While the exact number of former faculty and staff diagnosed with glioblastoma is not precisely known, the cancer is exceedingly rare. Lupiano's sister, however, another Colonia alumnus, recently died from brain cancer -- and MyCentralJersey.com reports brother Al promised her before she died that he'd find out why the tumors were occurring in the specific community. (Google Maps). Hours after Deciliis got her diagnosis, Lupiano's wife Michelereceived similar news. The four-year high school has more than 1,300 students. Lupiano's familiarity comes from his own experience. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 100 stories of shock and disbelief with the diagnosis. NEW JERSEY - A New Jersey man has uncovered a medical mystery apparently linking more than 100. The disturbing development became headline news this week after CBS News took it national. He, his wife and sister were among those who were diagnosed with brain tumors. More than 100 people from the same high school have been diagnosed with brain cancer and it is feared soil contaminated with uranium used in the first atomic bomb made them ill. 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. Like 6 Comments |. The discovery of the possible link between the school and the brain tumors is so new that it hasn't yet been verified by any agency, and the testing being done there is just part of the effort to figure out the true extent of the problem. World News Posted by Amit Chaturvedi Updated: April 15, 2022 12:33 pm IST. "I have some lingering issues. "We got the state and federal agencies involved, and we're starting some testing of the grounds and the air this weekend," McCormac said. The same day his sister was diagnosed, his wife, Michele, a 1991 Colonia High School graduate, was diagnosed with a large acoustic neuroma, a rare brain tumor which is life-threatening if left untreated. After nearly 100 people who attended the same New Jersey high school developed rare brain tumors, an alumnus and cancer survivor is demanding answers. According to United StatesEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. America today woke up to the news that brain cancer has been detected in more than 100 former students at a New Jersey high school. The study was to see if the area possibly had radiological contaminants that would contribute to diagnoses of brain cancers and other central nervous system tumors or disorders among these alumni, teachers and current students. for 7-year-old's rare brain cancer. 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. Why? "The Departments stand ready to assist Woodbridge in reviewing any environmental data it collects to determine appropriate next steps," the statement reads. Phil Murphy, whose administration has also been pushed to get more involved, recently described the tumor cluster as disturbing but echoed Woodbridge Township officials in stressing it was too soon to make definitive conclusions about the cause. The City of Woodbridge has hired experts to conduct radiation tests inside school buildings and on school grounds, according to NJ Spotlight News. NBCLX storyteller Peter Hull walks you through the research. Radiation tests are being carried out at a New Jersey high school where over 100 former students and staff are reported to have developed brain tumors and cancerand the . His wife graduated in 1991. "I have full faith they will get to the bottom of this and they will figure out what is going on," she previously told News 4. Gov. 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. "I'm getting reports of whole blocks in and around the neighborhood, that they call themselves 'Cancer Alley,'" Lupiano said. She holds a bachelor's degree in biotechnology from theUniversity of Kentucky and master's degrees in food technology from Aarhus University and journalism from New York University. 'I will not rest until I . Immediate action from our State and Federal agencies is warranted," Lupiano said. T&M Associates of Middletown and its team of environmentalists are scheduled to begin collecting data at the high school this weekend by placing radon canisters throughout the building to collect air samples, according to township officials. While the family had hoped to move forward following the operation, tests . He had developed 'rare' brain tumor some 20 years ago. Over 122 people connected to Colonia High School were found to have brain tumors. And that the children of this school, the faculty of this school and the parents and caregivers of these children and the people in and around this community they can have confidence, they can have confidence that this is a safe place.. Three of the victims are Al Lupiano, his wife Michelle, and his sister Angele Decillis. 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. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Meanwhile, the TikTok video sparked panic and a range of conspiracy-theory style comments, with people claiming mold, toxic waste, asbestos and nearby cellphone towers could all be causing the cluster. This is definitely not normal.. All rights reserved. But Lupiano has so far came across 102 people who passed through the school between 1975 and 2000 have all suffered from the same type of brain cancer. Both Lupiano, 50, and his wife Michele, 49, who is also a Colonia graduate, have acoustic neuroma, a benign tumor. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! 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. WOODBRIDGE The township has approved an emergency contract of $221,350 for an engineering firm to conduct radiological assessments at Colonia High School, following a 1989 graduate's research indicating a possible link between the school and brain tumor cases among former students and staff. Because I dont think its right to say theres no threat to teachers and students if you didnt take a single soil or groundwater sample.. DeCillis's four teenage daughters attend Colonia schools in Woodbridge. Since the initial post, Lupiano has published a list of 115 people who attended or worked at Colonia and were diagnosed with a primary brain tumor, according to news reports. 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 . Phillips had surgery to remove the tumor on March 3 and entered physical, occupational and speech therapy soon after. The program will take real-time measurements of radiation inside and outside the building, the town said. (Al Lupiano). '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. It is now one of the hottest topics to be discussed on TikTok. 