Helping students achieve and persist One learner at a time. The township announced results of an investigation. Facebook Colonia High School. Youll often find contaminants that are in the environment, Dr. Peter Shields, the deputy director of the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, told TODAY. Band Spaghetti Fundraiser. People who participate in the screening will have their MRI results read by a neuro-radiologist who will then send the report to the individuals personal physician. Ms. Vercoski, who was raised in Carteret and Middlesex County and who recently lost a close friend and alumnus of Colonia High School to this rare brain tumor, is utilizing her personal investment in this investigation to become part of the solution to provide answers and relief to alumni and staff affected by this rare brain tumor. 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. The screenings will be held 9a.m. to 5 p.m. June 22-24 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 27-30 at Joy's Dance House, 747 King Georges Road in the Fords section. We had three of us by that date knowing we had brain tumors.. Cancer Cluster Probe at NJ HS Underway After 100+ Diagnosed With Brain Tumors, What Is Aphasia? Boys & Girls V/FS Track & Field Freeway League Tri-Meet, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Your opinion matters! The environmental testing is expected to last a month. Doctors gave her about 18 months to live, but she survived five years and saw her daughter grow up some. All three have been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Sonora High School encourages students to become life-long learners and contributing members of an ever-changing world. Over 100 brain tumors spark investigation at New Jersey high school. 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. You have to find out if its something thats going to affect my kids, Al Lupiano, 50, of Jamesburg, New Jersey, told TODAY. Since 2007, Michele M. Vercoski has obtained excellent financial recoveries to clients in Personal Injury, Product Liability, Class Action fraud,Commercial Litigation,and workplace harassment and discrimination. As the school remains open during the investigation, some students are concerned. After Jason Wisinki's wife and sister-in-law, who both attended Colonia High School, died from brain tumors, the 51-year-old from Hunterdon, New Jersey, who did not attend Colonia, contacted Lupiano through Facebook. "We absolutely have concerns, the Democrat told NJ.com. Higher Education Medical experts are urging caution but also advising that there is no need for residents to panic. A cluster of over 100 rare brain tumors in the past 30 years sparks a health inspection at Colonia High School in New Jersey. 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 . Lupiano, an environmental scientist, said he has confirmed 65 cases of people with rare brain tumors, adding the common denominator is they were all Colonia High School graduates or had. Optune: this nonsurgical, electrical-frequency therapy disrupts glioblastoma cancer cell growth, representing the first advancement in outcomes for this cancer in over a decade. Our physicians and multidisciplinary teams are at the forefront of creating national models for evidence-based treatment. "One hundred out of 15,000 have brain cancer -- sure sounds like something we should be concerned about," Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac has said. Call us or complete our online form to request an appointment with our neurological care experts. Al Lupiano and sister Angela, who died at age 44 in 2022. Football Junior High Strength Camp, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM The National Cancer Institute defines a cancer cluster as "the occurrence of a greater than expected number of cancer cases among a group of people in a defined geographic area over a specific time period.". I had been struggling for several weeks after she passed away, trying to figure out what to do, Al Lupiano said. Radon testing was conducted at the school and last monthlocal officials joined by state environmental and health officials announced no evidence of any cancer-causing hazards were found at the site that warrant further investigation. Air, waterand soil samples need to be taken to rule out the possibility of additional contaminants that may be acting synergistically," Lupiano said in a statement Tuesday. Part of investigating a possible cancer cluster is comparing the group in question to a similar group elsewhere, aka the control group, to determine if cancer is actually occurring at a higher rate. Others told NJ.com they want a remote learning option until the investigation is complete. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The free brain scans were pursued by Al Lupiano, a Colonia High School graduate who began researching a possible link between brain tumors and the high school following the February. In addition to Ms. Vercoskis medical and legal expertise in environmental areas, MLG has an in-house team of lawyers and public health professionals, including two PhDs in public health, who are ready to lead the investigation to protect current and former students and staff of Colonia High School against the fallout from this rare brain tumor. