colonia high school brain tumors

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.. But public health experts are cautioning against deeming the tumor cases a "cancer cluster" just yet. The video has been viewed more than 3 million times.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. 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. "It's alarming because there are just so many people with a tumor - malignant or benign, and it's serious. 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. Are you a Colonia High School graduate that has been diagnosed with a brain tumor? McCormac previously said he also expects the ground and soil around Colonia High School will be tested, along with the air inside the high school building. Radiological assessments will be conducted throughout the schools 28-acre campus, as well as indoor radon testing, this coming Easter weekend, the New York Post reported. They may need to excavate soil underneath the school. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). The pool is getting a new liner, gutter and deck, along with new filtration systems. But according to the new results, the school currently poses no danger. "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. Al Lupiano, a Colonia High School graduate is on a mission to answer that question after discovering more than 80 fe. But I want to be careful to say that it's very early in the investigation. The Anti-Defamation League said the phrase at the center of the question was popularized as a trolling campaign by members of 4chan a notorious anonymous message board and was adopted by . "What I find alarming is there's truly only one environmental link to primary brain tumors and that's ionizing radiation, said Lupiano. Woodbridge Mayor John McCormick lives just a few blocks from the high school. Its not something done to us due to bad habits, Lupiano told CBS News. Janice was pregnant with her and Jason's only child. The school is expected to remain open during this time. Its not something in soil. Stanmyre joined WNYC's Morning Edition host Michael Hill to explain the latest on these cases and what the investigation could entail. They learned of their tumors eight days apart. Qualifications: Current and valid New Jersey Registered Nurse license is required. All Rights Reserved. Lupiano, an environmental scientist and industrial engineer, believed it was a pattern. All of the cases have ties to Colonia High School, either as students or employees. Komorek said the results of her testing indicate state environmental officials should conduct further tests of the air, soil and building compounds at Colonia. Is the school built on some kind of a dumpsite? He made a public plea on Facebook to anyone from the school who was diagnosed with primary brain tumors. Unfortunately, it turned out to be stage 4 glioblastoma. At the time, the medium lifespan for her type of tumor was 18 months. The New Jersey state Department of Health. "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," he said. And there are many different forms of these cancers. . T&M Associates subcontracted Cabrera Services Inc., a radiological environmental and remediation company, of East Hartford, Connecticut. In an acknowledgement of the significance of Komoreks findings, the district sent out a statement to parents and guardians Monday evening. Two hours later, we received information that my wife also had a primary brain tumor, said Lupiano. The school campus is just under 12 miles from the Middlesex Sampling Plant, which was used to crush, cry, store, package and ship uranium ore during the development of the atomic bomb under direction from the Manhattan Project, the outlet continued. Lupiano, his wife and his sister all Colonia High grads were all diagnosed with rare brain tumors. Job in West Orange - Essex County - NJ New Jersey - USA , 07052. 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. Follow him on Twitter @MattStanmyre. Hill: Brain tumors, relative to other types of cancer, are typically rare but can be very lethal. Massimino sent the same statement to NJ Advance Media Monday. "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. Komorek was so alarmed by the findings that she decided to pull her daughters out of Colonia this week and enroll them in another Woodbridge high school, per the districts transfer policy. All three were diagnosed with a 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. What treatments are available for the afflicted? 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. Al Lupiano was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor in 1999. 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. Theres no telling if they're going to find answers here. Her sister, Cheryl Black also died from brain cancer in 2015. 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. I started doing some research and the three became five, the five became seven, the seven became 15, he told CBS News York of the list, which now totals 115 people who had either malignant or benign tumors. 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. Last year, Lupianos wife and sister also developed brain tumors, as first reported byCBS New York. Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2023. His wife and sister found out on the same day last August - two hours apart. I know so many people who have ailments and cancer specifically who lived near there. Three of the victims are Al Lupiano, his wife Michelle, and his sister Angele Decillis. 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 100 former NJ high school students . Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 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. Advertisement. I will not rest until I have answers. Lupiano was diagnosed with glioblastoma (brain cancer) when he was 27 years old, about 25 years ago. All the affected attended Colonia High School in Woodbridge, dating back decades. 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. As a scientist, I want to find answers. 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. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. His wife graduated in 1991. Rohit Ranjan. Two hours later, we received information that my wife also had a primary brain tumor, Lupiano said. utah778/Getty Work began on . That's what makes the numbers staggering," says Lupiano. 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. Exterior shots of Colonia High School in Colonia, NJ on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Lupiano, an environmental scientist and industrial engineer, picked up on a trend. While Lupianos wife Michele is still undergoing treatment, his sister Angela died in February, just months after her diagnosis. Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily. All three family members attended Colonia High, the NY Post noted. 