No one knows why. Colonia High School Costello-Greiner Funeral Home - Woodbridge Sunday, January 1, 2023 Add Photos Add a Memory Sandra Wilson Sandra Wilson was born to Sarah Wilson and James Bradley on November. "Their neurologist, who has been recognized as a global leader in neurosurgery by the World Federation of Neurological Societies, has treated and been involved with tens of thousands of brain tumors in his career. Donavyn was a Fulbright Fellow to Denmark where she studiedmolecular nutrition and food policy. He went on to recover from the disease. "As previously stated, there is basically one medically proven cause of rare brain tumors like ours radiation," he wrote. The question is why? Al Lupiano was diagnosed with a "very rare" and abnormally large brain tumor in 1999 when he was 27 called Acoustic Neuroma. It "was an entry point for African uranium ores known as pitchblende" that were "imported for use in the nations early atomic energy program, were assayed at the Middlesex Sampling Plant and then shipped to other sites for processing," according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New York Division. Back in March, Colonia High graduate Al Lupiano posted his theory about possible links between brain tumors diagnoses among 1990s and early 2000s graduates of Colonia High and since then, he gathered the names of at least 110 grads with brain tumors, according to Fox News Digital. Its way too early to call it a cancer cluster, said Dr. Joseph Landolfi, chief medical officer at JFK Medical Center in Edison, and its director of neuro-oncology. "While we have not yet determined if any contaminant is present, the only link up to this point is that everyone spent a significant amount of time at the school," Lupiano wrote in his Facebook post. The results from the environmental study that was conducted at a New Jersey high school campus enveloped in a brain tumor cluster mystery among graduates and workers at the school revealed no traces of radioactivity were found in the school. Lupiano also suggested a potential link between Colonia High School and a Middlesex, New Jersey, sampling plant in his interview with NJ Spotlight. It is now one of the hottest topics to be discussed on TikTok. Earlier this year, 1989 Colonia High School graduate Al Lupiano developed a list of more than 120 people who were students, teachers or staff members at the school from the 1970s to 1990s. If no link is found with the high school specifically, Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac, said other potential points of connection in the township will be explored, according to NBC Today. 6 foods making your hay fever worse, according to a dietit King Charles to evict Harry and Meghan from Frogmore Cottage and give to Andrew, 'Elvis' star Austin Butler was rushed to ER after 'body just started shutting down', Drug-resistant stomach bug spreading across US: 'Serious public health alert', NY teacher forced 5th-grade girl to use male pronouns causing suicidal thoughts: suit, Woke Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses re-election bid as city battles crime epidemic, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry have first night out since bombshell Spare released, Jordyn Woods supports Selena Gomez amid singers feud with Kylie Jenner, Hailey Bieber, RHONJ recap: Jennifer Aydin mocks Rachel Fudas terrible nose job, Savannah Guthrie Rushed Out Of Today After Testing Positive For COVID-19 During Live Broadcast, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry have first night out since bombshell 'Spare' released. Laumbach argued that thousands of suspected cancer clusters throughout the country dont meet federal government standards for that designation even if they are investigated by public health experts. Colonia High School is now the subject of radiation detecting. According to American Association of Neurological Surgeons, glioblastoma is normally extremely rare with an incidence of 3.21 per 100,000 people. Lupiano eventually arrived at a single linking factor between himself, his wife and his sister: they each attended Colonia High School in Woodbridge in the 1990s. Published on Apr 08, 2022 Al Lupiano and his wife, Michele, at their home in Jamesburg,. Lupiano said his teamdealt withanti-terrorism work, radioactive materials, and chemical and biological agents. 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. Frequently, in hazmat, you never find it in the first shot," Lupiano said. A look back: Al Lupiano was diagnosed with acoustic neuroma, a . In 1999, when he was just 27, Al Lupiano. Unlike lab experiments, which can be tightly controlled, epidemiology and public health studies are often based on observations; as such, the answers can be incomplete or unsatisfying, Platz said. Schools Brain Tumor Link To Colonia High School 'Credible,' Town's Mayor Says A scientist's theory that a contaminant at the Woodbridge school is linked to 65 rare brain tumors is being taken . Gov. How will officials determine if a true cancer cluster exists? That's what makes the numbers staggering," says Lupiano. during the press conference posted on the townships Youtube page. 'It can't be a coincidence': Colonia High School community probes mysterious cancer cases, Piscataway man convicted of exploiting daughters college peers after moving into dorm, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Lupiano was diagnosed with a rare and abnormally large brain tumour Acoustic Neuroma (AN) in 1999 when he was just 27 years old. (Gosselin Funeral Home) In August 2021, DeCillis received . LaTourette said during the press conference every possible link to cancer was tested. Almost 100 people from the very same New Jersey high school have all developed brain tumors. Mitesh Kapadia moved right next to Colonia High just a few years ago. You can reach him at richard.rickman@townsquaremedia.com. Both Lupiano, 50, and his wife Michele, 49, who is also a Colonia graduate, have acoustic neuroma, a benign tumor. This is definitely not normal," the mayor further said in the statement. "We got the state and federal agencies involved, and we're starting some testing of the grounds and the air this weekend," McCormac said. Glioblastoma is an aggressive type of cancer that can occur in the brain or spinal cord, according to the Mayo Clinic. