"That's something that we take very seriously. Lupiano's sister, Angela, died on February 17 from Glioblastoma Multiforme or GBM. Robert Miller The investigation was jumpstarted after it was discovered more 122 people once connected to. 3 min read. Exterior shots of Colonia High School in Colonia, NJ on Thursday, April 7, 2022. 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. Before National Geographic, he worked for more than four years at PBS NewsHour, where he co-created anaward-winning video series named ScienceScope. He told WABC that he lost his wife Janice to an inoperable brain tumor 10 years ago and that her sister Cheryl died from brain cancer in 2015. "We're just going to wait to find out. So, would . "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. 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 of brain tumors, cancers, and other central nervous disorders in former students and staff members. 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. 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. Over 1,300 cases have been reported of people getting sick after eating the Lucky Charms cereal. Sign up for Patch emails: https://patch.com/subscribe Contact this Patch reporter: Carly.baldwin@patch.com, this resolution approved at their April 5 meeting, Brain Tumor Link To Colonia High School 'Credible,' Town's Mayor Says. Over 122 people connected to Colonia High School were found to have brain tumors. Some are the most awful worst kinds of brain cancer. Colonia is not a mega high school. The incident rate for GBM is approximately 30 out of 1,000,000 people. Township officials have posted the radiological reports on the township website at www.twp.woodbridge.nj.us. 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. 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. Gothamist is a website about New York City news, arts, events and food, brought to you by New York Public Radio. State health officials are now conducting an investigation into the cluster of 117 people. It's just that rare. The couple's neurologist was baffled. Asking them to be patient for several more weeks is unacceptable. Both had graduated from Colonia High School, the news outlet reported. He made a public plea on Facebook to anyone from the school who was diagnosed with primary brain tumors. Image: Unsplash. This is definitely not normal.. 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. Kamal added that there needs to be a full investigation to understand if these cancers are linked, and if there's a specific cause. Woodbridge will not get preliminary test results until after this Saturday, April 23, said Hagerty. Lupiano said the rarity of the brain tumors raised concerns of the neurologist they shared since they all grew up in relatively the same neighborhood. Its not something done to us due to bad habits, Lupiano told CBS News. 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. This is the preliminary step that they're taking to see if they can find anything. 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. It should also be noted that not all the reports of primary brain tumors are cancerous. Fortunately one of the survivors is an environmentalscientist Al Lupiano, who is bringing attention to this and he is relentlessly looking for answers. As of Thursday, Lupiano said he has confirmed 65 cases of people with rare brain tumors and they all are either Colonia High School graduates or had worked there, he says. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. 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. On Feb. 17, Angela died from Glioblastoma Multiforme or GBM. Unfortunately, that didnt happen.. 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. I will not rest until I have answers. 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. As a scientist, I want to find answers. All Rights Reserved. I know so many people who have ailments and cancer specifically who lived near there. 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.". 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. Her sister, Cheryl Black also died from brain cancer in 2015. ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News Stream, Onlookers urged police to charge into TX school: 'Go in there! Three of the victims are Al Lupiano, his wife Michelle, and his sister Angele Decillis. 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. (Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media). Colonia High School A cluster of brain tumors and cancer in people associated with a single New Jersey high school is causing concern. Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2023. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. 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. 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. 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. BSN or must obtain within 3 years. So, would you take us through what is known so far about this cluster? He emphasized that there's no need for residents in the community to go get emergency cancer imaging scans immediately. I pray we find answers. The sudden death of his sister led Lupiano on a research mission about the rare brain tumors. Job specializations: Healthcare. Thanks to social media, Lupiano found a total of 104 former students and faculty with brain tumors - about half are cancerous. 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. "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. Medical experts are urging caution but also advising that there is no need for residents to panic. By Sean Adams, WCBS Newsradio 880. The reports have been brought to the attention of local officials who are now looking into them. 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. Unfortunately, hers was terminal, and she died in February. She made it five years.". Today, he still suffers lingering effects. Lupiano is still looking for any and all Colonia High School alumni to come forward. Theres no telling if they're going to find answers here. 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. And there are many different forms of these cancers. A Colonia High School alum said he found 107 people with brain tumors who went to or worked at the school. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. At the time, the medium lifespan for her type of tumor was 18 months. They may need to excavate soil underneath the school. 