After doing some research, Al Lupiano told TODAY that he discovered 107 former . Request Appointment. Earlier this year, 1989 Colonia High School graduate Al Lupiano developed a list of more than 120 people who were students, teachers or staff members at the school from the 1970s to 1990s. 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. "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. Mayor McCormac says the Environmental Protection Agency is now involved. an annualized mean net cost of care approaching $150,000; and the highest annualized mean net costs for last-year-of-life care, relative to other cancers, at $135,000 to $210,000 (depending on age and sex) per patient. All three have been diagnosed with a brain tumor. He was successfully treated for it, though he has lingering side effects, including slight deafness, fatigue and dizziness. IE 11 is not supported. Medical experts are urging caution but also advising that there is no need for residents to panic. Its just like both of you being struck by lightning." Hers was positive for an acoustic neuroma, also on the left side, also 30 millimeters, exactly the same as I had. 2023 www.mycentraljersey.com. For Lupiano, the concern is very personal. Our neurosurgical smart suite the first of its kind in California combines intraoperative MRI and a revolutionary neuro-navigation system that function together like a highly precise GPS system inside the brain, giving patients the best potential for successful outcomes. Theres some statistical analysis that has to get done, Karen Knudsen, CEO of the American Cancer Society, told TODAY. New residents seeking information on elementary, junior and senior high schools, or adult education should call the School District Office at 714-990-7800. 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. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 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. Those wishing to make an appointment should call 844-283-7226 (844-BTF-SCAN) or visit www.btfscanwoodbridge.com. Scouring obituaries and old news clippings on his iPad, Lupiano found more and more Colonia High School students and staff with brain tumors as his sister got worse and worse. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Learn more about our pain treatment services. He joined the search for alumni and former staff at the school who'd also developed brain tumors and told TODAY multiple people have reached out to him. Our fellowship-trained neurosurgeons and neurointerventional radiologists utilize these and other leading-edge technologies to provide expert care for the full range of neurosurgical conditions, from brain injuries and complex brain tumors to nerve compression and herniated disks. Cheer March Parent Meeting, 1:04 PM - 1:34 PM The environmental testing is expected to last a month. You can use this area for legal statements, copyright information, a mission statement, etc. Kamal added that there needs to be a full investigation to understand if these cancers are linked, and if there's a specific cause. Our physicians and multidisciplinary teams are at the forefront of creating national models for evidence-based treatment. Parents like Dawn Genoni are willing to wait for those results -- at least at the time Genoni spoke to News 4 last month. CNN's Ana Cabrera speaks to Al Lupiano, a former student. ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News Stream, Man who spotted subway shooting suspect Frank R. James, flagged down officers speaks out, Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts. It hit home with my wife that (she) needed to see a doctor and see whats going on, Al Lupiano said. Hiswife Michele, a 1991 Colonia High School graduate, had a large acoustic neuroma on her left side, which is life-threatening if left untreated. Black died in 2015, three years after her sister, when her cancer recurred. Doctors gave her about 18 months to live, but she survived five years and saw her daughter grow up some. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. "I do think there needs to be greater emphasis placed upon moving to conduct the next phase of sampling. The St. Jude Sleep Centerbrings unusual expertise to the most common and undiagnosed sleep problem in America today: sleep apnea. Obviously, everyone's praying and hoping for the best," said Colonia High School Junior, Julia Pagnozzi. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. The school will remain open. 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. Over 100,000 MRIs let experts map the human brain. A cluster of over 100 rare brain tumors in the past 30 years sparks a health inspection at Colonia High School in New Jersey. I pray we find answers," Lupiano said on his Facebook page. "If we can help people find evidence of early-stage tumors, they can avail themselves of better, more varied treatment options. Lupiano, who is also an environmental scientist, and his wife Michelle-- both graduates of the high school -- were diagnosed with benign brain tumors 20 years apart. Helping students achieve and persist One learner at a time. "We're just going to wait to find out. Our nationally respected neurological rehabilitation programs include inpatientand outpatientsettings. 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. Advanced Neurological Care. "It's alarming because there are just so many people with a tumor - malignant or benign, and it's serious. Academic Saturday School, 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM He promised her he would find out the reason for the family's brain tumors. 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. 