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Last month, McCormac and Superintendent of Schools Joseph Massimino became aware of health-related concerns reported on social media about a potential connection between Colonia High School and graduates who developed brain tumors. But just because there is an investigation does not necessarily mean there's a cancer cluster, Platz told Live Science. T&M Associates already started conducting historic site research to obtain records related to the school's construction in1967 to today. He says if there is something going on, he worries about all of the people that would be impacted. #braincancer #glioblastoma #braintumor #radiation #medicalmystery #doctor. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. katherine noelle wyman; cape breton post obituaries 2022. location symbol text in word; list of female jockeys australia; mike conley house columbus ohio address Parent Edyta Komorek said she and other parents are thinking about transferring their kids to another district. Many of the former staff and teachers included in the total lived outside Woodbridge Township making the high school, so far, the only clear link. Now, he's gone public with the suggestion that Colonia could be one such site. Its not something in soil. Print |. for 7-year-old's rare brain cancer. I will uncover the truth.. Normally speaking, you dont get radiation in a high school unless something is going on in that area that we dont know, Raval added, calling for an immediate investigation. A cluster of brain tumors and cancer in people associated with a single New Jersey high school is causing concern. An environmental assessment began last month to test the school grounds, which turned up no findings of radiological contaminants, according to NJ.com, a New Jersey news site. They will remain in place for 14 days before being sent to a lab for analysis. COLONIA, N.J. (WCBS 880) A New Jersey town is planning to conduct environmental testing at a high school after dozens of alumni and others connected to the institution developed rare brain tumors. I will not rest until I have answers, Lupiano, 50, declared in an interview with NJ.com and the Star-Ledger on Thursday. She too died last month. It's due to concerns tied to graduates or staff members with brain tumors. His wife graduated in 1991. Its overwhelming. Environmental scientist Al Lupiano is. Lupiano's 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. The four-year high school has more than 1,300 students. A cancer survivor is vowing to untangle the twisted mystery of why almost 100 people associated with a New Jersey high school have developed extremely rare malignant brain tumors. According to MyCentralJersey.com, the issue stems from legal concerns over the potential risk of offering a medical procedure with which municipal officials have no experience. 2021 DEADLIEST YEAR IN US HISTORY DUE TO COVID-19, DRUG OVERDOSES. The mayorsays only the experts are qualifiedto make an actionable connection between the cases and CHS. Any finding that an outbreak of cancer in a specific location warrants the label cluster would rely on the elimination of possible causes that include the age of patients, the type of cancer, and how the number of cases compares with the incidence of the disease in the general population, they said. More than 100 former Colonia High School students and staff have been diagnosed with brain cancer over a 30-year period. He has continued to update followers on social media and on Thursday, said the list stood at 115 people who had either malignant or benign tumors. We've received your submission. The Department of Health will work with the federal Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry and will conduct a public health assessment and evaluate the potential for health effects. Over 122 people connected to Colonia High School were found to have brain tumors. This is definitely not normal.. "This is terrific news for the current students of Colonia High School and their parents who worried about their safety, along with current staff members. It may be that once someone is diagnosed with cancer, they are more likely to take note of other cancer diagnoses or more likely to have conversations about cancer and realize their connections to other cancer patients, Platz said. Lupiano says he has a solution, that he's negotiated with the Manhattan-based Brain Tumor Foundation to provide free MRI brain screenings to anyone who may want one. 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. Over 100 former students and staff from a New Jersey high school have been diagnosed with brain tumors. An investigation has . Colonia Mayor John McCormac announced Thursday afternoon the results of the findings of the Environmental Assessment Study that was conducted to investigate if Colonia High School buildings and grounds. Al Lupiano, an environmental scientist, began investigating Colonia High School in Woodbridge when he realized several people who attended the school had rare tumors just like he had. We've received your submission. "It was clearly alarming enough that it merited further attention and I just helped him get that attention. Were all concerned, and we all want to get to the bottom of this. An environmental study of Colonia High School in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey that took place after 94 former students and staff developed brain tumors found no evidence of "cancer . The brain tumor cases, appearing over a thirty-year period, are a significant medical mystery that has caused alarm for experts. If it's an ongoing issue, we may have to go through this all over again in 10 to 20 years. The analysis took several weeks. Why is the cancer that killed John McCain so deadly? Ultimately, if it isnt a radiation source that is causing these illnesses, Lupiano says other tests can be done to pinpoint a cause. He's looking for a place to host the screenings in early June and says he's had trouble working with local officials to find one. In the United States, the rate of new cases of brain cancer or other nervous system cancer is 6.3 cases per 100,000 people per year, according to the National Institutes of Health. There could be a real problem here, and our residents deserve to know if there are any dangers, Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac said in a statement. 