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. 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. Print |. 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. The statewide graduation rate fell slightly, from 91% in 2019-20 to 90.6%. 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. Lupiano, his wife and his sister all Colonia High grads were all diagnosed with rare 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. Qualifications: Current and valid New Jersey Registered Nurse license is required. More than 100 people who graduated from Colonia High School have developed brain cancer. Jason Wisinski, who lost his wife and sister-in-law, both Colonia High alumnae, to primary malignant brain tumors at the age of 38, became one of many convinced that a cluster a. "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. "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. Today, he still suffers lingering effects. The governor wont be embracing the bill despised by landlords and supported by tenant advocates. Lupiano is still looking for any and all Colonia High School alumni to come forward. Lupiano was diagnosed with glioblastoma (brain cancer) when he was 27 years old, about 25 years ago. She made it five years," said Jason Wisinski. Advocates for an official investigation into fears of a "cancer cluster" at the Middlesex County high school say there are parallels to the notorious water system contamination in the Ocean County town that was blamed for more than 130 cases of childhood cancer in the 1990s. All Rights Reserved. The action (should) be undertaken immediately, due to high exceedances of the State and Federal regulatory standards for PCBs and pesticides, as well as the fact that PCBs and chlordane inhalation may be occurring by students and staff, Komorek stated in a letter to district officials. 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.. This all came to fruition in August of last year, and it just startled Lupiano. 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. The reports he got back were startling, and he saw patterns emerging. Others are benign and very slow-growing that are going to use a different kind of treatment altogether. I pray we find answers. 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. He added that the Environmental Protection Agency has gotten involved in the investigation. Topics you care about, straight to your inbox. 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. She made it five years.". Job specializations: Healthcare. Hochul deflects when asked about 'good cause' eviction bill, Judge: Former coach's discrimination lawsuit against New York Giants and NFL can proceed, Supreme Court justices pour water on NYs push to save mob-busting seaport watchdog, NJ Legislature OKs bill to make landlords, sellers warn residents about past floods. Lupiano was diagnosed with a rare and abnormally large brain tumour Acoustic Neuroma (AN) in 1999 when he was just 27 years old. 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There could be a real problem here, and our residents deserve to know if there are any dangers, Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac said, according to the outlet. $4 Million Settlement Mass Torts $203 Million Class Action Financial Services $75 Million Class Action Mass Torts $200 Million Class Action ", ALSO READ | Onlookers urged police to charge into TX school: 'Go in there! 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. Both had graduated from Colonia High School, the news outlet reported. The couple's neurologist was baffled. Doctor/Physician. "My wife was awesome, and I think about her every day, I talk to her all the time," Wisinski said. The 50-year-old claims the diseases could be traced. Whittington a board-certified MD in California claimed several of the brain tumors developed by ex-Colonia High staff and students are glioblastoma multiforme an aggressive cancer. Al Lupiano was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor in 1999. He found a total of 104 former students and faculty, and about half were cancerous. 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. 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. "Woodbridge Township contacted the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the CDC, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) (which is part of CDC), and the state Department of Health last week, and we've begun initial discussions with them.". 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. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Theyre testing the air for radon. Al Lupiano, an environmental scientist,. It will take about two weeks. Nsikan runs the health and science desk at WNYC/Gothamist. Columns with an asterisk or 'N' indicate there was no data or it was suppressed to protect student privacy. Courtesy Al Lupiano. 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.. 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. Social media has played a big role in shining the light of truth on this situation. What steps are investigators taking to try to figure this out? Colonia is not a mega 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. I know so many people who have ailments and cancer specifically who lived near there. This is the preliminary step that they're taking to see if they can find anything. Brain cancer is relatively rare but very dangerous. The probe was the result of concerns about a possible brain tumor cluster linked to graduates and staff from Colonia High, a school of about 1,300 students in Middlesex County. Lupiano also lost his younger sister to the disease in February at the age of 44, the outlet continued. Pictured, a stock image of a brain scan. Part Time, Per diem position. Radiologic Technologist Per Diem. Its not air. The sample came back indicating PCBs at concentration of 4.3 ug/wipe (or 100 cm2), indicating that PCBs may be present in indoor air, according to a report compiled by Komorek and obtained by NJ Advance Media. His wife Michelle graduated in 1991. NEW JERSEY - A New Jersey man has uncovered a medical mystery apparently linking more than 100 people . Our sister station WABC-TV has reached out to the EPA for comment. 