They learned of their tumors just eight days apart, while Janice was pregnant with her and Jason's only child. Some are incredibly aggressive forms of cancer that need very aggressive forms of treatment. This is the preliminary step that they're taking to see if they can find anything. 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. 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. And today we now stand at 117 individuals with primary brain tumors, and another 70 with very rare cancers.". His sister Angela Decillis graduated in 1995. As the Senior Producer for Morning Edition on WNYC, Alec works hard to get listeners all the latest news and delightful stories from New York City, northern New Jersey and beyond. All of the cases have ties to Colonia High School, either as students or employees. Over 1,300 cases have been reported of people getting sick after eating the Lucky Charms cereal. 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.. utah778/Getty Work began on . 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. As of April 11, Lupiano wrote on this personal Facebook page that he now has tracked about 100 people with rare brain tumors and they all are either Colonia High School graduates or worked in the school building. 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 . Superintendent Joseph Massiminio the district worked with representatives from the state Department of Environmental Protection, the state Department of Health, the federal Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Disease Control, and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry to discuss the matter, and that national firms T&M Associates and Cabrera Services were tasked with collecting data and conducting the necessary tests. Since . We have to really take a look at it," said Woodbridge Township Mayor John McCormac. 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. He says that the evidence that Lupiano has collected is a cause for concern, which is why the city will pay for emergency testing at the school this weekend. He received his . Lupiano grew up in Woodbridge Township and he now works as an environmental scientist; he no longer lives in Woodbridge. Two hours later, we received information that my wife also had a primary brain tumor, said Lupiano. The environmental testing is expected to last a month. Lupiano has found nearly 200 people with links to Colonia High School who have brain tumors or other rare cancers. 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. Federal agencies are also assisting in the investigation. Before National Geographic, he worked for more than four years at PBS NewsHour, where he co-created anaward-winning video series named ScienceScope. Copyright 2023 WABC-TV. Advocates, for months, implored state and local officials to undertake more testing. Is it a cancer cluster or just a coincidence? Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Lupiano started researching. Topics you care about, straight to your inbox. Colonia High School is now the subject of radiation detecting research. 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. In a statement to CBS News, Lupiano said he is anxiously awaiting the results of the two-week-long radiological survey which concluded this weekend and he anticipates he will receive the results in weeks. Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media. SOURCES:PEOPLE Magazine, CBS News New York, New York Post, NJ.com &Dr. Joe Whittington. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. More than 100 people who graduated from Colonia High School have developed brain cancer. Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily. "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. Her sister, Cheryl Black also died from brain cancer in 2015. "They are working with the Township to review the test findings and prepare a course of action if necessary.". The 50-year-old claims the diseases could be traced. In a mysterious story, a man from New Jersey named Al Lupiano found out that 100 people with uncommon cancers were linked to Woodbridge Township School District, Colonia High School. Lupiano also says people who did not attend the school but live nearby have gotten in touch with him to express their concerns. National Cancer Institutes list of 27 common afflictions. 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. 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.". "It's alarming because there are just so many people with a tumor - malignant or benign, and it's serious. 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. His wife graduated in 1991. But we'd love to be able to rule out the school.". In an acknowledgement of the significance of Komoreks findings, the district sent out a statement to parents and guardians Monday evening. His wife. A Colonia High School alum said he found 107 people with brain tumors who went to or worked at the school. "I went on Facebook on March 7, and I asked for the people on Facebook to help me find others. 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. As a concerned uncle and community member, I pray we find nothing, Lupiano says. The pool is getting a new liner, gutter and deck, along with new filtration systems. ", ALSO READ | Onlookers urged police to charge into TX school: 'Go in there! WWE Star Sonya Deville Arrested In Atlantic City On Gun Charge, Atlantic City Official & Council Candidate Facing Assault Charge, Former Press of Atlantic City Office Building To Get New Purpose, Atlantic City Area Residents Share Favorite Childhood Memories, Atlantic City, NJ Mayor Leading Free Resident Credit Repair Effort, Atlantic City, NJ Area Great Hurricane Of 1944 (AMAZING PHOTOS), Atlantic Citys Chris Ford Proved That Nice Guys Finish First, NJ Author Discusses What We Can Do to Address Bullying in Schools. 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. Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac immediately and responsibly got engaged. "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. Colonia High School is now the. Lupiano is still looking for any and all Colonia High School alumni to come forward. How many people do we mean here? The statewide graduation rate fell slightly, from 91% in 2019-20 to 90.6%. Environmental scientist Al Lupiano is among 94 former students and staff from Colonia High School in Woodbridge, New Jersey, who have been diagnosed with rare brain tumors. Pictured, a stock image of a brain scan. ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News Stream, Onlookers urged police to charge into TX school: 'Go in there! She loves a good music pun and wakes up very very early. Medical experts are urging caution but also advising that there is no need for residents to panic. Columns with an asterisk or 'N' indicate there was no data or it was suppressed to protect student privacy. Courtesy Al Lupiano. 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. He emphasized that there's no need for residents in the community to go get emergency cancer imaging scans immediately. 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. It should also be noted that not all the reports of primary brain tumors are cancerous. 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. "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. No one knows exactly what it is. Jason Wisinksi lost his wife Janice 10 years ago to an inoperable brain tumor called Anaplastic Astrocytoma. 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. ", "Just the sheer numbers of cases he's found is staggering," McCormac continued. 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. "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. Environmental scientists are investigating reports of increased instances of brain tumors at Colonia High School in New Jersey. Follow him on Twitter @MattStanmyre. At the time, medium lifespan for her type of tumor was 18 months. Al Lupiano has found 107 people with primary brain tumors who all attended or worked at Colonia High School. In May, the district and state announced an environmental assessment of all 28 acres in and around Colonia found no traces of radiological contaminants and the school was deemed safe for students and staff. Lupiano has confirmed that he will not stop until he finds out what has happened here over the years at Colonia High School. Al Lupiano revealed he had a brain tumor 20 years ago, before his wife had one and so did his sister - who died in February aged just 44. Some are the most awful worst kinds of brain cancer. 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. They are testing the grounds outside and inside of the high school inside. Colonia High School was reportedly the common denominator among those suffering from the tumors Credit: CBS NEW YORK Al Lupiano, speaking to CBS2, said the rare brain tumors were discovered in people who attended Colonia High School. The ground and air testing will begin on Saturday. Its not contaminated water. 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 . 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 . (RELATED: Video Shows Man Repeatedly Running Over Woman With SUV After Minor Incident). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Some of these are non-cancerous, yet very debilitating forms of brain tumor. She made it five years.". The incident rate for GBM is approximately 30 out of 1,000,000 people. They may need to excavate soil underneath the school. "We're going to test and hope we find nothing," McCormac previously said. A total of 104 former students and faculty with brain tumors responded to a Facebook post. "My wife was awesome, and I think about her every day - I talk to her all the time," Wisinski said. Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com. Its not something done to us due to bad habits, Lupiano told CBS News. The couple's neurologist was baffled. The school was built in 1967 and currently serves roughly 1,300 students, the NY Post noted. 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. 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. Our sister station WABC-TV has reached out to the EPA for comment. Woodbridge will not get preliminary test results until after this Saturday, April 23, said Hagerty. katherine noelle wyman; cape breton post obituaries 2022. location symbol text in word; list of female jockeys australia; mike conley house columbus ohio address T&M Associates subcontracted Cabrera Services Inc., a radiological environmental and remediation company, of East Hartford, Connecticut. ", First Patch report: Brain Tumor Link To Colonia High School 'Credible,' Town's Mayor Says, Get great local news about YOUR town and state. Lupiano, an environmental scientist and industrial engineer, believed it was a pattern. Over 122 people connected to Colonia High School were found to have brain tumors. COLONIA, New Jersey (WABC) -- An investigation into the possible link between a Central New Jersey school and cases of brain cancer found no radiological hazards that warranted further investigation, the district superintendent said Thursday. Print |. 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 tumor, according to CBS News. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. "My wife fought like crazy. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available 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. I will not rest until I have answers. Jupiter and Venus appear to 'kiss' in the sky, Belvidere Jeep assembly plant shut down indefinitely, Chicago Weather: Cloudy and much cooler Thursday. 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. If you were affected or have a tumor or rare cancer, I need your assistance," his Facebook post read. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Lupiano has confirmed that he will not stop until he finds out what has happened here over the years at Colonia High School. We contacted the author of the post, former student and former resident Al Lupiano, and offered to help, McCormac said. The conversation is available below. The sample was collected using a laboratory-prepared hexane wipe and placed in a pre-cleaned, laboratory-provided jar, with a screw-on lid. 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