Age, exposure to radiation and family history are all risk factors. Colonia graduate Al Lupiano, an environmental scientist, was the first to sound the alarm about the potential cluster. After his sister passed away, Lupiano wrote a lengthy Facebook post as well as an article in a local newspaper in March, asking for people in the area for help in reporting cases of brain tumors. If we dont find anything, we have to start looking at other potential candidates, whether its chemicals or something in the soil or air. He just needs a place. The analysis was conducted after dozens of former high school students and staff over decades were diagnosed with cancers. The plant then "decontaminated to the standards in effect at the time," though "overlooked during decontamination were traces of radioactive materials that had been carried offsite over the years by wind and rain to yards of neighboring homes," the USACE New York Division said on its website. Almost 100 people from the very same New Jersey high school have all developed brain tumors. Two weeks from now, if we dont hear anything from the federal agencies, theres going to be a lot of yelling and screaming, and the parents are going to run out of patience, he said. More than 100 former Colonia High School students and staff have been diagnosed with brain cancer over a 30-year period. Lupiano eventually arrived at a single linking factor between himself, his wife and his sister: they each attended Colonia High School in Woodbridge in the 1990s. "The only thing that could have happened, potentially, was fill that was brought in during construction. 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. In August 2021, DeCillis received her diagnosis of Grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive, rare, and deadly form of brain cancer. A cancer survivor is vowing to untangle the twisted mystery of why almost 100 people associated with a New Jersey high school have developed extremely rare malignant brain tumors. I still dont know what Im going to do with my kids, Komorek told NJ.com. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! He says if there is something going on, he worries about all of the people that would be impacted. In 1999 when Lupiano was 27, he too was diagnosed with a large acoustic neuroma on the left side of his brain. Only 72 of the suspected cancer clusters were confirmed to have an increased incidence of cancer within the cluster. Lupiano eventually arrived at a single linking factor between himself, his wife and his sister: they each attended Colonia High School in Woodbridge in the 1990s. Lupiano's familiarity comes from his own experience. The investigation was jumpstarted after it was discovered more 122 people once connected to the school had a primary brain tumor and another 75 were diagnosed with other rare forms of cancer, according to NJ.com. "I never in my worst nightmare envisioned ever hitting this milestone. A 2012 study in the journal Critical Reviews in Toxicology demonstrates how tricky it can be to confirm a cancer cluster. More than 100 graduates of a New Jersey high school have been diagnosed with brain tumors over the past 30 years, prompting concern that there might be a connection between the school and the tumor cases. Fortunately one of the survivors is an environmental scientist Al Lupiano, who is bringing attention to this and he is . All rights reserved. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. All are awaiting results from the radiation testing at the school before deciding how to get involved and proceed with the investigation. Shehad been dealing with hearing loss for several years. One parent told the outlet she doesnt think the probe did enough testing because it didnt take water or soil samples. 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. 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. "I started doing some research and the three became five, the five became seven, the seven became 15," he told CBS News York. "I don't know what the cause is," Lupiano said. "Two hours later, we received information that my wife also had a primary brain tumor," Lupiano said. Heres how it works. 89. The gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. But how will officials figure out if a true cancer cluster exists or if the cases are simply a coincidence? Environmental scientist Al Lupiano tells NBC4 New . Its not air. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. In the 1980's, the contaminated residential properties were cleaned up, and the excavated soil was stored at the site in a specially constructed pile, known as the Vicinity Properties (VP) pile," the USACE New York Division's website states. Why is the cancer that killed John McCain so deadly? The investigation will consider very granular data on graduates, like their occupations, family history and other activities that could affect their exposures. "I'm getting reports of whole blocks in and around the neighborhood, that they call themselves 'Cancer Alley,'" Lupiano said. Advertisement. Laumbach argued that thousands of suspected cancer clusters throughout the country dont meet federal government standards for that designation even if they are investigated by public health experts. Woodbridge officials are now trying to determine an underlying cause for the disease. 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", In an earlier update, Lupiano said many of those who reached out to him about their brain tumor or cancer cases "are former CHS teachers and staff members who didnt live in Colonia, they just worked in the school. He accused the Environmental Protection Agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the federal Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry of being unresponsive to his calls for a formal probe. He's now among the many calling on the town, state and federal government to do more. His sister Angela Decillis. Three of the victims are Al Lupiano, his wife Michelle, and his sister Angele Decillis. Since starting his research, Lupiano said that number has increased to about 90 people, including about 10 who were school staff members, some who worked in the cafeteria and others from the athletic department. Many more came forward after the posting, and by Thursday, the number had grown to 103, Lupiano told NJ Spotlight News. For the past two decades, he's spoken with other victims, comforting them on message boards and Facebook. Since last August, Lupiano has spent countless hours trying to find other people linked to CHS with primary brain cancers. That decades-long stretch ended in the early 2000s, but recent. On the exact same day, Lupianos younger sister, Angela DeCillis, another alumna of Colonia, learned that she too had brain cancer. All rights reserved. His wife graduated in 1991. ", NEWS: Piscataway man convicted of exploiting daughters college peers after moving into dorm. Phillips had surgery to remove the tumor on March 3 and entered physical, occupational and speech therapy soon after. 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Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. I dont think this is the end of the story. The EPA says that inhaling radon for a long time increases your risk of lung cancer. I've tried to give back over the last 20 years.". At the end of the study we are either going to know if there is a problem linked to radiation or not, he said. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Lupiano says he has a solution, that he's negotiated with the Manhattan-based Brain Tumor Foundation to provide free MRI brain screenings to anyone who may want one. 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. A look back: Al Lupiano was diagnosed with acoustic neuroma, a . "Her four children are potentially being exposed to the same thing that killed their mother. Victim No. 4/24 UPDATE: The radiological team charged with looking for both radiation and radon has concluded. McCormac, who lives three blocks from Colonia High School,is not yet convinced of a link. "I hope the results come back with absolutely nothing," he said. A former Woodbridge man has identified 84 Colonia High School alumni and former staffers with rare brain tumors and wants health officials to investigate. How will officials determine if a true cancer cluster exists? READ MORE: Former Woodbridge, N.J. resident says 65 people who either attended or worked at Colonia High School have had rare brain tumors. Angela M. DeCillis, a Colonia High School graduate, Class of '95. There is one well documented cause of brain tumors radiation exposure," he continued. Is, '' he said August, Lupiano told NJ Spotlight News he is like... People linked to CHS with primary brain tumor, '' he continued Two... The victims are Al Lupiano was 27, he worries about all of the are! 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