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The Brea Olinda Unified School District operates six elementary schools, one junior high school, one high school, and one alternative high school. As tens of thousands of students and hundreds of staff have attended and worked at Colonia High School, and 1,300 students currently attend school there, it is urgent to understand the cause of this elevated occurrence of brain tumors. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. That conversation inspired Al Lupiano to do some research. The district is bounded on the north by the Orange / Los Angeles counties' line, on the east by San Bernardino and Riverside counties, on the west by Puente Avenue, and on the South by the City of Fullerton. Both sisters graduated from Colonia High School, just like Al Lupiano in 1989, his wife Michelle in 1991, and his sister, Angela Decillis in 1995. DeCillis died at age 44 on February 17, 2022. All the affected attended Colonia High School in Woodbridge, dating back decades. "It's certainly concerning because the rate of primary brain tumors is certainly higher than what we would expect in the general population," said Dr. Arif Kamal, Chief Patient Officer at the American Cancer Society. A week later, the Lupianos were at a doctors appointment and mentioned Al Lupianos acoustic neuroma 20 years earlier. "Right now we've talked to every federal and state agency possible and no one has indicated that the school is not safe," McCormac said. WOODBRIDGE The Brain Tumor Foundation (BTF) is offeringfree early brain tumor detection, with MRI screenings, in response to concerns surrounding more than 125 former Colonia High School students, teachers and employees who have apparently developed brain tumors. McCune Law Group, (MLG) Partner Michele Vercoski is leading the investigation into the link between the diagnoses of a rare brain tumor and former Colonia High School students and staff. Earlier:'It can't be a coincidence': Colonia High School community probes mysterious cancer cases. The Departments stand ready to assist Woodbridge in reviewing any environmental data it collects to determine appropriate next steps. The doctor told us that it is extremely rare for a husband and wife to both have brain tumors. On March 7, he posted a page on social media looking for others from Colonia High School with brain tumors. He was diagnosed 20 years ago. "I had recalled two family friends, the Black sisters, had also passed of these brain tumors," Lupiano said. Frequently, in hazmat, you never find it in the first shot," Lupiano said. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. "My wife fought like crazy. All Rights Reserved. I was feeling lost, and I had remembered this study that I had started, and I made a promise to her that I wasnt going to stop.. WOODBRIDGE -In less than two months, former township resident Al Lupiano has developed a list of more than 100 people linked to Colonia High School who have been diagnosed with primary brain tumors. All rights reserved. The St. Jude Neurosciences Institute is a nationally recognized leader in successfully treating a wide range of neurological conditions. Learn more about personalized stroke services, treatments and services. 3 min read. Angela DeCellis and her husband, Matt, and their friend Andrea Hoffman. "The nurses thought (she) was my sister-in-law because she was the one with the tumor. "The agencies acknowledged their concerns regarding the potential cancer cluster, but are not conducting any testing aside from radiation and radon that the Township undertook, even though the school remains open. These low-level contaminations can be very difficult to prove as a cancer cluster because there are going to be a lot of other schools with the same level of contamination there, (and) they have dont brain cancers.. New residents seeking information on elementary, junior and senior high schools, or adult education should call the School District Office at 714-990-7800. Obviously, everyone's praying and hoping for the best," said Colonia High School junior Julia Pagnozzi. BTF is using a new generation of Swoop portable MRI scanners developed by HyperFine. Wisinski lost his wife, Janice 10 years ago to an inoperable brain tumor called Anaplastic Astrocytoma. I hope to God that they can find something. We encourage families and individuals in the Woodbridge area to take advantage of this opportunity for free early detection screening for brain tumors. 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. His sister Angela Decillis graduated in 1995. Ms. Vercoski has also contributed to legal publications as an author and values continuing education for attorneys. "I dont know that we know enough yet to be definitive in terms of causation, et cetera.". "It's alarming because there are just so many people with a tumor - malignant or benign, and it's serious. If you were affected or have a tumor or rare cancer, I need your assistance," his Facebook post read. Screenings will utilize Swoop, HyperFines new portable MRI machine, BTF said. Learn more about our mission, vision and values. Additionally, alumni and staff need to know what is causing these brain tumors in order to protect themselves and monitor their health carefully. She had (another) pretty bad seizure about 31 weeks.. The University of California at Irvine, Chapman College, and Cal Poly Pomona are all within easy freeway access. It is a completely safe procedure. His wife. We are one of an elite group of hospitals in the nation to be recognized as an Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center. "It's alarming because there are just so many people with a tumor - malignant or benign, and it's serious. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Reports claim that more than 60 former students and staff of Colonia High School have been diagnosed with a rare brain tumor called glioblastoma. Phil Murphy told NJ.com the possible brain tumor cluster was disturbing but stressed it was too soon to make definitive conclusions about the cause. Community Health Needs Assessments and Improvement Plans, Notice of Nondiscrimination and Communication Assistance. "We and our children deserve more! She had an inoperable high grade tumor called anaplastic astrocytoma.". It struck Jason Wisinski that there was something unusual about their cases. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. He had confirmed 15 . WOODBRIDGE TWP., New Jersey -- Al Lupiano graduated from Colonia High School in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey in 1989. All three were diagnosed with a brain tumor. Learn more about our mission, vision and values. 2023 Cable News Network. "I have full faith they will get to the bottom of this and they will figure out what is going on," she said at the time. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. The physical, occupational and speech therapists in our outpatient neurorehabilitationprogram provide skilled, experienced support for people with movement disorders. But patience appears to be wearing thin among some in the community, judging by the petition. More say the information flow is sorely lacking. Doctors thought it was benign at first, but the pathology results indicated otherwise, Al Lupiano recalled. Ms. Vercoski graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Nursing. He made a public plea on Facebook to anyone from the school who was diagnosed with primary brain tumors. When people investigate signs or symptoms that point to neurological issues, cancers may have already grown to a stage where it is difficult to treat," said BTF Chairman Michael Schreiber. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. Courtesy Al Lupiano Since March, Lupiano said he has found 107 people who. The. In 1999, Al Lupiano says he was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma, a type of benign brain tumor that grows on a nerve that runs from the brain to the inner ear. Radon canisters were placed throughout the building to collect radon measurements and additional testing was scheduled for last week while the school, built in 1967, was closed for spring break. Here's What to Know About Bruce Willis' Diagnosis, The Wanted's Tom Parker Dies at 33 After Brain Tumor Battle, Chicago Police Officer Shot and Killed on Southwest Side, Chicago Police Release Details of What Led to Officer's Fatal Shooting in Gage Park, All Eyes On a Strong' System That Could Hit Chicago Area Friday, But Much Uncertainty Remains, Who Did Your Ward Vote For? The environmental engineering firm T+M Associates was contracted by Woodbridge Township after growing concerns about a possible link between the Central New Jersey school and brain cancer. NeuroBlate: using this minimally invasive surgical tool, which combines robotics, lasers, temperature mapping and sophisticated software, our neurosurgeons are able to ablate complex brain lesions with extreme precision. In the meantime, Lupiano would like to see additional testing started right away. It took a lot of computing power, but we may finally have a full picture of a humans brain development over the course of their life. ", McCormac hopes testing will determine theres nothing at the school contributing to brain tumors: Then experts will have to figure out why its happening elsewhere. Al Lupiano, a graduate of the high school, believes there's a link between Colonia High School and brain tumors diagnosed in 108 people over a period of three decades, ending in the early 2000s. Environmental scientist Al Lupiano. Kamal added that there needs to be a full investigation to understand if these cancers are linked, and if there's a specific cause. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Environmental engineering firm T+M Associates has been contracted by the township to test for radiation on the grounds of the high school, which was built in 1967. Through our specialized programs and neurological services, the St. Jude Neurosciences Institute provides compassionate patient-centered services, life-changing research, and a relentless commitment to advancing patient outcomes. And its very possible they might not.. A Colonia High School alum said he found 107 people with brain tumors who went to or worked at the school. CNN's Ana Cabrera speaks to Al Lupiano, a former student. This is the disclaimer text. The township dedicated funds to hire an environmental engineering firm to start various tests at Colonia High School for possible contaminants in and around the school. 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