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. My wife, sister and myself grew up in the same township. Of those, only three were linked to possible exposures; of those, only one had a clear cause identified. Our Approach. Al Lupiano and sister Angela, who died at age 44 in 2022. Also in the city are several pre-schools, two Christian schools, and a Catholic school with classes for children from K-8. His sister Angela DeCillis had a stage 4 glioblastoma that took her life in February 2022 at age 44, just six months after she was diagnosed. Diagnostic Neuroradiology Brain Tumors Faculty FY2223 Apply now to Diagnostic Neuroradiology Brain Tumors Faculty FY2223 Job #JPF<br>07794 + Radiological Sciences / David Geffen School Of Medicin / UCLA Position overview Position title:<br> Faculty Application Window Open date:<br> August 19, 2022 Next review date:<br> Monday, Jan 16, 2023 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Apply by this date to ensure . ", "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. That is, clusters of cancer can arise by chance," according to NCI. Football Junior High Strength Camp, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM A cluster of over 100 rare brain tumors in the past 30 years sparks a health inspection at Colonia High School in New Jersey. We had three of us by that date knowing we had brain tumors.. 3 min read. Take the survey NOW! On March 7, he posted a page on social media looking for others from Colonia High School with brain tumors. She made it five years," said Jason Wisinski. His wife Michelle graduated in 1991. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Sonora High School is a diverse community dedicated to the academic, personal, and social growth of all student learners within a student-centered environment. Gleolan: We are one of the first hospitals in the nation to use this revolutionary imaging agent, which clearly delineates tumor tissue from healthy brain tissue during surgery, improving safety, accuracy and survival. Reports claim that more than 60 former students and staff of Colonia High School have been diagnosed with a rare brain tumor called . "My wife was awesome, and I think about her every day - I talk to her all the time," Wisinski said. JROTC Sports Day Competition, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Both sisters were graduates of Colonia High School. Al Lupiano has found 107 people with primary brain tumors who all attended or worked at Colonia High School. Environmental scientist Al Lupiano. I called him and asked him how we could be of help, McCormac told TODAY. They didnt think for a second that it had anything to do with a brain tumor. His sister Angela Decillis. "Theyve tested the interior of the school to tile to the concrete, you name it, McCormac added. ABC7's Dallas Raines explains the difference, Jury selection begins for convicted torturer accused of escaping jail, Children jump for joy at seeing snow flurries in Canyon Country. Meghan Holohan is a contributing writer who covers health and parenting for TODAY.com. The Brea Olinda Unified School District operates six elementary schools, one junior high school, one high school, and one alternative high school. If we catch a tumor before the patient becomes symptomatic, the health outcome is almost always better, saidDr. Michael Schulder, president of BTF and vice chair of neurosurgery at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. She had an inoperable high grade tumor called anaplastic astrocytoma.". Hear his response. 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. See How All 50 Wards Voted in the 2023 Chicago Mayoral Election. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. All the affected attended Colonia High School in Woodbridge, dating back decades. Ultimately, if it isnt a radiation source that is causing these illnesses, Lupiano says other tests can be done to pinpoint a cause. We tailor each patient's treatment using the latest approaches, including new advancements such as: In addition, our partnership with some of the nations top research consortiums allows us to offer patients some of the most promising clinical trials. According to the foundation, an estimated 700,000 people in the United Stated are living with a primary brain tumor. Janice was pregnant with her and Jason's only child. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. They learned of their tumors eight days apart. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. DeCillis started showing stroke-like symptoms and went to the hospital in August 2021. Compassion, Dignity, Justice, Excellence, Integrity. But patience appears to be wearing thin among some in the community, judging by the petition. By specializing in this frequently overlooked sleep disorder, we offer the clinical knowledge to fully evaluate and accurately identify the cause, as well as create the most effective, personalized treatment. I dont have any data that says anybody should be concerned right now, and if we had that, we would certainly take action immediately," McCormac said. Drill March Parent Meeting, 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM Band Booster Club Meeting, 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM MLG Partner Michele Vercoski has over 16 years of experience as a trial attorney with a significant portion of her professional career dedicated to seeking justice for harm caused to people by environmental and occupational exposures. (TODAY has not confirmed each individual case.) CNN's Ana Cabrera speaks to Al Lupiano, a former student who is now investigating the school. Lupiano has been leading efforts for attention to the potential link ofbrain tumors in the community. All Rights Reserved. After his sister's death in February, Lupiano became convinced of a link between the Colonia. "One hundred out of 15,000 have brain cancer -- sure sounds like something we should be concerned about," Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac has said. 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