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. 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. United States Department of Environmental Protection. 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. CHS is the one link of all three of them. Accordingly, no further testing or remediation is required or recommended at this time. Officials are looking for potential radiation at the school. A majority of former students of Colonia High School developed glioblastoma, a rare brain tumour. 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. 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. (Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media). 100 PEOPLE WITH RARE TUMORS WHO ATTENDED SAME NEW JERSEY HIGH SCHOOL DEMAND ANSWERS The 110 people that Lupiano has counted on his list of former Colonia High School graduates have been. Exterior shots of Colonia High School in Colonia, NJ on Thursday, April 7, 2022. The community is absolutely unnerved and absolutely terrified by what's going on here. All three have been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Also, just on Monday Gov. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Kamal added that there needs to be a full investigation to understand if these cancers are linked, and if there's a specific cause. Jason Wisinski is another person affected by the spate of tumor cases. 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. The environmental testing is expected to last a month. They said they took your temperature. Robert Miller The investigation was jumpstarted after it was discovered more 122 people once connected to. Follow him on Twitter @MattStanmyre. Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. Komorek presented her findings Monday to Woodbridge superintendent Joseph Massimino, Colonia principal Kenneth Pace and Woodbridge Education Association president Brian Geoffroy. Please consider subscribing to NJ.com. The investigation started earlier this year after a stunning number of cancer cases in people who had a connection to the school. As a concerned uncle and community member, I pray we find nothing, Lupiano says. Google Maps. 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. Advertisement. So, would . 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. After discovering 94 former students and staff from Colonia High School which was built in 1967 had been diagnosed with rare brain tumors, Dr. Joseph Massimino, superintendent of . It has been lightly edited for clarity. If you are an alumni or staff member of Colonia High School and have developed a brain tumor, contact MLG today! A video posted on TikTok video by Dr. Joe Whittington, a board-certified doctor in California gave this issue much needed public attention. Both parents of children in school and current teachers and staff deserve answers. 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. It's just that rare. All three family members attended Colonia High, the NY Post noted. Photo credit Google Street View. There's a lot of speculation running rampant about what could be causing this, but to date, there has been nothing found. Earlier this year, Colonia graduate Al Lupiano, also an environmental scientist, discovered more than 100 teachers and alums of the school who reported having brain tumors, drawing international attention to the community and sparking state and local investigations. Were all concerned, and we all want to get to the bottom of this. 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. They learned of their tumors eight days apart. At the time, the medium lifespan for her type of tumor was 18 months. 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. Exterior shots of Colonia High School in Colonia, NJ on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Thats what makes the numbers staggering, says Lupiano. The lists, which are sorted by county and include a separate list for charter schools, also include a second graduation rate, which excludes students whose special education IEPs allow them to qualify for diplomas despite not meeting typical coursework and attendance requirements. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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. Janice was pregnant with her and Jason's only child. 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. Advocates, for months, implored state and local officials to undertake more testing. 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 . Unfortunately, hers was terminal, and she died in February. . 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.". 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. All rights reserved (About Us). Since . Colonia High School is now the. At that time, I only had 15 people on the list, and I decided after grieving for a few weeksit was time now to go public and ask people to help me.. 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. "It's alarming because there are just so many people with a tumor - malignant or benign, and it's serious. Would they just end it at that?. 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. This issue much needed public attention grads were all diagnosed with a brain tumor patterns emerging all... 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