Mayor McCormac says the Environmental Protection Agency is now involved. Doctors thought it was benign at first, but the pathology results indicated otherwise, Al Lupiano recalled. On April 10, he recorded the 100th case of someone having a primary brain tumor. ", 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. He investigated whether other people who grew up nearby had experienced brain tumors, too. It is a great advantage to find tumors as early as possible. She had an inoperable high grade tumor called anaplastic astrocytoma.". In two weeks, the firm will be done running tests, send the data out to be analyzed and report back. ", "If there are any potential environmental exposure pathways identified and a need for further environmental sampling, the state Health Department will work cooperatively with (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) to conduct a public health assessment and evaluate the potential for health effects," the statement continued. Helping students achieve and persist One learner at a time. The MRI process does not expose anyone to radiation. Community Health Needs Assessments and Improvement Plans, Notice of Nondiscrimination and Communication Assistance. It does not store any personal data. All Rights Reserved. (TODAY has not confirmed each individual case.) The school has stayed open, with local officials apparently telling parents that "at this time, there is no discernable health or wellness threat to students, staff, or visitors at Colonia High School," according to the petition writers. More than 200 people have signed an online petition demanding a public meeting with state officials in New Jersey and federal authorities over concerns about a medical mystery at a high school following dozens of diagnoses of brain tumors. Sonora High School encourages students to become life-long learners and contributing members of an ever-changing world. Former Colonia High School student Al Lupiano first decided to investigate when both his wife and his sister were diagnosed with brain tumors, two decades after he himself had suffered. When Wisinskis sister-in-law Cheryl Black was recovering from surgery to remove her grade 2 oligodendroglioma in 2007, his wife, Janice Wisinski, who was 29 weeks pregnant, started having a seizure in Black's hospital room, he recalled. Wisinski's wife and sister-in-law both died of brain tumors. The St. Jude Sleep Centerbrings unusual expertise to the most common and undiagnosed sleep problem in America today: sleep apnea. Her sister, Cheryl Black also died from brain cancer in 2015. For information about local community college classes, call Fullerton Community College at 714-992-7000. The environmental scientist and industrial engineer picked up on a potential pattern. But he narrowed his search criteria: He wanted to look for primary brain tumors, those that originate in the brain instead of resulting from another cancer, such as lung or breast cancer. Learn more about personalized stroke services, treatments and services. It is a completely safe procedure. "That started setting off bells and whistles in my head.". Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary (714-256-1311) has a campus located at 251 South Randolph Street in Brea. "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. 2. You can use this area for legal statements, copyright information, a mission statement, etc. A scientist and mother is demanding answers after tests she conducted found cancer-causing toxins and materials were present at the school where more than 100 former students have since been. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Grad Nite Tickets on Sale, 12:40 PM - 1:04 PM That, the "concerned Colonia High School parents, alumni, and township members" petitioning on behalf of their school community say, isn't acceptable. 2023 Cable News Network. The outside testing may need some minor follow-up work. When Al Lupiano then revealed that his sister had glioblastoma, the doctor began peppering him with questions about what the three had in common, he recalled. If you are an alumni or staff member of Colonia High School and have developed a brain tumor, contact MLG today! "My wife fought like crazy. We kept saying, Well, we grew up in the same township, Al Lupiano said. 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. Both sisters were graduates of Colonia High School. Medical experts are urging caution but also advising that there is no need for residents to panic. Lupiano said, adding his doctor encouraged him to investigate the concentration of tumors in the town where he grew up. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. It turned out that it was not benign, but it was a malignant glioblastoma, a very very aggressive cancer, he explained. 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. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Eyewitness News has reached out to them, and are waiting to hear back. According to the NCI, it's "extremely rare" for an investigation into a possible cluster to find it's the result of a "specific cancer-causing substance in the environment." 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? Every inch of Colonia High School, part of the Woodbridge Township School District, from buildings to fields, is being tested for radiation to determine if there is a link between the school and the number of cancer cases diagnosed amongst former students and staff. 6 Amazon travel essentials for your next getaway, starting at $12. Request Appointment. 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. Our therapists offer the most advanced care available, helping individuals of all ages successfully recover from strokes, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, amputations, vestibular and balance disorders, diabetic neuropathy and other medical conditions. The screenings are part of the foundations ongoing early detection program and research initiative, with the goal of helping people in the area discover if they have an undiagnosed brain tumor. While we are waiting for the results of the radiological survey to be finalized, precious time is being wasted. "We absolutely have concerns, the Democrat told NJ.com. Ms. Vercoski has also contributed to legal publications as an author and values continuing education for attorneys. Despite the number of cases, officials first have to determine if scientific evidence indeed indicates a connection between the school grounds and the brain tumors. That's 100 people with their life forever changed, 100 families having to be told the terrible news, 100 stories of shock and disbelief with the diagnosis. I hope to God that they can find something. 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. If you are a Colonia High School graduate, student, or staff member who has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, contact MLG today to participate in the investigation. 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. Its just extremely rare. Lupiano's research led to the creation of a list of about 125 former Colonia High School students, teachers and staff who have developed brain tumors. His sister Angela Decillis. Did you encounter any technical issues? It was the same type of tumor Lupiano was . Lupiano, who has a 30-year background in environmental science and safety engineering, never anticipatedthe list of cases growing so long. CNN's Ana Cabrera speaks to Al Lupiano, a former student. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. McCormac says last Saturday, environmentalists placed random canisters inside the school to collect air samples. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 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. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Over 100 brain tumors spark investigation at New Jersey high school. "We appreciate the NJDOH, NJDEP, ATSDR, and CDC assistance to the Woodbridge Townships environmental investigation that is currently ongoing, but strongly believe that this is not enough," the petition says in seeking the involvement of more state and federal agencies. Gov. The city of Woodbridge has been taking the lead on that front, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars for testing at a school that graduated roughly 15,000 people over the last 30 years. 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. After doing some research, Al Lupiano told TODAY that he discovered 107 former . Janice was pregnant with her and Jason's only child. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); $203 MillionClass ActionFinancial Services, $200 MillionClass ActionProduct Liability. "I never in my worst nightmare envisioned ever hitting this milestone. At the time, the medium lifespan for her type of tumor was 18 months. She basically started becoming disabled, he said. A cluster of brain tumors and cancer in people associated with a single New Jersey high school is causing concern. Key Club Meeting, 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM Meghan Holohan is a contributing writer who covers health and parenting for TODAY.com. 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. 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. 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. 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