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. "I am beyond pleased to announce that after an extensive field investigation that included assessing the classrooms, school building materials, and the entire 28 acres of the Colonia High School campus, no radiological hazards were identified that warrant further investigation," he wrote in a letter to families. 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. Youre 98.6, youre fine, go home. Dozens of former teachers and. "That started setting off bells and whistles in my head.". Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. This all began last year when Al Lupiano made a startling discovery. 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. 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. "My wife fought like crazy. The investigation started earlier this year after a stunning number of cancer cases in people who had a connection to the school. On March 29, 2022, Lupiano wrote an article in a local newsletter, asking for help to identify people who developed the brain tumors, to collect data to plan further steps for answers to a probably cause. 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. Komorek presented her findings Monday to Woodbridge superintendent Joseph Massimino, Colonia principal Kenneth Pace and Woodbridge Education Association president Brian Geoffroy. Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com. Other toxic elements and compounds could exist at the schools property due to presence of suspected fill material, potential illegal disposal of chemicals or contaminant migration from surrounding properties, Komorek stated in her letter. It's not air. 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. The ground and air testing will begin on Saturday. 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. SOURCES:PEOPLE Magazine, CBS News New York, New York Post, NJ.com &Dr. Joe Whittington. 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. 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. That's what makes the numbers staggering," says Lupiano. 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. 100 former NJ high school students . Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. He started researching and made a public plea on Facebook to anyone from the school who was diagnosed with primary brain tumors. 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. It's not something in soil," Lupiano said to CBS News. But according to the new results, the school currently poses no danger. Lupiano became focused as to why all three of them had contracted these rare brain tumors. But public health experts are cautioning against deeming the tumor cases a "cancer cluster" just yet. An investigation into the possible link between Colonia High School and cancer found no radiological hazards that warranted further investigation. The testers are specifically testing for radon levels in the air after 1989 Colonia High School grad Al Lupiano proposed this theory that he found an unusually high number of brain cancers and brain tumors, and said they could be linked to the high school. While Lupianos wife Michele is still undergoing treatment, his sister Angela died in February, just months after her diagnosis. We have to really take a look at it," said Woodbridge Township Mayor John McCormac. CHS is the one link of all three of them. His sister succumbed to brain cancer. They are testing the grounds outside and inside of the high school inside. Unfortunately, it turned out to be stage 4 glioblastoma. I just felt like there were a lot of unanswered questions regarding the school, Komorek told NJ Advance Media. Again too early to tell yet, I think, to draw any definitive conclusions.". 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. It has been lightly edited for clarity. "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. Print |. Its not something in soil. He is keeping a list. 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. Whittington believes that the Colonia High School students and staff have developed glioblastoma multiforme, a fast-growing and aggressive brain tumor that invades the nearby brain tissue. 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. "It's not something done to us due to bad habits, said Lupiano. A A. "We're going to test and hope we find nothing," McCormac previously said. Lupiano has confirmed that he will not stop until he finds out what has happened here over the years at Colonia High School. Donate today, Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations. Listing for: Select Medical Corporation. My best friend had a cancerous brain tumor. Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. Brain cancer is relatively rare but very dangerous. Is it a cancer cluster or a coincidence? Most of them during the years of 1972 to 2000, said Matthew Stanmyre with NJ Advance Media, who broke the news. Nearly 100 people attending a single high school in New Jersey have developed rare forms of brain cancer. Early testing at the Woodbridge school by a consultant for the . They were diagnosed on the same day last summer. Janice's sister Chery Black also died from brain cancer in 2015. Woodbridge Township is paying T&M Associates $221,350 to do the radon testing. 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 . More than 100 people who graduated from Colonia High School have developed brain cancer. 100 former students, staff of Colonia High School in New Jersey say they have rare brain tumors. 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. The conversation is available below. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Radiology, Allied Health, Radiologic Technologist, Neurophysiology. 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. The mother, Edyta Komorek, who has worked as an environmental scientist since 2006, said she collected dust, window caulk and soil samples from Colonia that tested for excessive levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chlordane, heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide all carcinogenic compounds that can lead to cancer and other diseases. 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. A graduate as recent as 2014 was found to have a primary brain tumor. While generally only life threatening if left untreated, radiation and surgical removal typically leaves individuals with numerous debilitations including chronic headaches, balance issues, fatigue, deafness, slurred speech, inability to blink, and facial paralysis (to name only a few), and that assumes it doesnt begin to regrow in the future. The township announced results of an investigation. 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