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. Email tips toaudrey.conklin@fox.com or on Twitter at @audpants. For the past two decades, he's spoken with other victims, comforting them on message boards and Facebook. Al Lupiano is a Colonia High School graduate and environmental scientist who was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor. But in 2021, his wife and sister, also graduates of Colonia, were both diagnosed with rare brain tumors, according to NJ Spotlight News. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Without analyzing the data herself, Platz said shes not able to estimate how many of the 15,000 people who have gone through Colonia High in the past 30 years would need to have developed cancer for it to be considered a cluster. We have no records 55 years ago.". "This approach of calculating the expected number was done to provide context to . "It's too important. That decades-long stretch ended in the early 2000s, but recent. Over 100 former students and staff from a New Jersey high school have been diagnosed with brain tumors. An investigation has been launched after more than 100 people who attended a high school in New Jersey appeared to contract a rare cancer. He thinks the cases stem from contaminated soil, but there's no data to prove that at this point. State Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichillisaid during the press conference a review of the cancer registry by health officials determined the expected number of primary brain tumors for Colonia students from 1968 to 2021 were 98 to 105 and among staff for that same timeframe were 13 to 14. (Gosselin Funeral Home) In August 2021, DeCillis received her diagnosis of Grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive, rare, and deadly form of brain cancer. While benign, treatment can leave victims with hearing loss, trouble balancing, and several other serious symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic. Frequently, in hazmat, you never find it in the first shot," Lupiano said. The vast majority dont have a cause that explains the cluster, said Laumbach, who is leading a federal study into the health effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), so-called forever chemicals, among 1,300 residents of Paulsboro in Gloucester County. Mystery as 100 people associated with . The diagnoses include several types of primary brain tumors, including cancerous forms like glioblastoma and noncancerous yet debilitating masses such as acoustic neuromas, haemangioblastomas and meningiomas., Brain tumors at colonia 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. Age, exposure to radiation and family history are all risk factors. His condition was rare, but he was successfully treated. According to American Association of Neurological Surgeons, glioblastoma is normally extremely rare with an incidence of 3.21 per 100,000 people. 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. 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. For the Lupianos, they believe the chances of all three of them having tumors on the left sides of their brains were too high to be a coincidence. "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.". Al Lupiano graduated from the Middlesex County school in 1989. NJ high school linked to mystery cancer cases. The devoted brother promised his sister on her deathbed that he would get to the bottom of what was causing the apparent cancer cluster at Colonia High. Its not something done to us due to bad habits.. According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, glioblastoma has an incidence of3.21 per 100,000. All are awaiting results from the radiation testing at the school before deciding how to get involved and proceed with the investigation. Mitesh Kapadia moved right next to Colonia High just a few years ago. NY 10036. The investigation will consider very granular data on graduates, like their occupations, family history and other activities that could affect their exposures. We are looking at possible things that we can do between the town and school, and they said they will look at anything we come up with, McCormac said. For a better-informed future. It can seem connected, when in reality, cancer is quite common and people are simply noticing this fact. But doubts that the tumor cases represent a cancer cluster are unwarranted, said Lupiano, who predicted strong protests in the Woodbridge community if state and federal authorities dont start a formal investigation soon. The analysis took several weeks. The investigation was jumpstarted after it was discovered more 122 people once connected to the school had a primary brain tumor and another 75 were diagnosed with other rare forms of cancer, according to NJ.com. or redistributed. "Dozens of people have asked me to help them find a way to have a brain scan since they have been having signs and symptoms something may be wrong, but due to lack of insurance or not being able to afford the deductible, have not been able to have an MRI scan," Lupiano wrote in a Facebook post. ", Rick Rickman is the news assistant at New Jersey 101.5. More than 100 graduates of a New Jersey high school have been diagnosed with brain tumors over the past 30 years, prompting concern that there might be a connection between the school and the tumor cases. "As previously stated, there is basically one medically proven cause of rare brain tumors like ours radiation," he wrote. In the 1980's, the contaminated residential properties were cleaned up, and the excavated soil was stored at the site in a specially constructed pile, known as the Vicinity Properties (VP) pile," the USACE New York Division's website states. 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. Al Lupiano first sent public nearly two months ago about concerns of a cancer cluster related to Colonia High School. After more than 1,300 students but there 's no data to prove that at this point from a Jersey... '' he wrote 100 former students and staff from a New Jersey 101.5 radon a... Is definitely not normal.. all rights reserved the City of Woodbridge has hired experts to conduct tests! ), radon is a Colonia High school has more than 100 people attended! Of 3.21 per 100,000 people rights reserved a High school were found to have brain like. 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