3 min read. Some of these are non-cancerous, yet very debilitating forms of brain tumor. A few weeks ago, we very suddenly and tragically lost my 44-year-old sister Angela (CHS-95) to a very rare and highly aggressive malignant glioma brain tumor (Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM)) discovered on her left side, he wrote in the newsletter. Dozens of former teachers and. "That's something that we take very seriously. 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). Our journalism needs your support. Print |. Today, he still suffers lingering effects. They all attended or worked at Colonia High School most of them during the years of 1972 to 2000. Nsikan runs the health and science desk at WNYC/Gothamist. Township officials have posted the radiological reports on the township website at www.twp.woodbridge.nj.us. 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. 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. Alumni links 65 rare brain tumor cases to NJ high school, investigation launched. 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. 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. They are leaving radon canisters at the school for 14 days, which will test for elevated levels of radon. Angela has four daughters who have or will go to Colonia High School. A video posted on TikTok video by Dr. Joe Whittington, a board-certified doctor in California gave this issue much needed public attention. 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. Image: Unsplash. It's not something in soil," Lupiano said to CBS News. ", First Patch report: Brain Tumor Link To Colonia High School 'Credible,' Town's Mayor Says, Get great local news about YOUR town and state. SOURCES:PEOPLE Magazine, CBS News New York, New York Post, NJ.com &Dr. Joe Whittington. The sudden death of his sister led Lupiano on a research mission about the rare brain tumors. Its not contaminated water. An alumnus of Colonia High School in Woodbridege, N.J. is investigating his former high school, claiming he has counted 115 people who attended or worked there to have had a rare brain. She loves a good music pun and wakes up very very early. 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. 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.. The ground and air testing will begin on Saturday. It will take about two weeks. He emphasized that there's no need for residents in the community to go get emergency cancer imaging scans immediately. 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. The reports he got back were startling, and he saw patterns emerging. Find NJ.com on Faceboo. It's just that rare. 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. Theyve placed canisters inside the school. 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. NJ cluster of brain cancer prompts investigation, We rely on your support to make local news available to all, Astoria pool will be closed this summer for renovations: Parks, Gov. "That started setting off bells and whistles in my head.". Theyre testing the air for radon. "Colonia is not a mega high school. I didnt feel that my kids were safe there until actual soil, groundwater and air samples were collected and nobody wanted to do it.. Lupiano also lost his younger sister to the disease in February at the age of 44, the outlet continued. 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. They said they took your temperature. 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. Thanks to social media, Lupiano found a total of 104 former students and faculty with brain tumors - about half are cancerous. All three have been diagnosed with a brain tumor. 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 . We will continue to keep you informed as we develop a plan of action based on the advice of our experts.. Lupiano was diagnosed with a rare and abnormally large brain tumour Acoustic Neuroma (AN) in 1999 when he was just 27 years old. Lupiano's sister passed away in February, 2022 at the young age of 44. She made it five years.". katherine noelle wyman; cape breton post obituaries 2022. location symbol text in word; list of female jockeys australia; mike conley house columbus ohio address Kamal added that there needs to be a full investigation to understand if these cancers are linked, and if there's a specific cause. 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 . The environmental testing is expected to last a month. Environmental scientist Al Lupiano tells NBC4 New . A graduate as recent as 2014 was found to have a primary brain tumor. Part Time, Per diem position. 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. "I started doing some research and the three became five, the five became seven, the seven became 15," Lupiano said. Federal Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry. 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. He is keeping a list. WOODBRIDGE TWP., New Jersey -- Al Lupiano graduated from Colonia High School in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey in 1989. The community is absolutely unnerved and absolutely terrified by what's going on here. 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. There's a lot of speculation running rampant about what could be causing this, but to date, there has been nothing found. "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. Lupiano's sister, Angela, died on February 17 from Glioblastoma Multiforme or GBM. ", ALSO READ | Onlookers urged police to charge into TX school: 'Go in there! A high school in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey, is being investigated by environmental experts after reports of more than 100 former students and staff being diagnosed with brain tumors. State health officials are now conducting an investigation into the cluster of 117 people. Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media. CHS is the one link of all three of them. Radiology, Allied Health, Radiologic Technologist, Neurophysiology. A A. "My wife fought like crazy. This all began last year when Al Lupiano made a startling discovery. 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. I had stage 4 cancer. pic.twitter.com/mL9bVg9nE4, Katy Tur Reports (@KatyOnMSNBC) April 1, 2022, A majority of the graduates and staff members suffering from the condition were at the school between 1975 and 2000, but some students went through the school as recently as 2014, the NY Post continued. It has been lightly edited for clarity. 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. "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. 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. Topics you care about, straight to your inbox. 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Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2023 alumni links 65 rare brain tumors mega...

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