4/24 UPDATE: The radiological team charged with looking for both radiation and radon has concluded. His condition was rare, but he was successfully treated. They were very appreciative that we reached out to them but they were not interested in getting involved, and they kept trying to pass it off, and saying they will have to do research and get back to you, he said, referring to the New Jersey agency. Make no mistake when the department believes that people are at risk we act and immediately so, he told media members. Both his wife and sister were assigned the same doctor for treatment. It's the largest oil spill cleanup company in the United States. "The Departments stand ready to assist Woodbridge in reviewing any environmental data it collects to determine appropriate next steps," the statement reads. I dont think this is the end of the story. 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. The school was built back in 1967 on acres of empty land, with McCormac telling the news network he is stumped as to what could be causing the cancers. 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. More than 120 people who attended Colonia High School in New Jersey have been diagnosed with brain tumors. Three of the victims are Al Lupiano, his wife Michelle, and his sister Angele Decillis. 100 stories of shock and disbelief with the diagnosis. Lupiano's familiarity comes from his own experience. Until then, he knew of 15 former Colonia attendees who had been diagnosed with brain tumors. Last month, he started a Facebook group asking locals whether they knew of any other people associated with the school who had been stricken by similar diagnoses. Initially, he found 15 people who attended the high school and were diagnosed with a primary brain tumor, meaning a tumor that originates in the brain, according to NBC Today. The states Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette backed up the mayors declaration the school was safe. "For the most part I'm pretty good today," Lupiano said. "Colonia is not a mega high school. However, Lupiano is still worried about his teenage nieces attending the school. But how will officials figure out if a true cancer cluster exists or if the cases are simply a coincidence? "Today we are very happy to announce that our extensive testing for both radon and radiation, in the interior and exterior, of the school produced no evidence of any cancer-causing hazards that warrant further investigation," McCormac said. On April 10, Mr. Lupiano's list of former students and staff members with primary brain tumors hit 100 names. Views expressed by our advertisers and sponsors are their own, and are not endorsed by NJ Spotlight News. DeCillis's four teenage daughters attend Colonia schools in Woodbridge. Mystery as 100 people associated with . You can also see how much the average bill changed from 2020. Dozens of former teachers and students have . You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Like 6 Comments |. For the past two decades, he's spoken with other victims, comforting them on message boards and Facebook. First published on April 25, 2022 / 10:26 AM. To his knowledge, there was nothing remotely dangerous at the site. Legal Statement. An investigation into a possible brain cancer cluster found no evidence a New Jersey school was the cause of tumors diagnosed in former students, officials declared Thursday. Platz expects that public health officials will look for specific overlaps in timing and tumor type. Immediately I knew exactly what I was looking at. The number of reported victims has been growing since Al Lupiano, a former student in the 1980s and a cancer victim himself, appealed for names in a Facebook post on March 7. (Google Maps). He accused the Environmental Protection Agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the federal Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry of being unresponsive to his calls for a formal probe. Most radon exposure occurs inside homes, schools and workplaces. According to NJ Spotlight News, McCormac has been contacted by at least five agencies, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New Jersey Department of Health. A report outlining results is expected in about a month, McCormac said. The health department also looked at brain cancer rates for Colonia High School and compared them to rates of brain cancer throughout New Jersey and the United States. Theres lots and lots of people calling me, saying, Look, I didnt go to the high school, but I live a mile away, and we call our block cancer alley,' said Lupiano. The onset of brain tumors in more than one hundred people who attended or worked at Colonia High School in New Jersey has continued to baffle experts. By that time, we hope the federal agencies are going to take over. "With that in mind, and after many weeks of work, I was able to negotiate an agreement with BTF to provide this service completely FREE of charge.". "We continue receiving lip service, that we're here to help, but when we look around, they are nowhere to be found.". 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