"Please know that the health and safety of our school community, and the Colonia community at-large, is paramount and we take the information shared very seriously," the statement continued. Lupiano shared that three weeks ago, his sister "suddenly and very tragically" died due to a very rare and highly aggressive malignant glioma brain tumor (glioblastoma multiforme). The testing started on April 9. This Week in 340B: February 21 27, 2023. Earlier this spring, Al Lupiano, a 1974 graduate, discovered 122 people with ties to the school who have had a primary brain tumor and an additional 75 with other rare forms of cancer. A representative from the health department did not respond to that request. Risk factors for brain tumors include a family history and possibly exposure to ionizing radiation, Persichilli explained at the press conference, stressing that much is unknown about the risk factors for developing brain and central nervous system tumors. 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 investigation. Al Lupiano, speaking to CBS2, said the rare brain tumors were discovered in people who attended Colonia High School. 3 min read. While right now the focus has been on radiation, once the data is analyzed there may be other areas to explore, the mayor said. Gov. The question is why? Dr. Joseph Massimino, superintendent of Woodbridge Township School District, said officials are awaiting details on next steps from environmental agencies, while Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac has contacted the state Department of Health, Department of Environmental Protection and the Federal Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry, the Mayor's Office of Communications for the Township of Woodbridge confirmed to PEOPLE Friday. Lupianos search for others with similar experiences eventually uncovered 108 former students and staff who had suffered from brain tumors since their time at Colonia. Lupiano's sister, a Colonia High School grad, died with a malignant brain tumor in February and both he and his wife, who also is a Colonia High School grad, developed brain tumors. Al Lupiano, a Colonia High School . "Just the sheer numbers of cases he's found 65 is staggering. Lupiano said multiple neurologists have been astounded by the tumors found in husband, wife and sister, and they told him the chances of this occurring are "maybe 1 in a billion. He received his diagnosis in the late '90s when he was 27 years old, but last year his wife and sister also alumni of the school developed brain tumors as well, as reported by CBS New York. This now makes three of us in one family with primary brain tumors all on the left side," he wrote. Performance Rule Requires Disclosure of Relationship Tech Takeaways: SCOTUS Weighs in on Pivotal Tech Cases. Mr. Krawitz has extensive experience in both state and federal courts You are responsible for reading, understanding and agreeing to the National Law Review's (NLRs) and the National Law Forum LLC's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy before using the National Law Review website. The National Law Review is not a law firm nor is www.NatLawReview.com intended to be a referral service for attorneys and/or other professionals. . First Offshore Wind Energy Lease Sales in the Gulf of Mexico, Telephone and Texting Compliance News: Litigation Update February 2023. Is it a cancer cluster or a coincidence? I will uncover the truth," Lupiano told NJ.com last week. Colonia High School: Environmentalists determining possible link between New Jersey school and brain tumors - 6abc Philadelphia tumor Former students wonder if their brain tumors are. Pallone said he asked the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to show its commitment to the community and its concerns by reimbursing Woodbridge for the cost of the environmental studies and by taking over any subsequent tests if they are necessary in the future. All About Kelly Stafford, Mass. "It's fascinating because that signs been there for years and no one said, Hey, wait a minute. 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. 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. Meghan Holohan is a contributing writer who covers health and parenting for TODAY.com. Matthew Stanmyre is a sports enterprise, projects and investigative reporter for NJ Advance Media. No one knows why. "I started doing some research and the three became five, the five became seven, the seven became 15," Lupiano said of the alarming numbers. In addition, an analysis of the state cancer registry by the New Jersey department of health found the expected number of primary brain tumors among Colonia students from 1968 to 2021 would be between 98 and 105 -- figures close to those discovered by Lupiano. utah778/Getty Work began on . To investigate the possibility that radiation may be responsible for the high rate of brain tumor development among former Colonia students and employees, theCity of Woodbridge has contractedthe radiology and environmental remediations company T&M and Cabrera Services, Inc. T&M and Cabrera is currently testing for radiation on the schools grounds using radon sensors. Whoever started calling this a cancer cluster, to use that phrase, it was ill informed, McCormac said. Matthew Stanmyre | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. Nearly half of these brain tumors were cancerous. By Sean Adams, WCBS Newsradio 880. Those results are expected in late May. Those were the odds Al and Michele Lupiano were told they had drawn. News of the alarming diagnoses has recently gone viral in a TikTok video by Dr. Joe Whittington, a board-certified doctor in California. Multiple Concussions Result in Greater Cognitive Deficits, DOL Issues Internal Guidance on Telework Under the FLSA & FMLA, USPTO Launches Cancer Moonshot Expedited Examination Pilot Program. Dies geschieht in Ihren Datenschutzeinstellungen. 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. In total, he collected the names of 94 former students and staff who have developed brain tumors, according to the New York Post. A mystery in Colonia. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. Woodbridge's congressman, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ6), has also been made aware, the mayor said. Matthew Stanmyre | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. But there is no cause and effect relationship between those illnesses and the building or grounds at Colonia High School., LaTourette added: Its our conclusion at the Department of Environmental Protection that the radiological status of this building and the grounds of this high school are consistent with typical background levels of radiation that are found in New Jersey. Environmental scientist Al Lupiano is. McCormac said he's assured any parents that have contacted his office that the township has no evidence of any problems with the school building or the grounds. High School Football Team Season is Over After Video Appears to Show Hazing, Sexual Harassment, The 'Twin Sister Docs' in Philly (and Their Teens) Share Why Getting Vaccinated and Spreading the Word Was Key, Kyleigh Leddy Paints Vivid Portrait of Sister's Schizophrenia: 'She Became Another Person', N.J. All three had been students at Colonia in the 80s and 90s. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. As of Thursday, Lupiano said he has confirmed 65 cases of people with rare brain tumors and they all are either Colonia High School graduates or had worked there, he says. Mystery as 100 people associated with . Al Lupiano first sent public nearly two months ago about concerns of a cancer cluster related to Colonia High School. When asked by reporters if the state would consider additional testing of the soil or groundwater at Colonia, LaTourette was adamant that no further examination is warranted. He reached out to others on Facebook to see if there were other cases. "Upon hearing this information, Mayor John McCormac and I immediately met to develop a plan to evaluate the concerns. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Some states have laws and ethical rules regarding solicitation and advertisement practices by attorneys and/or other professionals. "We're going to test and hope we find nothing," McCormac said Thursday afternoon. Nearly 100 Former Students and Staff From Colonia High School Develop Brain Tumors 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. Cancer clusters are difficult to prove because cancer is a relatively common disease, (and) cases of cancer can appear to cluster even when there is no connection among them. He also has, and continues to, litigate claims arising from motor vehicle and transportation accidents, many of which involve catastrophic damages. Colonia High School (Woodbridge school district) WOODBRIDGE, NJ The radon testing at Colonia High School will conclude Saturday, April 30 and Woodbridge expects to get the results. An environmental scientist, Lupiano determined the common link between the three was that all attended the same high school. Its definitely not enough, she said. Mayor John McCormac said there have been many conversations between the DOH and the townshipon setting up that portal. The network, which traces its roots to 1899, comprises three hospitals, a comprehensive cancer center, sleep medicine, cardiac testing, digestive health and wound care, urgent care, imaging and rehabilitation, and primary and specialty physician practices in Gloucester, Cumberland, Salem and Camden counties. Lupiano reported his findings to Colonia High School, which was built in 1967, and he is now working with local officials to identify the root cause. The NLR does not wish, nor does it intend, to solicit the business of anyone or to refer anyone to an attorney or other professional. News 12 New Jersey asked the state Department of Environmental Protection if the situation in Colonia is considered a cancer cluster. Now, they are urging health officials to look into an apparent link between at least 117 reported brain tumor cases some of them fatal among students, staff and faculty who attended or were employed at Colonia High from the 1970s to 2018. A A. Testing is expected to end this week and then it will be about a month before the results come back. Earlier:Colonia parents sign petition, push for quicker action in school cancer probe, Earlier:'It can't be a coincidence': Colonia High School community probes mysterious cancer cases. Al Lupiano and his wife, Michele, at their home in Jamesburg, attended Colonia High School together and both have rare brain tumors. 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). Advertisement. 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 hyperlocal. But at this point, theres no reason to, and it would send the wrong message to a community that is concerned that there is an adverse circumstance occurring that we see no evidence of whatsoever. Woodbridge is working with the Board of Education, various state and federal agencies and Lupiano to evaluate data he has collected on individuals with various forms of brain cancer and brain tumors from about 1975-1995 who attended or worked in Colonia High School. Environmental scientist Al Lupiano tells NBC4 New . The rates are actually consistent in New Jersey with the United States, McGreevy said. We absolutely have concern. 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. Lupiano's wife was diagnosed with an abnormally large AN tumor, and his sister was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM). Back in March, Colonia High graduate Al Lupiano posted his theory about possible links between brain tumors diagnoses among 1990s and early 2000s graduates of Colonia High and since then, he . Some, including Lupianos sister, have died. WASHINGTON (AP) Federal officials sued a Louisiana chemical maker on Tuesday, alleging that it presented an unacceptable cancer risk to the nearby . When a former student at Colonia High School in Woodbridge, New Jersey, realized that he, his wife and his sister all had brain tumors, he wondered if something about their high school could have caused them. McCormac shared the findings of the environmental assessment in a press conference Thursday. A consultant will be testing the grounds at Colonia High School, New Jersey, amid concerns that the school is linked to a high rate of rare brain cancers. Follow him on Twitter @MattStanmyre or email him at mstanmyre@njadvancemedia.com. Most of the people impacted attended the school between the early 1970s and 2000. US Executive Branch Update February 27, 2023. I don't know that we know enough yet to be definitive in terms of causation etc. 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. Investigators were on scene this past weekend trying to detect radiation on the grounds of the school. My sister received the news she had a primary brain tumor, herself. 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